Is the West History?
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''Civilization: Is the West History?'' is a 2011 British TV documentary that tells how Western civilisation, in five centuries, transformed into the dominating civilisation in the world. Presented by Niall Ferguson, the show reveals the 'killer apps' of the West's success – competition, science, the property owning democracy, modern medicine, the consumer society and the Protestant work ethic – the real explanation of how, for five centuries, a clear minority of mankind managed to secure the majority of the Earth's resources.


Description

According to the historian, Western civilization's rise to global dominance is the single most important historical phenomenon of the past five centuries. All around the world, more and more people study at universities, work for companies, vote for governments, take medicines, wear clothes, and play sports, all of which have strong 'western' influences. Yet six hundred years ago the kingdoms of Western Europe seemed like miserable backwaters, ravaged by incessant war and pestilence. It was
Ming China The Ming dynasty (), officially the Great Ming, was an imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming dynasty was the last orthodox dynasty of China ruled by the Han peop ...
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Ottoman Turkey The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...
that had the look of world civilizations. How did the West overtake its Eastern rivals? And has the zenith of Western power now passed? In ''Civilization: Is the West history?'', the British historian Niall Ferguson argues that, beginning in the fifteenth century, the West developed six powerful new concepts that the Rest lacked: competition, science, the
rule of law The rule of law is the political philosophy that all citizens and institutions within a country, state, or community are accountable to the same laws, including lawmakers and leaders. The rule of law is defined in the ''Encyclopedia Britannica ...
, modern medicine, consumerism, and the work ethic. These became the "killer apps" that allowed the West to go ahead of the Rest; opening global trade routes, exploiting new scientific knowledge, evolving
representative government Representative democracy, also known as indirect democracy, is a types of democracy, type of democracy where elected people Representation (politics), represent a group of people, in contrast to direct democracy. Nearly all modern liberal democr ...
, increasing life expectancy, unleashing the Industrial Revolution, and hugely increasing human productivity. ''Civilization'' shows exactly how a dozen Western empires came to control three-fifths of mankind and four-fifths of the world economy. However, Ferguson argues that the days of Western predominance are numbered because the Rest have finally downloaded the six killer apps the West once monopolised – while the West has literally lost faith in itself.


Episodes


Reception

Brad Newsome of '' The Sydney Morning Herald'' wrote, "The provocative, pro-colonialist Ferguson won't be everyone's cup of tea but at least this series shows that the BBC does air a diversity of views." Tom Sutcliffe of '' The Independent'' wrote that Ferguson is "irritating in a very thought-provoking way". Sam Wollaston of '' The Guardian'' wrote, "Ferguson's is a no-nonsense approach: here's how it is, you better believe it. It's not especially charming, but it certainly isn't boring – it's a rollicking roller-coaster ride through time, so much fun it doesn't even feel like school." Chris Harvey of '' The Daily Telegraph'' wrote, "His developing thesis was an enjoyable one, driven forward with the certainty that is Ferguson's style."


References


External links

* *{{IMDb title, 1854668, Civilization: Is the West History? Historical television series British documentary television series 2011 British television series debuts 2011 British television series endings