In this book i want to show that what distinguished the west from the rest the mainsprings of global power were six identifiably novel complexes of institutions and. To my mind, a civilization is much more than just the contents of a few firstrate art galleries. Niall ferguson is public televisions idea of a party reptile. You look around for signs of other nervous sniffers. Its paintings, statues and buildings may well be its most eyecatching achievements, but they are unintelligible without some understanding of the economic, social and political institutions which devised them, paid for them, executed them. 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. Niall ferguson the wests six killer apps by robert huebscher may 22, 2012 for five centuries, the west dominated eastern economies. Civilization oped a global massproduction ceramics industry, expanded geographically to the south and west, and dominated trade with japan and southeast asia. The west and the rest kindle edition by ferguson, niall. 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. Niall ferguson is far more than a writer and historian these days. The little town of st james, about 100 miles west of st louis, is typical of the thousands of new settlements that sprang up. The idea that the west would come to dominate the rest for most of the next half millennium would have struck you.
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. Ferguson is currently working on the biography of henry kissinger. Niall ferguson examines why the west has dominated the world for the past five centuries. 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. Its paintings, statues and buildings may well be its most eyecatching achievements, but they are unintelligible without some understanding of the economic, social and political institutions which devised them, paid for them, executed them and. 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. The western world has moved so far left that a committed believer in the spread of. And in this new century, he says, these apps are all shareable. What set the west apart from the rest of the world. The twopart series examines niall ferguson s six principles of prosperity. The decline of the west is something that has long been prophesied. The west and the rest, ferguson talks about the progression of western consumer culture through the textile industry. The west and the rest by niall ferguson chapter 2, science the siege, micrographia, osman and fritz, tanzimat tours, from istanbul to jerusalem summary and analysis. Civilization niall ferguson pdf the west and the rest by.
Niall ferguson civilization the west and the rest allen lane an imprint of. 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. Ferguson handled a huge subject such as civilization in the western and. All of these things, for centuries, occurred exclusively in the western world. Over the past few centuries, western cultures have been very good at creating general prosperity for themselves. Civilization the west and the rest by niall ferguson book. Ferguson starts by explaining the advent of the textile industry, which kicked off the industrial revolution, and then goes on to talk about how japan became westernized with western style. These six functional complexes, or killer applications led the wests rise to global dominance. Ferguson reveals the killer apps of the wests success competition, science, the property owning democracy, modern medicine, the consumer society. Niall ferguson asks why it was that western civilization, from inauspicious roots in the 15th century, came to dominate the rest of the world. But, beginning with the fall of the berlin wall in 1989, the east has now caught up, according to niall ferguson. In chapter 5 of niall fergusons book, civilization. His book, formally seeking to answer the questions of how the west came to dominate the rest of the world, and.
Nov 01, 2011 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. Excellence in these categories, ferguson says, may explain the wests remarkable rise, but late in the 19th century the rest, especially japan, began to catch up in all but internal. Premiered may 2012 the twopart series examines niall ferguson s six principles of prosperity. The investigation identifies six attributes that spurred the rise of. The worlds power center is shifting from west to east because the eurozone and united states are collapsing under the weights of their own debts, according to niall ferguson. How britain made the modern world, the ascent of money and a financial history of the world and civilization. Above all, the way people live or aspire to live is unmistakably an invention of the west. The west and the rest, by niall ferguson how the west won, and why its now about to lose.
The west and the rest by niall ferguson chapter 2, science the siege, micrographia, osman and fritz, tanzimat tours, from istanbul to. The west and the rest with niall ferguson debuts tonight on pbs. The little town of st james, about 100 miles west of st louis, is typical of the thousands of new settlements that sprang up along the. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. Just before christmas i picked up a copy of niall fegusons latest book and tv series 1 civilization. The 500year advantage that the west had over the rest of the world is disappearing, as other regions adopt practices that boost economies, niall ferguson says. These six functional complexes, or killer applications led the west s rise to global dominance. For the past five centuries, western power has prevailed around the world. Praise for the ascent of money an often enlightening and. Pdf civilization the west and the rest niall ferguson minh.
