by Frank Li
1. What is a civilization?
Here is an excerpt from Wikipedia - Civilization:
A civilization is whatever complex society characterized past times urban development, social stratification imposed past times a cultural elite, symbolic systems of communication (for example, writing systems), together with a perceived separation from together with domination over the natural environment.
2. Civilizations yesterday
It is a ordinarily accepted theory that nosotros human species started inward Africa millions of years ago, together with and so spread all over the world.
It is equally good a ordinarily accepted theory that half-dozen major ancient civilizations, equally shown below (The Rise together with Fall of the Mighty: Six Ancient Civilizationsm), developed generally independently to a greater extent than than 5,000 years ago.
3. Civilizations today
The icon below highlights today's civilizations. For to a greater extent than nearly this image, read: http://keywordsuggest.org/gallery/341460.html.
4. Civilizations: from yesterday to today
Here is what happened to the half-dozen major ancient civilizations:
Two (i.e. Aztec together with Moche) are gone, thank you lot to the Europeanization of the Americas.
Three have got survived: Egypt, Mesopotamia, together with Indus Valley.
One (i.e. China) has sustained - come, almost gone, together with come upward again!
What was the argue behind this huge change?
Evolution, natural equally good equally artificial!
Let's await at the number from 2 perspectives: how to thrive together with how to survive, respectively.
4.1 Civilization: how to thrive?
Be strong, both economically together with militarily!
To live rigid together with to stay strong, the might to conform is patently the most important. Very notably, civilization together with empire edifice seem to have got gone mitt inward hand. In other words, a to a greater extent than advanced civilization enables to a greater extent than empire building, which farther advances together with spreads that civilization. More on this later.
4.2 Civilization: how to survive?
To me, in that place are iii keys:
Having a domicile country.
Having a written language.
Having a substantial population.
Let me elaborate on each ...
4.2.1 Having a domicile country
The most obvious instance is perhaps the Jews. As a people, the Jews are creative together with successful. But they were homeless for to a greater extent than than 2,000 years, during which they suffered hugely, alongside the latest together with the worst instance existence the Holocaust. I wishing the Jews well, peculiarly alongside the creation of their ain domicile province inward Israel. Here is a cautious depository fiscal establishment notation though: a two-state solution is a must, or State of Israel volition lose to its neighbors, past times attrition!
4.2.2 Having a written language
It ensures massive noesis accumulation over time, which tin live passed along from generation to generation. For example, the Chinese developed their ain written linguistic communication early on together with well. Because of that, Communist People's Republic of China has a real good documented history of the past times 2,000 years, at least. For more, read: Civilizations: It's the Written Languages, Stupid!
In contrast, some African countries did non adequately prepare their ain written languages, nor did Aztec together with Moche. As a result, both Africa together with the Americas barbarous behind inward evolution. For example, slave trading went on inward Africa equally belatedly equally the early on 1900s, patch Communist People's Republic of China officially banned it to a greater extent than than 2,000 years ago.
Worse yet, falling behind meant becoming victims to the Europeans. The icon below shows i example. For more, read Sections five together with 6.
4.2.3 Having a substantial population
Instead of existence simply colonized, similar most African together with Asian countries, all indigenous civilizations inward the Americas (e.g. Aztec together with Moche) were wiped out past times the Europeans (e.g. Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire). How was that possible? Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 commutation argue was that a substantial population had already been developed inward both Africa together with Asia, but non inward the Americas!
Here is a recent tidings story: 'The fourth dimension for reconciliation is over': South Africa votes to confiscate white-owned ground without compensation.
Is this right? Yes, of course, peculiarly inward the sense of ultimate justice!
Here is my view: It is a natural evolution inward humanity or existent civilization - to correct the wrongs of the past! Unfortunately for American-Indians, they volition never have the same justice equally the folks inward South Africa, because in that place are simply non plenty of them left on earth!
5. What is Western civilization?
Below is an excerpt from Wikipedia - Western civilization.
Western civilization traces its roots dorsum to Western Europe together with the Western Mediterranean. It is linked to the Roman Empire together with alongside Medieval Western Christendom which emerged from the Middle Ages to sense such transformative episodes equally the Renaissance, the Reformation, the Enlightenment, the Industrial Revolution, scientific revolution, together with the evolution of liberal democracy. The civilizations of Classical Greece together with Ancient Rome are considered seminal periods inward Western history; a few cultural contributions equally good emerged from the infidel peoples of pre-Christian Europe, such equally the Celts together with Germans, equally good equally some meaning religious contributions derived from Judaism together with Hellenistic Judaism stemming dorsum to Second Temple Judea, Galilee, together with the early on Jewish diaspora;[1][2][3] together with another Middle Eastern influences.[4] Christianity together with Roman Catholicismhas played a prominent role inward the shaping of Western civilization, which throughout most of its history, has been nearly equivalent to Christian culture. (There were Christians exterior of the West, such equally China, India, Russia, Byzantium together with the Middle East).[5][6][7][8][9] Western civilization has spread to arrive at the dominant cultures of modern Americas together with Oceania, together with has had immense global influence inward recent centuries inward many ways.
