OSHER 429 - Civilization: The West and the Rest

This course is based upon an excellent six-episode video series, "Civilization: The West and the Rest," by Niall Ferguson and the BBC, which aired in 2011 on PBS and is now available via YouTube. This series explores how the "West" (the U.S. and Europe) came to dominate the world economically, socially, and politically over the past 500 years and questions whether we will continue this dominance, given that China and possibly other countries are coming on strong. Prospective class members are encouraged to view Episode #1 prior to the first day and as inspiration to enroll. Class members will watch a 45-minute episode before each meeting, take notes on what they hear, and make a list of questions to discuss with the class. The instructor will do the same and project the questions and portions of the video in class to help everyone stay focused. A lively but respectful discussion of these big thoughts is encouraged! Our goal is to learn from the video and each other.