How do they explain western dominance in other world regions?

[Bosh]

Alexander's expansion was well after the golden age of Greek civilization.

Past the peak of Greek culture, (although there was plenty of important scientific and whatnot stuff going on all through the Helenistic period) but hardly past the peak of Greek military power.

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by paiktis22
And what could be the "defining aspects" of western civilization which even more hilariously it is portraited as having an historical continuity no less.

The "defining aspects" are those borne of Western Christendom, as opposed to Orthodox Christendom.

And what about the political "unity" of the Greek city states during the golden age of Hellenic civilization? Oh wait, they were not unified, they were a mass of often-warring city-states...

[Bereta_Eder]

But you're not answering my question Boris.
What are the defining aspects of the so called "western civilization". The ones that tell it apart from others, distinctively.

And then there's the hilarity of it having an historical continuity as well.

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by Boshko

Past the peak of Greek culture, (although there was plenty of important scientific and whatnot stuff going on all through the Helenistic period) but hardly past the peak of Greek military power.

Militarism is not a sign of civilization. On the contrary, it is a herald of its decline. Has no one read Toynbee?

[Bosh]

Militarism is not a sign of civilization. On the contrary, it is a herald of its decline.

So? The Hellenistic states were pretty significant entities (until they became pathetic shadows whose armies could be pushed around by a single Roman envoy) that significantly altered the culture of the Middle East so Alexander's Conquest was hardly historically insignificant (my original point).

[Boris Godunov]

I didn't say they weren't historically significant.

[Bereta_Eder]

Untill you answer my question,

it is interesting to noe that the so called "Western civilization" term was born for the first time after the beggining of the cold war and was a clear try to create false unity amongst entities that were different throughout their historical journey. protestantism and catholisim produce different values. even today's US can't be called "western" but mostly because such a term doesnt historically exist.

there can a european societal culture but which itself is false and a creation of even more modern political aims. and isnt correct either.

about the city states, what common aspect existed aside all speaking greek and considering all others as barbarians?
their political systems and values were hugely different within themselves.

[Az]

Militarism is not a sign of civilization. On the contrary, it is a herald of its decline

I don't think this is correct. Rome, for example.

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by Azazel

Militarism is not a sign of civilization. On the contrary, it is a herald of its decline

I don't think this is correct. Rome, for example.

That is a prime example of it. Roman civilization's golden age was the Republic. Then came the Time of Troubles, which was the civil wars and rise of the dictators. The unified state of Empire was a reaction to that crisis--the solution was the rise of an extreme Roman militarism and great geographical expansion. But Roman civilization's great achievements were behind it. The Empire was the beginning of the end. There was an Indian Summer under the 5 good emperors, but otherwise it was a cultural decline and fall.

[Dinner]

Sure, Paiktis. Keep saying places like the US, Australia, Canada, and Brazil aren't western.

[Drake Tungsten]

Rome, for example.

Or China.

[Bereta_Eder]

Originally posted by Oerdin
Sure, Paiktis. Keep saying places like the US, Australia, Canada, and Brazil aren't western.

Any reply?

[Boris Godunov]

Huntington's 8 Characteristics that define Western Civ:

Classical legacy
Western Christianity
European languages
separation of spiritual and temporal authority
rule of law
social pluralism and civil society
representative bodies
individualism

I think these are pretty accurate. No other civilizations prior had possessed all of them, certainly.

Your grief over the term "Western Civilization" is incorrect, as it was in common usage before the cold war. Toynbee, among others, was using it in the 1920s and 1930s.

[JohnT]

I think he forgot rationalism and the scientific method.

[Az]

Boris: The Republic was EXTREMELY militaristic, certainly much more so than the empire.