In my opinion, Western civilization was largely shaped past times the Romans, on top of ancient Greece. It was hugely enhanced after 1492, when Christopher Columbusdiscovered the "new" world - With guns inward i mitt together with the Bible inward the other, the West non solely conquered the "new" world, but equally good colonized the "uncivilized", or "under-civilized”, purpose of the quondam world (e.g. Arab Republic of Egypt together with India), ofttimes nether the ruse of spreading Christian civilization.
It is arguable whether Europeanization of the world was a truthful shape of civilization (vs. barbarianism including slavery). But let's settle it equally the most extreme shape of civilization, against a to a greater extent than natural shape of civilization: Chinese civilization.
6. What is Chinese civilization?
China is arguably the greatest province inward human history. Two master copy reasons:
China has the longest continuous civilization inward human history.
Throughout human history, keen civilizations have got come upward together with gone, alongside i major exception: Communist People's Republic of China - come, almost gone, together with come upward again!
Note: Communist People's Republic of China is non solely a province together with an empire, but equally good a civilization on its own.
Like all the other empires, the Chinese Empire has seen its map expanded together with shrunk over time, equally shown below.
Unlike the western empires (e.g. Castilian together with British), which plundered overseas over the past times few hundred years, the Chinese Empire has e'er been i slice inward land, having "organically" grown (and shrunk) over a long catamenia of fourth dimension (i.e. 2,000 years, at least),
The icon below highlights the commutation deviation betwixt the Roman Empire together with the Chinese Empire, which is the commutation argue why Rome was long gone patch Communist People's Republic of China has long endured. For more, maintain reading.
7. Western civilization vs. Chinese civilization
I have got already published extensively on this subject. Five informative readings:
Here is a summary: Communist People's Republic of China led the world generally for the outset 1,800 years of our two-millennium-old calendar. The ascent of the West, peculiarly when compared alongside China, came generally after 1492, when Christopher Columbus discovered the "new" world.
Why did non the Chinese conquer the world similar the Europeans did, given the fact that Communist People's Republic of China was ahead of the West inward almost everything earlier 1492?
The Chinese were so proud of their ain civilization that they regarded the "new" world they discovered inward the 1400s equally barbarians. In contrast, the Europeans, peculiarly the Spanish, Portuguese, together with English, were passionate nearly plundering overseas, inward a totally uncivilized manner! The icon highlights i example.
The West equally good invaded Communist People's Republic of China inward the 1800s, nearly destroying the longest continuous civilization inward human history!
Now, Communist People's Republic of China is back, having establish its ain path to success, patch the West is paying dorsum its past times dues, from race to religion. For more, read: China vs. America: Uniformity vs. Diversity.
With no to a greater extent than novel ground to live discovered together with no to a greater extent than novel people to live subjugated, the West must forthwith compete alongside Communist People's Republic of China on to a greater extent than equal footings. Who volition have got a meliorate future?
8. Civilizations tomorrow
The 20th century was undoubtedly America's. The 21st century volition most probable belong to either Communist People's Republic of China or America. But who volition deserve it together with who volition ultimately claim it?
It depends on who tin conform the best!
Like before, adaptation volition non e'er live peaceful.
Unlike before, inward today's world, alongside plenty nuclear arms to blow upward the world several times over, some NABCs (Nuclear-Armed Big Countries) tin destroy non solely each other, but equally good the world. So, everything must live done to forbid that from happening.
Specifically, these iii NABCs must live most responsible: China, Russia, together with America. Let's briefly examine each ...
8.1 China
China is back!
Over the past times 2 decades, at least, Communist People's Republic of China has been working difficult to expand its influence all over the world. But it has been via peaceful agency only, such equally trade.
Very importantly, equally a victim of semi-colonization for most of the 19th century together with the outset one-half of the 20th century, Communist People's Republic of China knows the importance of self-determination together with non-interventionism inward international affairs: ideology notwithstanding, precisely trade!
Most importantly, Communist People's Republic of China has a huge incentive for world peace, because it agency to a greater extent than merchandise together with to a greater extent than prosperity for China!
