Civilization is easy to experience but difficult to define in words. Its a complex system of political, cultural, religious and scientific institutions that govern or define a large community of people. The ancient civilization of Indus Valley, Sumerian, Egyptian, Greek, Phoenician, Roman, Persian, Indian, Chinese are few examples. Since they represent and define living beings, so like living beings they also follow natural process of growth and decay. Every Civilization evolves, goes through a glorious age, decays and sometimes rises again as can be seen in the rise of Western Civilization from the ashes of Roman civilization. Sometimes a new civilization replaces a much older civilization like American or African. Niall Ferguson's book deals with the eternal question, Why western civilization which was geographically, demographically, culturally and militarily much inferior to Ottoman, Mughal and Ming Empires till 16th century, was able to outpace these great and mighty empires within 2 centuries and by 19th century was able to dominate the entire known world? Many great writers have tried to find the reasons and Nial tries to do the same. According to him there were 6 killer apps/agents that helped the West to gain dominance on the Eastern world. These were (not in any order):
Competition
Scientific Revolution
The rule of law and polity
Modern Medicine
Consumer Society
Religion and Work ethic
He is very lucid in his approach but at many a times, he appears to me an agent of Neo-Imperialism and my allegation is based on his one sided appraisal of Western Imperialism/colonialism over Asia and Africa. He assumes most of the time that West was doing its civilizing duty (aka White man's burden) and never appreciates the indigenous knowledge, culture and economy of the colonies. Not a great book by any standard but can be read to understand the mental faculty of Niall Ferguson and his gang.
Recommended (6/10)
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