Competition, science, modern medicine, property, consumerism, and work ethic. Additional gift options are available when buying one ebook at a time. The west and the rest, niall ferguson tackles whether the west is now destined to take a back seat to asia. The west and the rest recasts world history with force and wit. Read civilization pdf the west and the rest by niall ferguson penguin books from the bestselling author of the ascent of money and the. The warring academics, beloved of 1990s students for their thats you, that is repartee, have made way for niall ferguson and pankaj mishra, after the latter likened ferguson to tom buchanan in. Who else would ever think of blue jeans as a significant item in the spread of civilization.
In the words of a veteran investor, watching the u. Presented by niall ferguson, the show reveals the killer apps of the wests success competition. Ferguson reveals the killer apps of the west s success competition, science, the property owning democracy, modern medicine, the consumer society. Its uniqueness is in the breadth of knowlege expresssed painlessly by the authout.
He is also a senior fellow at the hoover institution, stanford university, and a senior research fellow at jesus college, oxford. Niall fergusons new book uses scrutons title for a subtitle, and from the outset you. Chronicling the rise and fall of empires alongside clashes and fusions of civilizations, civilization. This post suggests some pretty large implications about less structure rather than more, thats for sure. Historical perspectives on current predicaments niall ferguson, harvard university niarchoslecture peterson institute for international economics, washington dc may, 2010. The west and the rest by niall ferguson the penguin press. The reference to pinks makes really good sense in context of this particular post. I would also suggest looking at some of jared diamonds work, in which he talks about how geography influences development. Examining why western civilization has dominated the world for the past five centuries and whether it will continue to do so. Read civilization pdf the west and the rest by niall ferguson penguin books from the bestselling author of the ascent of money and the square and the towerwestern civilizations rise to. The elevator pitch for niall fergusons civilization. The rise and demise of the british world order and the lessons for global power new york. The west is on the defensive, challenged economically by the ascent of china and politically and militarily by a wave of islamist hatred. The west and the rest by niall ferguson the prolific historian argues persuasively that western loss of power can only be resisted by rediscovering the work ethic.
First of all, he analyses competition in the framework of the. The timing and pace of health transitions in the french empire 7. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading civilization. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. It did so by downloading six killer apps from the west. Previously, he was a professor at harvard university and new york university, was also a senior research fellow at jesus college, oxford, and a visiting professor at the new college of the humanities. Niall ferguson s rightwing paean to western values is unsuited to being taught in schools, says bernard porter. Oct, 2014 in niall fergusons third chapter, ferguson explains the differences between south and north american cultures in colonial periods, and highlights the fact that the british distributed land within their north american colonies to almost everybody and encouraged fair and equitable selfgoverning, while the spanish kept a system in which all property was owned by the. The west and the rest is an excellent book analysing the rise of western dominance over the past five centuries. Why the west grew rich and the rest did not, or how the present. Nov 27, 2011 excellence in these categories, ferguson says, may explain the wests remarkable rise, but late in the 19th century the rest, especially japan, began to catch up in all but internal.
He suggests half a dozen big ideas from western culture call them the 6 killer apps that promote wealth, stability and innovation. Nov 14, 2011 the warring academics, beloved of 1990s students for their thats you, that is repartee, have made way for niall ferguson and pankaj mishra, after the latter likened ferguson to tom buchanan in. Yet this is the same dynasty that rebuilt the grand canal. Symptoms of decline are all around us today, it seems.
Western civilizations rise to global dominance is the single most important historical phenomenon of the past five centuries. Niall ferguson is known in leftist circles as a right winger, even a. Pdf civilization the west and the rest niall ferguson. The religion it exported, christianity, is still followed by a third of mankind. Niall fergusons new book uses scrutons title for a.