737:
749:
315:, as well as a propensity to level out fundamental differences between the development of the West and the rest, which disregards the singular role of Europe in shaping the modern world'. Morris replied, saying that "despite his review’s length, rather little of it takes on my book’s central thesis", and defending his focus on
164:
explains
Western domination of the globe. Morris' Social Development Index considers the amount of energy a civilization can usefully capture, its ability to organize (measured by the size of its largest cities), war-making capability (weapons, troop strength, logistics), and information technology
27:
227:
After the development of ocean-going ships, the significantly greater size of the
Pacific Ocean made trans-Atlantic exploration and trade more feasible and profitable for Europe than trans-Pacific exploration and trade for East Asia. Though the
330:
Sverre Bagge criticizes the book for underestimating the importance of institutional factors (such as state formation) and in downplaying cultural explanations in favor of materialist explanations.
243:
Eurasian diseases to which people in the
Americas had no immunity were a byproduct of Eurasian development that devastated Native Americans after contact, in addition to superior European weapons.
210:
With the development of ships in
Eurasia, rivers became trade routes. Europe and empires in Greece and Rome benefited from the Mediterranean, compared to Chinese empires (who later built the
683:
296:
has called it "an important book—one that challenges, stimulates and entertains. Anyone who does not believe there are lessons to be learned from history should start here."
224:
The Social
Development Index shows the West leading until the 6th century, China leading until the 18th century, and the West leading again in the modern era.
779:
646:
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593:
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774:
655:
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727:
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186:
207:.) Development of Africa and the Americas started on the same path, but it was delayed by thousands of years.
617:(1987). "The Connectedness Criterion and Central Civilization". In Melko, Matthew; Scott, Leighton (eds.).
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which Morris envisions encompassing not only Europe but all civilizations descending from the
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and advances in information technology are leveling differences between civilizational areas.
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Why the West Rules—For Now: The
Patterns of History, and What They Reveal About the Future
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The evidence and statistical methods used in this book are explained in more detail in
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The book has been criticized by the controversial historical sociologist
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Irrigation benefited drier areas such as Egypt and the
Fertile Crescent.
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165:(speed and reach of writing, printing, telecommunication, etc.).
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brought diseases that caused epidemics in settled populations.
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The book won several literary awards, including the 2011
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gave certain areas an early advantage, especially the
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and Europe are in the same system was introduced by
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619:The Boundaries of Civilizations in Space and Time
262:Literary Award for Creative Nonfiction and 2011
684:"History, Archaeology and Cultural Comparison"
189:, areas with reliable rainfall benefited most.
172:, a free eBook, and by the published volume,
8:
19:
232:was invented in China in the 11th century,
152:across the last 15,000 years, arguing that
303:for offering a 'diffuse definition of the
25:
18:
195:Plants and animals that were more easily
156:rather than culture, religion, politics,
132:is a history book by a British historian
732:
353:
419:"getAbstract International Book Award"
236:was less successful than the European
472:"Review: Why the West Rules--For Now"
7:
264:GetAbstract International Book Award
525:"Global power: On top of the world"
14:
496:Kedar Pavgi (November 28, 2011).
394:"The 2011 Literary Award Winners"
780:History books about civilization
747:
735:
656:Comparative Civilizations Review
594:Institute of Historical Research
565:Institute of Historical Research
498:"The Global Thinkers' Book Club"
444:"21 Ways to Be Smarter in 2011"
187:agriculture was first invented
1:
590:"Response to Review no. 1091"
20:Why the West Rules — For Now
682:Bagge, Sverre Håkon (2020).
559:Why the West Rules — For Now
240:and subsequent colonization.
623:University Press of America
175:The Measure of Civilization
796:
700:10.1017/S1062798719000590
82:Farrar, Straus and Giroux
24:
121:(1st edition, hardcover)
16:2010 book by Ian Morris
770:2010 non-fiction books
651:"Central Civilization"
477:. Ian Morris's website
341:Guns, Germs, and Steel
319:. The notion that the
214:for similar purposes).
205:cradle of civilization
136:, published in 2010.
63:cultural anthropology
775:Books about the West
363:"Social Development"
181:Morris argues that:
100:Hardcover, Paperback
361:Ian Morris (2010).
234:Chinese exploration
21:
625:. pp. 17–21.
287:The New York Times
170:Social Development
154:physical geography
144:The book compares
533:. October 7, 2010
452:. January 3, 2011
230:mariner's compass
203:and China. (See
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119:978-0-374-29002-3
89:Publication place
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615:Wilkinson, David
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368:. Archived from
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309:Fertile Crescent
301:Ricardo Duchesne
238:Age of Discovery
201:Fertile Crescent
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275:Foreign Affairs
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219:Eurasian Steppe
217:Raids from the
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97:Media type
59:Human geography
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694:(3): 465–468.
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503:Foreign Policy
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649:(Fall 1987).
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375:on 2012-03-30
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31:First edition
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370:the original
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197:domesticated
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667:24 November
663:(17): 31–59
557:"Review of
423:getAbstract
321:Middle East
212:Grand Canal
67:archaeology
764:Categories
632:0819164925
599:August 24,
586:Ian Morris
570:August 24,
537:August 24,
509:August 24,
481:August 24,
456:August 24,
428:August 24,
403:August 24,
379:2020-08-31
348:References
134:Ian Morris
41:Ian Morris
716:216426757
708:1062-7987
327:in 1987.
254:Reception
162:great men
108:768 pages
77:Published
449:Newsweek
334:See also
269:Newsweek
158:genetics
47:Language
754:History
728:Portals
140:Content
71:history
55:Subject
50:English
714:
706:
629:
80:2010 (
37:Author
742:Books
712:S2CID
475:(PDF)
373:(PDF)
366:(PDF)
317:China
313:Islam
185:When
160:, or
105:Pages
704:ISSN
669:2017
627:ISBN
601:2014
572:2014
539:2014
511:2014
483:2014
458:2014
430:2014
405:2014
305:West
150:West
148:and
146:East
114:ISBN
696:doi
284:,
766::
710:.
702:.
692:28
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661:17
659:.
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84:)
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