Why is the west the best?

Industrial revolution?

It is a cyclical change, once a particular region becomes complacent and relies on its old glories.. I mean look at ancient Greece and have a look at it now, it is two steps shy of Egypt another former great..
empires rise and fall..
a great deal of the west's wealth really comes from the blood and wealth of other nations..

The poll is a bit odd, it is usually not just one thing that leads to a rise or a fall but a domino affect really, once set in motion it is a go.. I'll choose other..

There is now a multi-choice poll up.

I would also replace 'willing to use violence' with 'used violence'. If Islamic civilisation had gone to the Americas they probably would have used violence too, along with the Chinese and Indians.

format_quote Originally Posted by Fishman

Simple question: Why is the west the most powerful,culturally influential and economically eveloped of the four main civilizations (European, Islamic, East Asian and Indian)?

The only explanation is because the West is still in it's infancy. Each of those cultures had gone through the same stage we are now in. Historically it has been a very short lived stage of a Nation and immediately followed by a rapid drop in culture.

That only makes sense. Cultural advancement is expensive and places a drain on a country's economy to support it. The artisans, politicians, public servants, social workers, health care workers, law keeping, military etc. Are all non-productive in terms of creating usable products or food. As soon as the majority of the production workers become the minority, necessary production ceases and the nation falls.

You have just read the previously unknown " woodrow theory of social development and the fall of civilization" naturally it is my opinion and nobody else has agreed with it. So, don't bother looking for a source, it is the source.

format_quote Originally Posted by PurestAmbrosia

The poll is a bit odd, it is usually not just one thing that leads to a rise or a fall but a domino affect really, once set in motion it is a go.. I'll choose other..

Example? I think some are caused by others, such as the renaisance was caused partially by violence (the reconquest of Islamic Spain and Sicily), and partly by the fact that the Khan's horses couldn't burn and pillage as well in densely populated Europe as they could in the steppes and deserts, but I think that in general a rise or a fall is caused by a number of effects. For example, Mali rose because of its strategic location on a trade route though Africa, and fell when the trade stopped this was not important anymore.

When the people in the East stopped, the people in the West started.

So what you guys are saying is that the golden age of the western world is taking place now?

Whereas, the golden age of, for instance, the Islamic world, took place centuries ago?

format_quote Originally Posted by Osman

So what you guys are saying is that the golden age of the western world is taking place now?

Whereas, the golden age of, for instance, the Islamic world, took place centuries ago?

To some extent yes. If we take into account that each civilisation or part of the world has it's glory time, i.e. be cyclical in nature (birth --->maturity--->decline) then it would be logical to assume that once every nation has had it's cycle, it will occur again. In essence, the Islamic world could have another golden age.

That is, of course, if we are under the belief that it is a cyclical nature. If not, then we're looking at bleakness for many countries.

Israel is Jacob and not the colonial settler state of Israel..

Islamic prophecies are also correct for in them the state of Israel is to assemble from all corners of the world for a promised date..

cheers!

Because I live there.

I don't see where stating the simple fact that 'Israel' is Jacob denotes hatred?

Any congregation of people can form a union, declare a state by the name of 'Israel' .. Much of the original tribes sons of Jacob, have either become Christians or Muslims with the ages, 90% of the current Jews are of ashkenazi origin not sephardic.

Thus I feel to see how you are supporting or not supporting Israel and its relevence to political or economic rise or fall? Bard actually has a point, it is the secularization of the west from the dark ages of the church that has given it some leverage, not true for Muslims, however, when they abandoned what they had is where the decline set in

Current state of Israel is in fact an impostor in and of itself not a religious state but a secular one!
This has nothing to do with loving or hating Jews. I have many Jewish friends who would rather stay in their countries of Syria or Iraq until the Moshiach comes to lead them to the 'promised land' and they are at least semitic in origin
Bibilical prophecy has no weight here I am afraid. You are supporting the wrong cause!
Sad thing indeed to love a colonial settler secular state that has 'crucified God'

cheers

I can't really choose any of the options, as the question is far more complicated than that. The Western world is somewhat of an appendage to the old Greek and Roman Empires. The West hasn't had a one all powerful emperor to tie it all together, but Christianity became the unifying force in Europe...until the Reformation anyway.

Then you had the Enlightenment and the exploration of different political theories. The Industrial Revolution. Then the most important for wealth, which was colonization and empire.

It can't be understated how militaristic the West was and to some extent still is either. Strong militaries, innovation, political expression, Christianity, etc are all important factors.

Also, when it comes to the "West", it isn't so much when "it" will decline, but what nation will carry the torch of Western civilization. It was the Greeks, the Romans, the British, the French, the Spanish, etc..all at one time or another.