The Rise of the West in

World Politics
 Task- Using Niall Ferguson’s documentary ‘Civilization: Is the West
History?’, which accompanies his book ‘Civilization: The West and the
Rest’, and Paul Kennedy’s book ‘The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers’ as
sources chronicle the development of Western civilisation, from the 15th
century to the present day.
Essay Plan- NO SUBHEADINGS
1. Introduction (as with any essay)
A general opening that gives the background of ‘The Rise of The West’. Refer to the PPT at the start of this unit (see the file,
‘THE RISE OF THE WEST’). This opening session of the unit was based on a summary of the first chapter in Paul Kennedy’s book
(also available in the files area). You will have to cite Kennedy in order to achieve a particular criteria. This should then be
followed by an outline of what you will be covering. Approx. 250 words
2. Main body
This should be a series of interconnected ideas and paragraphs. See the next slide for more details. Approx. 1200 words
3. Conclusion- A summary of what you have discussed in the essay. Please note that conclusions should not include new
sources. Approx. 100 words
4. Reference section AND in text citation.
Remember that referencing is a two-stage process. Full details of your sources in the reference list and then indicate in your
text where you are using those sources. Full Harvard referencing is required for both tasks. I recommend using 6-8 sources as a
minimum. Although they are very important, do not only rely on Ferguson and Kennedy. Using additional sources is vital if you
wish to achieve higher grades. Please do not use Wikipedia, UKessays, Markedbyteachers, online examples of student essays,
or any sources that are at GCSE level.
 2. The Main Body
• I would recommend choosing two or more of the following areas to concentrate
on. You do not have to, and will probably not be able to, cover them all. For your
chosen areas outline how the West was able to gain an advantage, and how these
advantages may now be causing problems. Having said that, it’s your essay, do it
how you want! (maybe bounce a few ideas of me first though J)
• Work ethic- western Protestantism vs. more ‘inward looking’ religions of the East
• Democracy and land ownership- Why the American Dream (USA) triumphed over
South America’s new aristocracy
• Competition- why the petty, small warring kingdoms of Western European gained
an advantage over the monolithic Ming China empire
• Consumerism- why western fashions defeated communism
• Scientific- why the West embraced science at just the right time, whilst the
Ottoman empire rejected it…and the subsequent advantages in communication
technologies (internet, printing press, TV, radio etc.) that this was to give the West
• Medical (racial science, eugenics to justify slavery…and then take an economic
advantage of it. How the West justified the enslavement and colonialisation of
Africa in particular)
•Proof read!!