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Key Aspects of Western Civilization
Western civilization can be attributed from the origins of European and Mediterranean links to former western Christendom and Western Roman Empire. The major aspects of the civilization are marked through enlightenment, reformation, industrial revolution, and renaissance. The subsequent uptake to the present forms is contained in the development of liberal democracy, which is embraced in almost every part of humanity. The cultural contributions, enabled periods throughout history all have an important basis in determining western civilization. According to each stage o developmental civilization within humanity, the effect had positive and negative upturn depending on the modalities utilized. Of most significance was the period before 1000 BCE with the enabled changes in human life and way of living. The term west was borrowed from the differential setting of civilization from the East in Asia, as opposed to West in Europe.
The west in reference to differential basis of civilization can be interpreted in two ways. The first interpretation is based on the geographical and historical advent of human civilization. The very first human forms of civilizations were contained in the Middle East and Asia. In middle East, the existence of Mesopotamia and Tigris. Further, towards Asia, it was established through the Chinese development. During these periods, simple form of tools, implements, and basic subsistence modalities were used by the people at the time in comparison to latter stages (Cantor 14). In differential meaning to the term west, civilization was distinct to the one witnessed in Greece and early roman empires. The second derivative meaning of the term west can be attributed to the latter stages of development through industrial revolution witnessed throughout Europe with the subsequent effects carried through to countries in the Americas.
According to the civilization witnessed from the eastern to western kind, the most important aspect witnessed throughout the time was enlightenment and absolutism. The traditional balance between governance and succession of power had been maintained through the monarch, clergy and nobility. The utilities of church and faith in other Christian based countries facilitated the change of the above dimensions of human life. Greater power had to be wielded back to the core foundations of the society through enabled transparency and embodiment of the values. As the empires took shape across Europe, there was clamor for changes in religions and governance due to separation. With the need in exertion of authority from the rulers and availability of raw materials, control of resources and channeling of development, the narrow path on civilization had been maintained according to the systems of governance.
The
age of enlightenment marked the most important aspect of western civilization
and development of advances in human life. The period established the equality
between humans and derivative of governments obtaining it from the consent of
those governed within the countries and territories. The enlightened were then
christened the term philosophers due to the thinking and enabling the shift
from traditional forms. An ideal society had to be created without discrimination,
favoritism, or bias. According to me, it was the most significant point of
western civilization as it marked the shift from primitive thinking. Duchesne
(17) agrees that it enabled scientific and intellectual thinking, as all people
were equal and could have a fair voice on concerns that affected their lives. It
set the precedence of liberal societies as they are today with equality across
board.
Works Cited:
Cantor, Norman F. The Civilization of the Middle Ages: A Completely Revised and Expanded Edition of Medieval History, the Life, and Death of a Civilization. New York: HarperCollins, 2004. Print.
Duchesne, Ricardo. The Uniqueness of Western Civilization. Leiden: Brill, 2011. Print.