Book Review on 'Civilization'

choi

Steven Pearlstein, “Civilization: The West and the Rest,” by Niall Ferguson. Washington Post, Jan 13, 2012.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/en ... QAVzQxwP_story.html

Quote:

"And applying the same logic, drawn from the sociologist Max Weber, he argues that the seeds of China’s economic miracle were planted by generations of Protestant missionaries who taught the Chinese the value of literacy, thrift and hard work. He even has a map to prove it.

"The high point of “Civilization” may the chapter on the importance of consumers in fostering economic progress — something that Marx never foresaw, Henry Ford never forgot, Hitler and Stalin never understood, and Japan and China came to embrace.

"Ferguson’s take-away is that if there is a threat to the West’s continued dominance in the world, it comes not from China or Islam, but from ourselves — from our lack of knowledge of history and our lack of faith in the civilization we inherited. It’s a powerful theme and a great ending, alas, for a book that is still to be written.

My comment:
(a) The above are the three, and only three, instances in this review about China.
(b) The review observes, "At various times, the Chinese, Aztec and Ottoman civilizations boasted the world’s highest standards of living, the best infrastructure, the fiercest armies, the largest cities, the most productive fields, the longest lifespans, the deepest understanding of the natural world, the best technology, the wisest rulers.
(c) riff (n; probably by shortening & alteration from refrain; First Known Use 1935):
"a distinct variation : TAKE <a disturbing…riff on the Cinderella story — Daria Donnelly>"

The noun "take" in this context:
"a distinct or personal point of view, outlook, or assessment <was asked for her take on recent developments>; also : a distinct treatment or variation <a new take on an old style>"

Both definitions are from www.m-w.com.
(d) The book talks about Vienna in 1683 turning back Ottoman armies at its gates.

Battle of Vienna
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Vienna
(Although the Ottomans had 300 good cannons, the fortifications of Vienna were very strong and up to date, and the Ottomans had to find a more effective use for their gunpowder: mining. Tunnels were dug under the massive city walls to blow them up with substantial quantities of black powder.)

This is the only instance in the Wiki page about technology. The "mining" means digging tunnels under city walls and placing black power to blow them up (a move Vienese foiled by uncovering some tunnels).

My cursory search in the Web does not turn up a decisive technical advance that Vienna (or western Europe) held over Ottoman empire. I guess you will have to read his book to see his points.