This enjoyably sprawling history of the rise of the. Eastern in most markets, but you should check local listings. The rise to global predominance of western civilization is the single most important historical phenomenon of the past five hundred years. Its uniqueness is in the breadth of knowlege expresssed painlessly by the authout.
The west and the rest with niall feruguson for the past five centuries, western civilizations have prevailed around the world. For the past five centuries, western power has prevailed around the world. Ferguson uses historical evidence of technological innovation, religious effects, and economic differences, among other factors, to explain why the west, and western europe especially, was the dominant force in the. This enjoyably sprawling history of the rise of the west, written for a general audience, follows in the footsteps of major works by such scholars as john darwin, jared diamond, william ncneill, and douglass north. Jan 19, 2016 episode 1 competition the first programme in the series begins in 1420 when ming china had a credible claim to be the most advanced civilization in the world.
History shows that no nation can survive the tension, conflict and antagonism of two or more competing languages and cultures. The west and the rest, by niall ferguson 2011 london. Heres just one of the books many passages that both compress and skew the history of civilization. Built by economic challenges and environmental fears, the west today is also waking up to a growing eastern. The west and the rest, bestselling author niall ferguson argues that, beginning in the fifteenth century, the west developed six powerful new concepts that the rest lacked. Mar 09, 2020 threepart documentary series niall fergusons networld, premiering march 17 on pbs, provides unique insights from history into the viral spread of ideas and how social medias technology is a. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. This documentary series examines why western civilization has dominated the world for the past five centuries and whether it will continue to do so. Niall ferguson asks why it was that western civilization, from inauspicious roots in the 15th century, came to dominate the rest of the world. Professor niall ferguson investigates now western civilization came to dominate the world. The investigation identifies six attributes that spurred the rise of the west, including competition, science, modern medicine, democracy, consumerism, and work ethic, and explains why the east may. History documentary hosted by niall ferguson, published by pbs in 2012 english narration cover information. Its often the soft, the human factor, which niall ferguson trendily calls the killer apps and six of which he promises to identify in the west and the rest, a bbc documentary series on how the west won its supremacy.
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. Ferguson reveals the killer apps of the west s success competition, science, the property. Niall fergusons rightwing paean to western values is unsuited to being taught in schools, says bernard porter. Niall ferguson is public televisions idea of a party reptile.
Civilization, with its six killer apps, is the latest in that older, grander, holeyer tradition. Nov 27, 2011 many of the observations in civilization. Its seldom the hardware guns and tanks that changes the course of history. Civilization full program, episode 2 of 2 online streaming for part 2 expired june 29. The elevator pitch for niall fergusons civilization. Above all, the way people live or aspire to live is unmistakably an invention of the west. These six applications are competition, science, property, medicine, consumerism. Pdf civilization the west and the rest niall ferguson. In the fourth chapter of niall fergusons book, civilization. Civilization the west and the rest by niall ferguson.
Documentary newtopia shows how a man quits the west to. The west and the rest, on pbs, a program that explores why western culture became dominant in the world. The west and the rest, on pbs, a program that explores why western culture became dominant in the. Applying essential economic and political insights, niall.
Threepart documentary series niall fergusons networld, premiering march 17 on pbs, provides unique insights from history into the viral spread. Ferguson then goes on to explain how in colonizing africa, european powers created secondclass citizens, which led to beliefs in racial inequality and resulted in some of europes most. The changing global balance of power in historical. The west and the rest by niall ferguson the penguin press science, whose discoveries laid the basis not only for the industrial revolution but also for overwhelming military. The west and the rest, presented by niall ferguson, is a documentary in which ferguson reveals what he calls the six killer applications which has helped western civilization dominate over everyone else. The west and the rest, niall ferguson tackles whether the west is now destined to take a back seat to asia. The attack on western civilizationwest vs the rest news.
Science documentary hosted by niall ferguson, published by channel 4 in 2011 english narration cover informationcivilization. More people have been influenced by western food, clothing, medicine, government and religion worldwide than by any other civilization. The west and the rest with niall ferguson debuts tonight on pbs. The question posed by ferguson in civilization is how a collection of relatively poor, perpetually warring and scientifically backward polities in the west of europe came to dominate the rest. Western civilization has risen to dominate world affairs over the last five hundred years, a record unmatched in world history and at odds with its population and geography relative to other countries and civilizations, due to six killer apps that have.
