How do they explain western dominance in other world regions?

[LDiCesare]

The dominance really came out quite late. The Muslims had a great era of domination from Spain to India in the Middle Ages and provided lots of discoveries in mathematics (algorithm is a mispronounciation of the name of the Arab mathematician Al Kwarizmi for instance) and astronomy for instance.
The real domination of the West came from their being adventurous enough to explore the New World, when China, the only other power which was geographically in a position to do so, was land clad because of petty internal politics centuries ago. Japan was too busy internally and with Korea to do something else.

The biggest factor, as pointed out in GGS was probably the diversity of Europe: Many princes, many lands. So when Colombus request was rejected by a pronce, he could go and meet another one. The competition between the various countries/kings in Europe helped them become stronger. This can in turn be explained by geography (Italy, Spain, England, Scotland, Ireland, Switzerland for instance all have natural borders which make unification of these dificult). China on the other hand has no internal barriers to movement/conquest. Thus the Far East only had a few cultures which could have made progress, instead of many in the West.

[JohnT]

Problem with GGS is that he pretty much discounts the worth and value of ideas and human desires, and essentially turns historical development into little more than the realtor's motto of "Location, location, location!"

Nothing is ever that simple.

[Ted Striker]

In the middle east and other places in denial like Greece, USA Dominance explained as follows:

1) Proudly get on Al Jazeera burning and kicking American flag

2) Get caught wearing a Nike T-shirt while doing it

[Jaguar]

I think you can easily predict that the indigenous people of the Americas and Australia would never become powerful. The three continents no horses, camels, or elephants, and nothing close to them in usefulness.

The more interesting question is why Europe over North Africa and Asia? And that, I don't think you can explain geographically. I think there are some geographical features that are noteworthy (the Mediterranean Sea probably had much to do with it) but bany times, you can come up with one man that influences history so much that it clearly would have unfolded differently had they not existed. For example, if Alexander the Great, or Jesus Christ, or Confucius were never born, history would have gone far off the path it went down in real life. There's no way that geography can explain the effects of Genghis Khan. Occasionally, a single guy can change the world.

[Flandrien]

Originally posted by Ted Striker
2) Get caught wearing a Nike T-shirt while doing it

Made in China of course

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Spec
Western invents it, east makes it better.

Example:

US invented cars, Japan made them better.



Spec.

A German invented the car. The US mass produced them and the Japanese figured out how to make them better for less.

[Bereta_Eder]

Get caught wearing a Nike T-shirt while doing it

Just Do It.

[Dr Strangelove]

Originally posted by Jaguar Warrior
I think you can easily predict that the indigenous people of the Americas and Australia would never become powerful. The three continents no horses, camels, or elephants, and nothing close to them in usefulness.

What about Llamas?

[Dr Strangelove]

Originally posted by Jaguar Warrior
For example, if Alexander the Great, or Jesus Christ, or Confucius were never born, history would have gone far off the path it went down in real life. There's no way that geography can explain the effects of Genghis Khan. Occasionally, a single guy can change the world.

Sure. Imagine a world dominated by the followers of Wotan.

[Cruddy]

The west dominates the world?

How much oil are you burning?

Huh, just because you spend a lot on guns, tanks and nukes, you think that's superiority...

[Bereta_Eder]

it's an il il il illusion that the west (which doesnt exist. US is not a western country and europe is not affiliated with the US) controls anything.

[Bosh]

What about Llamas?

If you've ever seen the Altiplano you'd be shocked that terrain that barren could have spawned any kind of civilization.

Anyway, if all else fails you can always blame Japan, it works for a lot of East Asia

[Drake Tungsten]

Anyway, if all else fails you can always blame Japan, it works for a lot of East Asia

Japan-bashing always makes me feel better.

[Theben]

Then why are you there?

[Bereta_Eder]

Even the US couldn't stand him.