What explains the `Rise of the West`?

The Proliferation of the Western Civilization

At the fore of the history of world civilizations was the rise of Eastern Civilizations or Asian Civilizations , with the Chinese the longest to reign ever (it is one of the four great ancient civilization and the only one to survive up to this date . In terms of influence however , much credits is to be given to the western civilizations . Its influence went as far as trade and commerce , religion , philosophy socio-politics , education and arts . It is to be noted that China 's high-regard of its

self might had been a factor of its downfall and inability to leave a domineering impression . The fall of the east marked the proliferation of the western civilization . What western civilization meant here is the pact of western nations such as Italy France , England , Spain and others , which roots were from the early empires of Rome and Greece

Unlike its contemporaries , the West was a poverty-stricken , backward society . However , at the prime of the 19th Century , the western region of the globe had already gained power and wealth that no one had anticipated at first . It could be considered that one of the very first steps the western civilization taken to strategically position itself was its discovery of Asia and America . During the tumultuous years of the beginnings of civilizations when least is known about world 's geography , explorations were very much ambitious yet rewarding especially on the end of the host nation . Such voyages were quite important in spreading out influence through religion , arts , culture and language , and were equally important to gain control over the world 's vast resources

But prior to their explorations of the world in the 1500 's , their inquisitive minds had already shown a promising domain over politics and economy , and religion and science . The great philosophical thinkers like Plato , Socrates and Aristotle were all children of the west . Their contributions in philosophy and critical thinking had laid the foundations in the fields of politics , religion and even natural sciences in terms of structure of inquiry and basic principles Likewise , the world 's largest religious congregation , with the biggest number of members emerged from this region - the Roman Catholic Church

Apart from philosophy and religion , the western society is the home of geniuses the world has ever known in the fields of natural sciences and the arts . The essentials and basics being applied in today 's technology and science breakthroughs could all be traced back prior and at the dawn of industrial revolution . As according to Joel Mokyr 's words in his review of David Lande 's The Wealth and Poverty of Nations : Why Some Are So Rich and Some So Poor (1998 , it was the western civilization that made the Industrial Revolution possible , an event that marked the proliferation of technological advancement . This has also contributed a lot to the boosting of the west 's economy , which in return helped them gain political advantage over other societies . Prior to the west...