Random House, Inc.
Автор Ferguson Niall

Описание:
Western civilization's rise to global dominance is the single most important historical phenomenon of the past five centuries How did the West overtake its Eastern rivals? And has the zenith of Western power now passed? Acclaimed historian Niall Ferguson argues that beginning in the fifteenth century, the West developed six powerful new concepts, or "killer applications" - competition, science, the rule of law, modern medicine, consumerism, and the work ethic - that the Rest lacked, allowing it to surge past all other competitors. Yet now, Ferguson shows how the Rest have downloaded the killer apps the West once monopolized, while the West has literally lost faith in itself. Chronicling the rise and fall of empires alongside clashes (and fusions) of civilizations, "Civilization: The West and the Rest" recasts world history with force and wit. Boldly argued and teeming with memorable characters, this is Ferguson at his very best.

Описание:
A richly original look at the origins of money and how it makes the world go around Niall Ferguson follows the money to tell the human story behind the evolution of our financial system, from its genesis in ancient Mesopotamia to the latest upheavals on what he calls Planet Finance. Whatas more, Ferguson reveals financial history as the essential backstory behind all history, arguing that the evolution of credit and debt was as important as any technological innovation in the rise of civilization. As Ferguson traces the crisis from ancient Egyptas Memphis to todayas Chongqing, he offers bold and compelling new insights into the risea and fallaof not just money but Western power as well.