Western Civilization
...during the last five centuries and has played a vital role in the world we know today. Many of the major trends and ideas that have and will affect life originated in the West, and have improved life wherever they have been or will be implemented. As Western civilization evolved, it has had a worldwide impact on ideas concerning government, economics, society, education, industry, technology, philosophical thought, etc. Western civilization has touched every realm of life including those of personal freedom and personal fulfillment. The impact of western civilization will be felt well into the twenty-first century, and the twenty-first century will represent the final triumph of western ideas around the world. Who is better suited to take advantage of or explain these developments than individuals raised in the West?
Beginning in the fifteenth century and continuing through the seventeenth century, England, France, and Spain were the dominant nations in the western world. These countries established their dominance as a result of strong governments, powerful military, large populations, economic prosperity, and geographic locations. Geography probably played the most significant role as these countries bordered the Atlantic Ocean. The availability of a major waterway gave England, France, and Spain a means for shipping, which greatly enhanced their economies; shipping, in turn, led to each of these nations creating powerful navies. Powerful navies aided in controlling the waterways, restricting trade, and creating a dominant military presence. The economy of these nations prospered as individuals, like
Jehtro Tull and Charles Townsend, brought forth new ideas. Tull’s idea of utilizing drills and plows and Townsend’s idea of crop rotation greatly improved agricultural production, thus improving the overall economy of these nations....
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