Why is the Western World (Europe,US) so advanced (military, economical,etc) than other countries.?

Question

I want straight answers ? Are the western men better than the rest or simply luck and geographical output ?

Answer 1

It's interesting to me that so many answers include Capitalism. This is just the rhetoric of the Right repeated. We are so enmeshed in it that we don't even think about where it comes from. It's just "Common Knowledge".

There is actually a PBS Documentary that asks and answers this very question. It's called "Guns, Germs, and Steel". The reason "The Old World" was so successful in colonizing the “New World” is that Civilization began in "The Old World” in the Middle East (Egypt) and spread. It spread because of Geography.

That continent is very wide. It holds a lot of territory in the same Latitude. This means that any system of Agriculture, animals, rain fall, etc. that works in one location is transferable to another at the same Latitude. As Civilization moved east it encountered lands and people that were less civilized. The early civilizations conquered them. They expanded and taught their Technologies for raising food and making War to their new subjects.

This led to the desire for better Technologies, especially those for War. The inevitable result was the Spanish Conquistadors. Their Horsemanship and Rapiers were known and feared by all who had opposed them.

In contrast, the Americas are much longer and narrower. There are three maybe four different “zones” where a civilization that developed in one cannot function in either of the neighboring (North-South) zones. This put a natural barrier to cultures and their interacting. This then provided less need for better Technologies for War.

Even though the Inca had spread their civilization across all the Andes, they had never developed Guns or Steel. Since they didn't live as closely with their animals as the Europeans, (another fluke of geography) they had no diseases to pass to the Spaniards. The Inca also had no immunity to protect them from the European diseases. Therefore, even though the Inca out numbered the Spaniards 80,000 to 168, the Spaniards Technologies of Guns, Germs, and Steel gave the Europeans an over whelming advantage.

It was by luck of Geography that "The Old World" conquered the "New", nothing more. The Europeans were neither smarter, more industrious, possessed of better Politics, nor favored by God. They just lived in a different place that shaped their different history. Since that Conquest the goods and Raw Materials of "The New World" have enriched first Europe then the US, creating a self sustaining cycle.

Answer 2

Throughout the ages, someone on the globe is either the most advanced or least advanced. The US and Europe have been the most advanced in modern times (last 500 years or so) because we have done an amazing job at exploiting our advancements while exploiting other people. The two inextricably go hand in hand. The Europeans did an excellent job at ruling the sea through their advances in exploration, while enslaving many Africans. With the dawn of the industrial revolution, countries like England, France, and the U.S. were very successful at their imperialistic endeavors by taking advantage of raw materials from other parts of the world. Now the United States, the richest country in the world has taken the lead in the information revolution and will continue to be a dominating force in the world. Also, we we have the advantage of being a capitalist country with money as the domineering force in our economy. A last note, other countries who are continually bogged down in civil wars will never have a steady government that will lead them to advance in anything, economically or militarily.

Answer 3

It has to do with freedom and capitalism. The more freedom and free-market forces that exist in a country, the more the people have incentive to invent and improve technologies and production techniques. Part of it is geographical in that the U.S., for example, has many natural resources and is generally isolated.

If you look at modern history, that's why communist countries have to have spies to steal western technology or get help from many other communist countries to try to keep up with free countries. This is why the U.S. and Great Britain dominated in World War II. The U.S. was pumping out great quantities of equipment with superior manufacturing techniques and the British were coming up with new technologies like RADAR.

The Germans, on the other hand, had brilliant scientists, but they were greatly hampered by the lack of freedom and control.

Answer 4

This is a complicated question... previous answers of freedom and capitalism sure are part of the answer... But, we should also consider climate since many of the third world countries are in parts of the world where there is little water and where it is difficult to grow crops. Our nation started with farmers and went from there.... lots of third world countries are still trying to get started....

Answer 5

In socialist or communist countries, there is little to no incentive to work harder, stronger, better then anyone else. You're rewards or benefits are the same. In a capitalist country, your rewards, benefits, and income are directly proportional to your ability to do a job better, smarter, faster then anyone else. This breeds creativity, innovation, invention, and progress. The US has been on this agenda for 230 years, and that's why we are ahead.

Answer 6

Because money makes the world go around. That really isn't a difficult question to answer but then I guess you have to look at who's asking it.

Answer 7

because we both have good economies and companies within our countries that specifically improve and work on new technologies even without the governments concent and then end up selling it to the government or end up getting contracts

Answer 8

for what reason are we called the old world

Answer 9

capitalism. it drives technology via competition.

Answer 10

CAPITALISM, ingenuity, desire, drive, education, opportunity, gov't aid, competition and faith.