Explore the logic of history by analyzing human biology, sociology, and geography. Discover the impact of climate change, the rise of states, and the devastating consequences of measles and smallpox outbreaks. Compare the social development of the East and the West, and learn about the military revolution in the West and the profitable transatlantic trade.
Ian Morris argues that studying how human biology, sociology, and geography interact can reveal a fundamental pattern in history.
The West's dominance in global affairs can be attributed to the Industrial Revolution, but understanding why it originated in Britain and why the West rose so high is crucial.
Environmental disruptions, sociological trends, and geographical advantages have played significant roles in shaping the course of civilizations in both the East and the West.
Deep dives
The Search for a Law of History
Ian Morris explores the concept of finding a law or universal logic in history that explains the struggles of civilization. He rejects the belief that each culture should be understood on its own terms and advocates for studying how human biology, sociology, and geography interact to discover a fundamental pattern in history.
The Question of Why the West Rules
Morris delves into the question of why the West has dominated global affairs, especially in the face of historical expectations that China would be the superpower. He acknowledges that the Industrial Revolution is the immediate reason for Western dominance, but seeks to explain why the Industrial Revolution originated in Britain and why the West's development rose so high that a few countries could dominate the entire planet.
The Role of Biology, Sociology, and Geography in Shaping History
Morris presents a comprehensive analytical approach to understanding the shape of history. He combines insights from biology, sociology, and geography to explain the historical patterns revealed in his graph of social development. He highlights the impact of environmental disruptions, sociological trends, and geographical advantages in shaping the course of civilizations in both the East and the West.
The West's dependence on bronze and the transition to iron
The West's social development was hindered by its dependence on bronze, as the collapse of the bronze trade network caused a crisis and forced a transition to iron, which became the new cheap metal used for weapons and tools.
The West's political consolidation and the growth of social development
To reignite social development, the West had to follow the East's example and politically consolidate power. Political consolidation led to the dominance of Rome, as rulers who failed to control local chiefs were crushed. By 200 BC, the East and West were more similar than ever, with great empires, advanced cities, and higher social development. However, due to outbreaks of disease and changing weather, both regions faced setbacks, with the East overtaking the West's social development by 600 AD. The West's fragmentation and reliance on religion allowed for ideological protection, while the East's reunification through the Grand Canal limited innovation but maintained stability.
Many scholars balk at the idea of searching for such logic, insisting that each culture may only be understood on its own terms. In Why the West Rules - For Now, Ian Morris counters that if we look beyond the facade of culture to how human biology, sociology, and geography interact, it is possible to discover a fundamental pattern in history to help us answer the biggest historical questions, from why the West rules for now, to what will happen next.
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