Is the West the worst civilisation in history?

[julie09]

[MerakSahibi]

I think 'Western' is a relatively modern term. Civilization essentially originated in Mesopotamia and Egypt because agriculture was born there, and fertile land allowed for surplus production, which in turn enabled the formation of complex structures. From there, it spread to the Eastern Mediterranean, Greece, and Rome. During this era, there was no such thing as a 'We, the Europeans' consciousness; northern warrior Germanic tribes were viewed as 'barbarians' and 'the Other.'
In fact, 13th-century Arab scholars identified the founding nations of civilization as the Mediterranean peoples—such as Arabs, Greeks, and Latins.
The West grew rich through the Crusades—capitalizing on a period of Eastern military and political decline—and was subsequently propelled ahead of the Islamic world by the Age of Discovery.
Infectious diseases brought from the Old World decimated the indigenous peoples of the Americas, while the survivors were enslaved and forced to work to death. You already know the rest of the story.
A shared European identity only emerged with the Peace of Westphalia and the subsequent Enlightenment.
As the poet said, 'Civilization is a monster with a single remaining tooth'; civilization is neither mercy nor conscience. It is bookkeeping. Indeed, because what the East called 'wealth' the West called 'capital,' it also laid the very foundations of capitalism

[Oigit]

There is no such thing as a great civilization. Everyone one has had its own group of people beating its members over the head with their virtues tell people believe them. It's part of an over all issue we have as a species. We are good in small groups but as we form larger groups the more negative aspects of our phycology as humans start coming to the surface. People can quickly get caught up in those negative aspects as well and that's when conflict can seem inevitable.

If anything its a hold over from our early ancestors survival depended on forming close nit tribes and working together. But tribalism is something that has not been compatible with the modern world for many generations and is something we need to stop falling into.

[Dargil]

It is is by far best. We created almost everything and a political system (the USA version) that enables its citizens the greatest prosperity and liberty. Nothing even comes close. The Communist/Socialist and Muslim ideologies (they aren't even civilizations) are the greatest failures human history.

The failing European Union is not far behind and worsening by the day. Miss Julie, I challenge you to identify a better society and I will gladly contribute to your one way airfare. Please don't come back.

Those who are running down this country have no idea what they (You) will lose if Democrats deconstruct it, as they want to do.

Have a nice day.

[MerakSahibi]

I don't know what he means by failure, but Fibonacci revolutionized Florentine banking by replacing Roman numerals with Hindu-Arabic numerals.
It was Al-Andalus that reintroduced the West to philosophers like Aristotle.
The compass, gunpowder, and medical texts were passed down to you from the East.
If you're talking about the moral/conscientious side of things, many of the practices you view as savagery in Islam already existed in that region. Muslims integrated into the existing international order, yet alongside that, they improved women's rights and the rights of slaves. A common woman gained the right to one-third of an inheritance (in England, until the 19th century, only the eldest son was the heir). Slaves became able to buy their freedom with money, or gain their liberty after eight years of servitude. The Prophet constantly emphasized how virtuous it is to free slaves

[Kaneki05]

Only if you think humans rights are bad since the West has the highest protected human rights, meanwhile the east has exceptions like Japan but not the rule. If one thinks this not to be true well... I say put all east countries on labels into a hat whichever you pull out you have to travel to and try live there see how long ya last.

[Screenwriter]

All civilizations have bad actors through history. West is no exception. And all of them have exceptional parts... Can't throw baby out with bathwater!!

[goaded]

No. Almost all previous civilisations allowed slavery, for example. Women often had no rights. It took a long time for us to get there too, and there's some recent back-sliding, but we're generally getting there.

[RavVid]

You of all, cannot be criticizing western civilisation!!! Look at all the French Pilosophers, writers, poets, mathmaticians it has produced.

Notably it has produced democracy.

[julie09]

That’s not what I think, but I’m curious to hear what others think

[julie09]

I am proud to be French and to belong to Western civilisation

[RavVid]

Rightly proud I would say. I might have misread the earlier reply but on re-reading I think you are saying that you don't think Western civilization is the worst in history but you are curious as to what others think.

I tend to think the Left think Western Civilization is inherently bad even though Marxist thought arose in the West.

