Western Civilization: A Brief History

Abstract

DURING A VISIT to Great Britain, where he studied as a young man, Mohandas Gandhi, the leader of the effort to liberate India from British colonial rule, was asked what he thought of Western civilization. “I think it would be a good idea,” he replied. Gandhi’s response was as correct as it was clever. Western civilization has led to great prob- lems as well as great accomplishments, but it remains a good idea. And any complete understanding of today’s world must take into account the meaning of Western civ- ilization and the role Western civilization has played in history. Despite modern progress, we still greatly reflect our religious traditions, our political systems and theories, our economic and social structures, and our cultural herit- age. I have written this brief history of Western civiliza- tion to assist a new generation of students in learning more about the past that has shaped them and the world in which they live.