Civilization: The West and the Rest with Niall Ferguson

Ferguson argues that ideas (intangible and abstract) are more important to human life and society, in contrast to resources (tangible and visible). He uses this premise to explain the ''rise'' of the West over the past five hundred years. Then questions the ability of the West's continued ''progress'' if these ideas are no longer present. Covers six ''applications'' -CompetitionSciencePropertyMedicineConsumerismWorkCompetition here is both political and commercial. Contrasts the violent, combative, outward focus of Europe in 1500, with the Chinese monolithic, inward focus at the same time. Details the voyages of Zheng He (1430-1433) around Africa to Europe, and the marvelous ships, navy and technological superiority of Chinese. Chinese ''civilization'' clearly superior. What happened? Emperor Yongle died. Successor decreed no more voyages, no more more ships on pain of death. Turned inward. Different ideas creates different effects.Why was Vasco da Gama so clearly hungry for money –hungry enough to kill for it? There were roughly a thousand polities in fourteenth-century Europe; and still around 500 more or less independent units 200 years later. This political competition prepared Europe for worldwide competition.This idea that civilization is in ''competition'' runs throughout the video. The ''rise'' and ''fall'', the ''winners'' and ''losers'', makes for drama and interesting narrative, but I found it hard to to completely swallow. Nevertheless, Ferguson presents both the good and bad of the West. He seems to feel that the good outweighs the bad. The fact, that cannot be disputed, is that the ''rest'' are generally imitating the ''west''. Therefore western ''civilization'' is accepted as more desirable, although maybe not really ''superior''.I enjoyed Ferguson's coverage of the good and the bad. For example, Locke inserted private property rights in the Carolina charter. Excellent results. Also included human slavery. Horrible result. Science reduced many African diseases - Great. Science justified eugenics and racial extermination by the Germans in Africa - Terrible.Consumerism provides physical benefits the world has never seen - Marvelous. Consumerism can replace moral and spiritual benefits like nothing the world has ever seen - Astonishing.This use of contrast adds interest and depth. In fact, even though Ferguson explains he was raised atheist, the respectful way he refers to historical Christianity is intriguing. Explains Max Weber's idea of the Protestant work ethic. Ferguson believes it. Presents the increase of Christianity in China as aiding the increase of business. Indicates Freud's psychoanalysis, replacing sin with sickness, may not be an improvement.This presentation is interesting. I don't think Ferguson fully persuades the viewer in all cases; nevertheless, he provides much information and makes a clear argument. Well worth watching. This is the third time we have reviewed this analysis. Always gives me ideas to ponder.

Knowing that Ferguson is one of the highest profile thinkers who openly rejects the prevailing Marxist narratives made me curious when I saw him publish the book which accompanies this DVD recently. Would he follow Huntington? Spengler? Toynbee? Weber? McNeil? How would someone in our generation who rejects the prevailing academic orthodoxy look at the world?Since I didn't have time to add this book to my long list, I was pleasantly surprised to find it in DVD-- something enjoyable to watch while relaxing. It really turned out to be an educational pleasure. The basic concept is that Ferguson identifies 6 aspects of the West that other competing societies lacked. Then in each episode, he picks up one of those 6 aspects and compares the West to another example Civilization.As should be expected from a documentary series, it does not dive in depth, explore counter theories, etc. He is simply making a case for his summary of the differences. A bit of a Weberian myself, I would have made the case that that his first 5 "killer apps" are the result primarily of cultural forces at work for many centuries (following Stark), but then you wouldn't expect this kind of religious argument from an atheist. What you also don't expect from an atheist, however is that he DOES argue Weber's protestant work ethic in section 6 as a primary driver of Western dominance. I think his application to China overlooks the Confucian roots of their work ethic, but nonetheless, the story arc works. Protestantism made us work, those who are rejecting it, are stopping working, and those who are embracing it are working like we used to.Contrary to what others may have insinuated, this series displays both a broad awareness of competing theories and literature (which he references, but often you would only know if you were in the literature yourself) as well as some scholarship of his own. To be honest, a series like this one could not be considered good if there were not some leftists on here screaming and giving it one star reviews for no particular reason other than that it challenges their state-sanctioned orthodoxy. Exploitation is simply not an explanation for dominance at all. Exploitation has been the rule of the day for thousands of years, but does nothing to explain how the West outpaced everyone else.

Let me start out by saying that I have read Professor Ferguson's book "The War of the World" and found it to be albeit heavy an interesting read.Professor Ferguson proposes in this documentary, that what caused the Western cultures to surpass the Eastern ones, were six so called "Killer Apps" 1.Competition 2.Science 3.Property 4.Modern Medicine 5.Consumerism 6. Work Ethic.If you've seen documentaries that link things together, across the span of history and how one lead to the rise of the other or built upon the other i.e. "James Burke's Connections series" than you have seen in gist what Professor Ferguson is attempting to do here.All in all it was an interesting documentary, I watched it over the course of 6 days watching one episode an evening and discussing it over the course of the next day with a friend who was also watching it.There will of course be points the he makes that you will disagree with but that is true of most material when it comes to lecturers. If you're interested in programs like "Connections" then I highly recommend this program as well as Professor Ferguson's books.If I had to offer one complaint though, I would say that perhaps the price is a tad high. I got this when it was on sale at around $15 I believe and for that I think it was well worthwhile but when you get up above $20 I definitely say hold off on this or get the book then get the program later when it comes down in price. Granted that is more to do with the PBS/BBC releases then anything but still a good program just a tad pricey.

If you are reasonably well read there is not much that is new here. That said, the programs are well presented. I would have given it 3 1/2 stars if I could but it does not rise to the 4 star level. His thesis is that western civilization is superior to other cultures in particular: its technology and industrialization but there are many aspects to western civilization - industrialization being but one. I don't disagree with any of his "apps: Competition, Science, Property, Medicine, Consumerism, Work but the most important "app" was missing: Motive. And what is that motive? It is that there is such a thing as virtue (being a good person) and that virtue is acquired through the application of those traits which promote industriousness.

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Excellent!

I really enjoyed this dvd.It was very instructive and I learned a lotabout the history of our world.It is excellent for childen and adults alike.

Fantastic series. Niall Ferguson has the perception that so many other academics lack, namely the ability to look at historical developments and events within the particular historical context in which they emerged. He is able to take a vast amount of information and identify the crux of the issue. My only complaint is that the series, while very well done, was not the masterpiece that the book was. However, this is only to be expected, given time constraints etc.