I imagine a lot of your followers would be curious on your reaction to the riots by the way

[jshm2]

Technically there is no such thing as "Western civilisation" It's various smaller civilisations working at exploiting and pirating from other civilisations.

[TonyMetal___1986]

Becoming the worst because of it's people and degrading societies!
Losing morals, values and faith leads to corruption...

[FrodoVader007]

@TonyMetal___1986 well said. Leftists ideals and cultural Marxism is a problem.

[TonyMetal___1986]

@FrodoVader007 hey buddy, what happened to your frodoskywalker account? 🙂

[FrodoVader007]

It became one with the force apparently.
I'm now a force ghost come to instruct others in the way of the light side.

[TonyMetal___1986]

@FrodoVader007 https://tenor.com/r7rcdTh6qWp.gif

[abc3643]

When you're about to be a human sacrifice atop a Mayan temple to appease their gods, feel free to reconsider this question.

[Telekinetic-Potato]

If the civilization that is a combination of every civilization is the worst one, what does that really tell us?

[exitseven]

The western world is responsible, for all the culture in the known world, inventions, scientific and medical breakthroughs, law and order, and efficient business practices.

[goaded]

Ever wondered why algebra and algorithm start with an Al-? Or why we use 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, including importantly the digit 0, which comes from Africa. Try doing your accounts in Roman numerals, let alone calculus.

Here they are, in the original Arabic: الخَوَارِزْمِيّ اَلْجَبْر

[goaded]

India, not Africa. How did that happen?

[Bricealan]

@julie09 The East is always bankrupt, or having riots in the street over something... then again, so too is the West

[lightbulb27]

Probably not, but it has a lot of problems. We advanced technically but socially we devolved.

[goaded]

We were doing pretty well until recently. Not perfect, but improving.

[lightbulb27]

@goaded I saw it in 90s, other 90yr olds I know saw it in the 60s. may all be relevant to what ya think is correct. current guy isn't helping and making things worse with how he is, don't want a planet full of him.
a decline in values more than last 2-6 years.

[NathanDavis]

that usually depends on who wrote "history"

[Billlewis]

Only because of the left, and only since 2008/'09.

[AviatorTom]

It's no better, nor worse, than other civilisations.

[KostasKouvalis]

No way, and I am shocked to hear such blasphemous statements coming from your mouth.

[julie09]

I didn’t say that was my opinion; I just want to know if there are people who think that

[Xoirwinkan]

"The West" outlawed cannibalism, slavery, widow-burning, marrying underaged girls, eliminated large scale piracy, etc. This is such a joke of a question.

[Snakeyes7]

It is the best the world has seen yet. And to those who disagree:

[Snakeyes7]

or at least it was until the past 20 years when it decided to start to kill itself because of some evil mustache guy.

[FunkyMonkee]

Yeah. That's why the rest of the world is constantly trying to come here illegally.

[Staximus]

Considering homo sapiens have been around for over 300,000 years and we only know about 2000 years of history, who knows?

[832loverboy73]

No, but white racist dumba**es have ruined it.

[BlackFalcon03]

Yes. How dare they stop the native americans from human sacrafice

[Anonymous]

Don’t insult my intelligence America is the greatest Country in the world, Look at your Crazy country rioting. I’m gonna have to tell Poppy you’re making trouble

[Dr_Dixon_Cider]

I think it's funny how the people that think so, really want to be here instead of...

Where they're from, or anywhere else.

[Peachie2050]

Not the worst but they’re pretty uncivilised these days

[Pterodon]

No I’d say the the ones that required human sacrifices to their gods were

[Anonymous]

Well, that certainly seems to be President Putin's opinion at this CURRENT time period. And I'm afraid I have to AGREE with him.

[Anonymous]

No, it is hands down the best civilization that has ever existed.

[4ngelic]

We're probably the best there ever has been

[BCRanger10]

Only if you're a communist.

[MrChinaski]

It's too early to tell.

[moddy_the_mod]

lol no. Only a moron would think so.

[Anonymous]

The only civilization the rest are just savages

[Strongboi50010]

"The West" isn't a civilization.

[FrodoVader007]

Obviously not, this is leftist revisionism

[LazerBean]

Nope

[msc545]

Probably so, yes.