img

The Measure of Civilisation

Ian Morris

In Why the West Rules - For Now Ian Morris argues that to understand the development of East and West, we need to look beyond 'long-term lock-in' theories (that suggest it was inevitable) and 'short-term accident' theories. Instead, we need to measure social development - a group's ability to master its environment to get things done - and use the results to look at the patterns of history.

Why the West Rules - For Now briefly describes the methods used to calculate Eastern and Western social development scores since the ice age; in The Measure of Civilisation, Morris expands upon these methods, discussing possible objections to this approach, and providing fascinating accounts of his gathering of evidence for his calculations. It is a magnificent account of where our understanding of the development of East and West comes from, and an unusual insight into a master thinker at work.

  • Classification : History
  • Pub Date : FEB 21, 2013
  • Imprint : Profile Books
  • Page Extent : 400
  • Binding : PB
  • ISBN : 9781781250198
  • Price : INR 1,920
image

Ian Morris

Ian Morris is Willard professor of classics professor of history and a fellow of the Archaeology Centre at Stanford University. He has written and edited a number of academic books and has appeared on a number of television networks. This is his first trade book.

Discover more books

To search by Publisher, Imprint, Category and Subject, please use Advanced Search