The Triumph of the West: The Origin, Rise, and Legacy of Western Civilization

Over the centuries, two important beliefs arose in Europe: a faith that man could order his own destiny, and the idea that progress was normal. But by 1900, doubts had arisen concerning traditional Western values. The continuing problems of poverty, environmental deterioration, the inequality of women, and warfare pose real questions about the advancement of the human race.Thisis noted historian J. M. Roberts' engrossing, in-depth essay on the nature of the dominance of Western civilization and its ambiguous "triumph." Roberts' goal is to gain a better understanding of the present by analyzing what got us here and, possibly, indulging in a bit of cautious optimism.