58 pages • 1 hour read
Niall FergusonCivilization: The West and the Rest
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2011A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
What are Ferguson’s “killer apps,” and how have they contributed to the rise of Western civilization after 1500? Why does the author use this type of terminology?
What role has imperialism played in the emergence of the West as a premiere civilization in the last 500 years? Do you agree with Ferguson’s assertions about the nature of imperialism?
Do the global developments since the publication of this book in 2011 support or challenge Ferguson’s assertions about the West?
How does Ferguson define Western civilization? How is his definition similar or different compared to other civilizational groupings and theories?
If you had to choose the single most important “killer app,” which one would it be and why?
What role does religion play in the development of civilization in Ferguson’s view?
Ferguson argues that war, a destructive force, has paradoxically led to many civilizational advancements. What were these advancements, and why were they important?
The Rise and Fall of Civilizations is one of the overarching themes in this book. What examples does he use to demonstrate this trend? What are the author’s predictions about the future of the West?
What was the key difference between the British and Spanish colonization of the Americas? What type of evidence does the author present? Do you agree with his assertions?
What is the relationship between the Industrial Revolution and the spread of Western consumer culture around the world? What effect has consumer culture had on non-Western countries?