8.2 Russia
Russia, together alongside America, saved the western world inward World War II. Without Russia, the Polish together with the French would probable live speaking High German today. For more, read: Who Actually Decisively Defeated Nazi Germany?
Unfortunately, Russian Federation has suffered 2 major blows recently: communism together with democracy, resulting inward a bad economy. It volition bring Russian Federation decades to larn its ain solid inward monastic tell earlier it tin locomote a major influencer inward the world again, peculiarly inward contest alongside America together with China.
Russia must never live underestimated. Two informative readings:
Here is a recent tidings story: Putin Boasts of Russia's Unstoppable Nuclear Weapons.
8.3 America
America, together alongside Russia, saved the eastern world inward World War II. Without America, the Chinese would probable live speaking Japanese today. For more, read: Who Actually Decisively Defeated Imperial Japan?
Unfortunately, America has been inward a steep turn down over the past times few decades, facing 4 major problems:
Democratic Imperialism: War is perpetual, alongside the worst instance existence the Iraq War.
Democratic Socialism: Work is optional for many Americans, alongside the worst existence public-sector unions.
National debt: It is to a greater extent than than $20 trillion, alongside no terminate inward sight.
Gun violence: Our authorities has failed inward its undertaking #1: protecting the lives of its citizens. For more, read: America: Guns vs. Slavery.
While Communist People's Republic of China volition locomote along to advance economically together with globally, thank you lot to the autumn of communism together with the ascent of capitalism there, America volition locomote along to falter, thank you lot to the autumn of capitalism together with the ascent of socialism here. As a result, the war-mongering America volition probable live looking for excuses to have got state of war alongside Communist People's Republic of China (The U.S. of A. of America vs. China: Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Trade War?).
Unfortunately for America, Communist People's Republic of China is a NABC, which agency in that place volition live no winner if in that place is a existent state of war betwixt the 2 countries (Don't Mess alongside Nuclear-Armed China!)! Instead, the solely certainly resultant volition live mutual destruction, leaving Russian Federation equally the solely NABC left on earth!
The fact that Russian Federation together with Communist People's Republic of China are closely allied forthwith volition brand things fifty-fifty to a greater extent than challenging for America. For more, read: President Trump inward the Real World of Three New Kingdoms.
In short, whatever state of war betwixt whatever NABCs would hateful World War III, which volition most probable destroy the world!
9. Discussion
How tin a WWII savior similar America mayhap locomote a WWIII villain? Something similar happened before. For example, Nippon was on the allies' side during WWI, but became a villain inward WWII!
Now, allow me highlight Nazi Deutschland inward iii points:
Economy: It was hitting difficult past times the hyperinflation inward the 1920s, which made the depression of 1930 to a greater extent than punishing, fifty-fifty equally it attempted to pay the huge mandated reparations for WWI.
Scapegoat: It blamed immigrants together with minorities, peculiarly the Jews, for the problems. Worse yet, Nazi Deutschland expert extreme hatred against them.
A mad homo at the top: Deutschland moved from republic to dictatorship, alongside a mad homo named Adolf Hitler inward charge.
America is no Nazi Germany, yet! But hither is an analogy:
Economy: Unless America reforms our political organization equally I have got suggested, America's economic scheme volition locomote along to turn down towards bankruptcy. Our national debt is already so enormous that a consummate pay-off is beyond whatever possibility!
Scapegoat: Racial discrimination has e'er been a occupation inward the U.S., together with it gets worse inward tough times (e.g. Mexican Repatriation together with Internment of Japanese Americans). In searching of scapegoats for our acute turn down inward economy, volition American politicians blame China, equally good equally Chinese-Americans?
A mad homo at the top: President Bush II was real unopen (e.g. inward Iraq). President Obama turned out to live solely slightly meliorate (e.g. inward Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya together with Syria). What nearly President Trump? Let's hold off together with run across ...
In summary, America is the solely NABC that has both the capability together with the incentive to initiate World War III! Three informative readings:
Unfortunately for America, if in that place is World War III, America volition live destroyed for sure. The solely 2 large questions are:
Which i of the other 2 NABCs (i.e. Russian Federation or China) volition live conduct involved alongside America (and so destroyed)?
Whether the final i volition live left standing after the war? For more, read: Weapons of Mass Destruction.
Worse yet, most Americans are blithely unaware of it, or simply inward denial!
Fortunately for America, I believe I have got the most accurate diagnosis for America, equally good equally the best solution. Better yet, both have got been good documented inward my final book: American Democracy - Why is it failing & how to laid upward it? Please read together with justice for yourself!
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