Ferguson reveals the killer apps of the wests success competition, science, the property owning democracy. The critical point is that the differential between the west and the rest was institutional. The west and the rest penguin press, the series explores the west s epic and surprising rise to global dominance. Professor ferguson proposes in this documentary, that what caused the western cultures to surpass. Western civilizations rise to global dominance is the single most important historical phenomenon of the past five centuries. No previous civilization has ever achieved such dominance as the west achieved over the rest. Niall ferguson a history of western civilization s rise to global dominance offers insight into the development of such concepts as competition, modern medicine, and the work ethic, arguing that western dominance. The west and the rest ebook written by niall ferguson. The west and the rest with niall ferguson airs tuesday, may 22, 2012 and may 29, 2012 at 7 p. This study guide consists of approximately 27 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of civilization.
The west and the rest by niall ferguson is an excellent book about why the west dominated the rest of the world for so long and why that advantage has recently faded. The west and the rest penguin press, the series explores the wests epic and surprising rise to global dominance. If youve ever found yourself saying, as i have, that your major political preoccupation is the salvaging of the best of western civilization wc, you may then have been queried, what is it. With niall ferguson, peter janda, john lindell, annekatrin hendel.
The west and the rest, ferguson creates a correlation between advancements in european medical technology and the colonizing of africa. The west and the rest is a mildly effective, entrylevel primer to the branching differences of western versus eastern civilization, but anyone expecting anything revolutionary should check their expectations at the door. What was it about the civilization of western europe that allowed it to trump the outwardly superior empires of the orient. The west and the rest, popular and controversial historian niall ferguson sets out to explain why western civilization, roughly understood as the set of peoples and nations that live in the earths northern hemisphere, reaching from the u. For the past five centuries, western civilizations have prevailed around the world. In 1683 the ottoman army laid siege to vienna, the capital of europes most powerful empire. Max weber famously linked it to protestantism, but the reality is that any culture, regardless of religion, is capable of embracing the spirit of capitalism by working hard, saving, and accumulating capital.
The rest here is how they destroyed their countries, lamm said. Channel 4, an amazing documentary on why the west won over. Man who quit life in the west to live with a tribe for three years saw a hunger for money take hold and was glad he packed antibiotics. The twopart series examines niall fergusons six principles of prosperity. The answer, niall ferguson argues, was that the west developed six. Niall ferguson is a bestselling author and a writer and presenter of television documentary series.
Though he stated that a civilization needed a great standard of living and quality of life, he contradicts himself by saying that the key lies with institutions. These were the killer applications that allowed the west to leap. Mar 18, 2011 the question posed by ferguson in civilization is how a collection of relatively poor, perpetually warring and scientifically backward polities in the west of europe came to dominate the rest of. Ferguson argues that in the coming years will see a steady decline of the west and china and the rest of the asian nations will be the rising powers. This history of ideas as illustrated by art and music remains the benchmark for the numerous programmes it inspired. There are those who dispute that claiming all civilizations are in some sense equal, and the west cannot claim superiority over, say, the east of eurasia. The west and the rest is the definitive history of western civilization s rise to global dominanceand the killer applications that made this improbable ascent possible. Who else would ever think of blue jeans as a significant item in the spread of civilization. Domination of west by east was an alarmingly plausible scenario. First, turn america into a bilingual or multi lingual and bicultural country. Premiered may 2012 the twopart series examines niall fergusons six principles of prosperity. The west and the rest recasts world history with force and wit. Competition, science, modern medicine, property, consumerism, and work ethic. I ts seldom the hardware guns and tanks that changes the course of history.
The sixth element that enabled the west to dominate the rest was the work ethic. Yet now, ferguson shows how the rest have downloaded the killer apps the west once monopolized, while the west has literally lost faith in itself. A products availability is clearly noted on the product detail page as in stock, advanced sale, release date or special order. This page is forcing your browser to use legacy mode. To my mind, a civilization is much more than just the contents of a few firstrate art.
Timeline world history documentaries recommended for you 48. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read civilization. Civilization shows exactly how a dozen western empires came to control threefifths of mankind and fourfifths of the world economy. Acclaimed historian niall ferguson argues that beginning in the fifteenth century, the west developed six powerful new concepts, or killer applicationscompetition, science, the rule of law, modern medicine, consumerism, and the work ethicthat the rest lacked, allowing it to surge past all other competitors. Civilization full program, episode 1 of 2 online streaming for part 1 expired june 22. Chronicling the rise and fall of empires alongside clashes and fusions of civilizations, civilization. Civilisation was one of the first united kingdom television documentary series made in color, commissioned during david attenboroughs controllership of bbc2. Most items on our site are in stock and ready to ship. From one of our most renowned historians, civilization. The west and the rest will not win ferguson friends among the fashionable in todays academy. Is the west history niall ferguson asks why it was that western civilization, from inauspicious roots in the 15th century, came to dominate the rest of the world. His central thesis is that the distinguishing factors that set the west apart from the rest were the unprecedented network of institutions and corresponding ideas and conduct. Niall ferguson investigates how western civilization came to dominate the world.
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