The Rise of the West and Historical Methodology: Crash Course World History #212
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Date: 2022-04-04
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Comments and reviews: 10
Ryan
In Francis Fukyama's sequel to -The Origins of Political Order-: -Political Order and Political Decay- he makes some of these points, but he does emphasize the quality of institutions in determining the success of a nation. He claims that Geography, inherited colonial institutions, and the strength of pre-colonial institutions are all factors. But he doesn't claim that Montesquieu was entirely wrong as you suggest. Certainly being closer to the equator (warmer climates) does not make one lazy, and being from a northern latitude does not make one brave or daring, but he was right in suggesting geography plays a role. The size of alluvial valleys, availability of arable land, the climate and natural resources, the orientation of mountain ranges or other boundaries to trade, and easy access to ports or large rivers will certainly have an effect on the ability for a strong centralized state to emerge from tribal or band-level civilizations. This most certainly did have an effect on the type and quality of institutions until at least very recently.
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In Francis Fukyama's sequel to -The Origins of Political Order-: -Political Order and Political Decay- he makes some of these points, but he does emphasize the quality of institutions in determining the success of a nation. He claims that Geography, inherited colonial institutions, and the strength of pre-colonial institutions are all factors. But he doesn't claim that Montesquieu was entirely wrong as you suggest. Certainly being closer to the equator (warmer climates) does not make one lazy, and being from a northern latitude does not make one brave or daring, but he was right in suggesting geography plays a role. The size of alluvial valleys, availability of arable land, the climate and natural resources, the orientation of mountain ranges or other boundaries to trade, and easy access to ports or large rivers will certainly have an effect on the ability for a strong centralized state to emerge from tribal or band-level civilizations. This most certainly did have an effect on the type and quality of institutions until at least very recently.
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African
As we clear form previous sessions, disease is more important than military might. It was not superior social structures or moral values that allowed Western Europe to dominate the world economy it was germs. It was not white supremacy that allowed manifest destiny - it was smallpox. Through contact and trading with the China and Southern Asia, Europeans developed immunity to the viruses they carried to the rest of the planet. They took these diseases to regions where societies had learned to live in harmony with nature in a sustainable way. They destroyed these environments leaving milenia of waste and an unstable global climate for the sake of a few trinkets and the ability to drive from town to boring town. Their viruses and plaques reduced the diversity and resilience of the world.
And they thought they were superior because they could destroy more? Crazy!
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As we clear form previous sessions, disease is more important than military might. It was not superior social structures or moral values that allowed Western Europe to dominate the world economy it was germs. It was not white supremacy that allowed manifest destiny - it was smallpox. Through contact and trading with the China and Southern Asia, Europeans developed immunity to the viruses they carried to the rest of the planet. They took these diseases to regions where societies had learned to live in harmony with nature in a sustainable way. They destroyed these environments leaving milenia of waste and an unstable global climate for the sake of a few trinkets and the ability to drive from town to boring town. Their viruses and plaques reduced the diversity and resilience of the world.
And they thought they were superior because they could destroy more? Crazy!
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Gabriel
So they go all the way around the world to agregate Australia and let Latin America out. Is almost kind like they're taking out the nations that weren't developed enough to call -west-. The societal structure here in Latin America is pretty similar to the rest of -the west- and we inherited the European values and religions. We just were explored the hell out of.
This -west- thing is like a club of the richest. For the most part of history eastern civilizations were more advanced, and even today is hard to exclude China, Japan and South Korea from the -developed world-. Also, isn't that kind of odd that the nations outside Europe to receive this west label are the ones that weren't exploration colonies?
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So they go all the way around the world to agregate Australia and let Latin America out. Is almost kind like they're taking out the nations that weren't developed enough to call -west-. The societal structure here in Latin America is pretty similar to the rest of -the west- and we inherited the European values and religions. We just were explored the hell out of.
This -west- thing is like a club of the richest. For the most part of history eastern civilizations were more advanced, and even today is hard to exclude China, Japan and South Korea from the -developed world-. Also, isn't that kind of odd that the nations outside Europe to receive this west label are the ones that weren't exploration colonies?
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peter
Americans, hey? Of course Canada has a better life than the US, they have the advantage of resting on an older civilisation, the UK, for all its gruesome faults, longer. Whilst as Robert Graves says in an essay, the American Revolution came too early whilst the Americans were still unready in any psychological or other aspect. Never read a Truer word my old friend, Robert. Considered himself first a poet and was a great guy too. Best, Peter L.
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Americans, hey? Of course Canada has a better life than the US, they have the advantage of resting on an older civilisation, the UK, for all its gruesome faults, longer. Whilst as Robert Graves says in an essay, the American Revolution came too early whilst the Americans were still unready in any psychological or other aspect. Never read a Truer word my old friend, Robert. Considered himself first a poet and was a great guy too. Best, Peter L.
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peter
Fact/Fiction? Martin Eden by Jack London has a lot of facts not revealed in his factual writing. Fiction can sum up out of ranges of fact a compelling idea as the guy with the long hair on maths smoked a pipe j=knew the to light it and how fast he did it as against how the light went by its heels. So? Best, Peter L.
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Fact/Fiction? Martin Eden by Jack London has a lot of facts not revealed in his factual writing. Fiction can sum up out of ranges of fact a compelling idea as the guy with the long hair on maths smoked a pipe j=knew the to light it and how fast he did it as against how the light went by its heels. So? Best, Peter L.
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Eric
I have to say your work made me love world history. Although I'm not scheduled to take AP world history this year (I took Statistics, Macro&Micro Economics instead, which I can hardly say it's fun: P) I'm definitely going to take the AP world history next year! THX again for showing me how fun history can be.
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I have to say your work made me love world history. Although I'm not scheduled to take AP world history this year (I took Statistics, Macro&Micro Economics instead, which I can hardly say it's fun: P) I'm definitely going to take the AP world history next year! THX again for showing me how fun history can be.
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Leanne
How is the 'cultural west' the geographical location that is 'the west'? A live demonstration of 'fact. to opinion': Geographical location becomes 'cultural' 'location'. seems. I like to see these guys 'span'. I don't know where they learned how to -span-. ouch.
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How is the 'cultural west' the geographical location that is 'the west'? A live demonstration of 'fact. to opinion': Geographical location becomes 'cultural' 'location'. seems. I like to see these guys 'span'. I don't know where they learned how to -span-. ouch.
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HISTORIAN
Its a cycle for some centuries west will be winner, then comes chinease and when chinease lose, then middle east, then again west this was the trend but i dont know how globilisation south amarica and africas will come in future?
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Its a cycle for some centuries west will be winner, then comes chinease and when chinease lose, then middle east, then again west this was the trend but i dont know how globilisation south amarica and africas will come in future?
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Andreu
CrashCourse tries to define success in the terms on some good political values. But I will say that when we talk of the success of culture X or nation Y, it's made in darwinian sense.
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CrashCourse tries to define success in the terms on some good political values. But I will say that when we talk of the success of culture X or nation Y, it's made in darwinian sense.
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Whispers
Why did not the warm weather and diseases hinder the growth of south Africa when Boers moved in? Why is South Africa going down in every aspect when Boers were pushed out?
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Why did not the warm weather and diseases hinder the growth of south Africa when Boers moved in? Why is South Africa going down in every aspect when Boers were pushed out?
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