: The political and economic fragmentation of Europe fostered a competitive environment between and within states, driving innovation.
: Representative government and the protection of private property—distinct from autocratic rule—underpinned economic stability and the rise of corporations.
: Breakthroughs in healthcare more than doubled life expectancy, allowing Western empires to expand into previously inhospitable regions. Civilization The West & the Rest
In his book and documentary series Civilization: The West and the Rest , historian Niall Ferguson identifies six "killer applications" that enabled Western civilization to achieve global dominance starting in the 1500s. The Six "Killer Apps" of Western Civilization
These features distinguish the "West" from the "Rest" by explaining how a small minority of the global population secured the majority of its resources: : The political and economic fragmentation of Europe
: Other civilizations have now successfully "downloaded" these six features, allowing countries like China to challenge Western supremacy.
: The Scientific Revolution gave the West a major military and technological advantage over Eastern rivals. In his book and documentary series Civilization: The
Ferguson argues that the West's era of predominance may be ending: