The
Ottoman Empire’s decree banning printed type in 1483 was obviously a noteworthy
historical event. According to economic historian
Niall Ferguson, it a particularly telling incident, emblematic of the increasingly
sharp distinctions between the West and the rest of the world. Ferguson lucidly explains six key attributes
or so-called “killer apps” contributing to the West’s ascendency for the last
five hundred years or so and pointedly asks if they are now beginning to shift
to the East in the two-part sweeping survey Civilization:The West and the Rest (promo here), adapted from his bestselling book of
the same name, which airs the next two Tuesday nights on most PBS outlets
nationwide.
One
of Ferguson’s touchstone figures is a “Resterner” rather than a Westerner. During the reign of Emperor Yongle, the technologically
advanced China was a relatively pleasant place to live, especially compared to
the dismal conditions of Europe. However,
his successors would turn China’s focus inward, ceding the global stage to
upstart Westerners. The West was well
suited to capitalize because of those six killer apps: competition (first
between grubby European city-states for prestige and than in the more
traditional capitalistic sense), science, democracy (particularly when coupled
with widespread property ownership), modern medicine, democracy, and the work
ethic.
While
many of these might sound rather obvious, Ferguson puts each into a fresh
perspective. Science would indeed seem
like a glaring no-brainer, but not to the Ottomans. Just as the Catholic Church was relaxing its
attitudes towards scientific inquiry, the Muslim religious authorities were
taking an even harder line, including but not limited to the prohibition
against type in favor of calligraphy.
Even
when analyzing American history, the British historian offers some intriguing insights. Though public schools largely give short
shrift to the founding of the Carolina Colony and the Fundamental Constitutions
written by John Locke, Ferguson contends they represented an unprecedented
opportunity for social mobility. In less
than a decade, a despised member of the English underclass could bind himself
into indentured servitude, receiving free and clear title to his own land
holdings at the end of his term. As a
property owning man, thereby entitled to vote, he became a fully vested member
of the economic and political establishment.
While
Ferguson largely avoids normative judgments, he makes time to critique what he
dubs America’s “original sin,” slavery, and its bastard child,
segregation. Yet, in keeping with his
previous scholarship, Ferguson is more forgiving of European colonialism,
especially with regards to the spread of modern medicine (in this case a kindly
app) throughout Africa.
Of
course, the central questions concerning Ferguson are whether the West still
believes in its killer apps and if Resterners have developed better
upgrades. This really comes to the fore
during his discussion of the work ethic—the Protestant Work Ethic to be more
precise. Here the Chinese are
demonstrably outperforming the West, even America, by any standard of
productivity. The real revelation though
is the linkage Ferguson posits with the upsurge in Protestant religious
observance in Mainland China. Ferguson’s
observation: “today there may actually be more practicing Christians in China
than in Europe” is a heavy statement rife with implications few are seriously
grappling with. In no uncertain terms,
China is identified as the Restern power to watch. Yet, Ferguson never fully addresses the
enormous disparities between the go-go coastal cities and the desperately poor
rural villages, where consumerism and even modern medicine have yet to fully
arrive.
Granted,
Ferguson’s approach is somewhat anecdotal, but those stories are truly fascinating,
more often than not. Naturally,
compressing five hundred years into four hours will lead to odd allocations of
focus. As a case in point, German
sociologist Max Weber has at least twenty times more screen time than Lenin,
Stalin, Hitler, and Bismarck combined.
On the other hand, his scholarship withstands history’s scrutiny better
than their ideologies.
Simultaneously
erudite and telegenic, Ferguson is an almost chatty host, who could be accused
of glossing over decades and even centuries with the wave of a hand. Yet, he is dashed convincing, pulling viewers
through his arguments, step by logical step.
It all might sound dry, but it is surprisingly entertaining. Frankly, viewers will be rather sorry to see Civilization end, so to speak. Immensely timely and intellectually engaging,
Ferguson’s Civilization is very
highly recommended television. It begins
this coming Tuesday (5/22) and concludes the following week (5/29) on most PBS
stations.
(Photos:
Dewald Aukema, © Chimerica)
