The Eastern Origins of Western Civilisation

JohnHobsonchallengestheethnocentricbiasofmainstreamaccountsoftheRiseoftheWest.ItisoftenassumedthatsinceAncientGreektimesEuropeanshavepioneeredtheirowndevelopment,andthattheEasthasbeenapassiveby-standerinthestoryofprogressiveworldhistory.HobsonarguesthatthereweretwoprocessesthatenabledtheRiseofthe'OrientalWest'.First,eachmajordevelopmentalturningpointinEuropewasinformedinlargepartbytheassimilationofEasterninventions(e.g.ideas,technologiesandinstitutions)whichdiffusedfromthemoreadvancedEastacrosstheEastern-ledglobaleconomybetween500–1800.Second,theconstructionofEuropeanidentityafter1453ledtoimperialism,throughwhichEuropeansappropriatedmanyEasternresources(land,labourandmarkets).Hobson'sbookthuspropelsthehithertomarginalisedEasternpeoplestotheforefrontofthestoryofprogressinworldhistory.