In 1500 “the West” was ignorant, backward, and fragmented. Anyone betting in those days about which civilizations would emerge 500 years later as the world’s leaders wouldn’t have bet on the West; they would have bet on the Islamic world or China, both of whom were far more advanced. Yet 500 years later, the West has been the driver in new advances, and the Islamic world and China have been left far behind. Why, Ferguson asks, did this happen? His answer is fascinating.
He argues that six "killer apps" (to use the current jargon) were adopted by Western civilizations that made all the difference: competition, science, property rights, medicine, the consumer society, and the work ethic. Ferguson discusses other influences that have been suggested, especially those like colonialism and unfortunate geography, that might have held other civilizations back, but as he points out, there are frequently cultures right next door, subject to the same influences, that have prospered anyway if they adopted most or all of these six attributes.
He also discusses how America can stay ahead, even as the rest of the world begins to catch up. All in all a fascinating book.
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