Civilization — The West & The Rest

: The Industrial Revolution and the subsequent birth of a consumer society drove global trade and economic growth.

: The Scientific Revolution gave the West a major military and technological advantage over Eastern rivals.

In his book and documentary series Civilization: The West and the Rest , historian Niall Ferguson identifies six "killer applications" that enabled Western civilization to achieve global dominance starting in the 1500s. The Six "Killer Apps" of Western Civilization Civilization The West & the Rest

Ferguson argues that the West's era of predominance may be ending:

: Breakthroughs in healthcare more than doubled life expectancy, allowing Western empires to expand into previously inhospitable regions. : The Industrial Revolution and the subsequent birth

: Other civilizations have now successfully "downloaded" these six features, allowing countries like China to challenge Western supremacy.

These features distinguish the "West" from the "Rest" by explaining how a small minority of the global population secured the majority of its resources: The Six "Killer Apps" of Western Civilization Ferguson

: Representative government and the protection of private property—distinct from autocratic rule—underpinned economic stability and the rise of corporations.