Spanning two and a half millennia, Anthony Pagden’s mesmerizing Worlds at War delves deep into the roots of the “clash of civili...
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reviews
Sep 19, 2008
BCKnowlton
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Pagden’s first chapter summarizes the most telling episodes of Herodotus’ Histories, including not only the Battles of Marathon and Salamis, but also the constitutional debate that preceded the accession of Darius to the Persian throne and the deliberations instigated by the Persian King Xerxes prior to his invasion of Greece. Before Darius became king, the Persians considered the constitutional alternatives to monarchy, with one Persian aristocrat, named Otanes, arguing for democracy. Darius, h
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Dec 22, 2011
John
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Exhaustive but interesting perspective on the struggle between East and West. Mr. Pagden puts everything from Thermopylae to Islamic fundamentalism into grand historical context. As much as there are differences - sometimes very stark - the similarities and the borrowing between world views and cultures are also emphasized. The central thesis of the west's apparent superiority seems to be that the west got the reins of power out of the hands of their kings and their churches, freeing up creat
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Apr 21, 2010
Cameron
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A very disappointing book. The contents are a much smarter and more nuanced standard of clash of civilizations type: the West, which is, for whatever reason, democratic, rational, liberal, pitted against 'the East', here only the Arab Middle East, Iran and Turkey, which is despotic, irrational, arbitrary and everything else we're supposed to hate. Mind you, Pagden is at least aware that these concepts are not just innate or natural, and he attempts to add some social, economic and political an
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Nov 13, 2011
Ryan
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I found this book a fascinating exploration of the long history of conflict between East and West, and the way the powers in charge of each sphere (whether Greek, Trojan, Roman, Persian, Christian, Muslim, French, Ottoman, British, or Arabic) have often seen themselves as inheritors of all the earlier struggles. Of course, it should be noted right away that by “The East”, Pagden generally means the near and middle east, the lands from Asia Minor to the region that's modern Iran -- China, India,
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Jun 27, 2010
Hans
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A 3000 year old drama still plays itself out on the worlds stage between cultures that have adopted powerfully differing world views. Though Anthony Pagden does take some license with generalizations and simplifications in painting entire civilizations with a broad brush. This is done using the cliche and misleading paradigm of East vs. West. Not everyone within the respective cultures agrees with what the said culture is said to believe in.
So in keeping with Pagden's simplifica More...
So in keeping with Pagden's simplifica More...
Oct 02, 2009
Greg
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A very large look at the span of conflict between the east and west. I enjoyed it, and felt I got a lot out of it. There was a bit of overlap with some of the other readings I had done recently, but it was nice to review I guess.
My biggest gripe would be that it was told primarily from a western perspective of eastern cultures, and didn't paint a very good picture of eastern cultures.
I think a lot of people would have issue with this book and its blatantly anti-religion s More...
My biggest gripe would be that it was told primarily from a western perspective of eastern cultures, and didn't paint a very good picture of eastern cultures.
I think a lot of people would have issue with this book and its blatantly anti-religion s More...
May 02, 2010
Kendra
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I'd give this book 4 stars with a few misgivings for not having given it only 3 stars. While I learned a lot about the the political and religious developments over 2.5 millenium in both the east and the west, there were parts of the book that dragged due to my unfamiliarity with the historical figures responsible for governing in the east during the time of the Ottoman Empire's primacy over the west. There also isn't any analysis as to how the current financial interconnectivity of east and w
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Dec 22, 2009
Kim
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It was an interesting summary for what it covered. The author was only interested in the conflict between "East" and "West" and his theory of how religion plays its role in this conflict, so many wars are not touched on at all, but it's pretty sweeping as it is. He showed me a new perspective on some of these conflicts and I believe that will lead me to more detailed study, but I'm not sold on his overarching theory of how ruinious religion is/was/will always be. Worth a read
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Feb 16, 2010
Andy
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A very hit and miss affair. The authors seeks to portray a continuous struggle between between east (The Middle East) and west over 2500 years from the Greek-Persian wars up to the present day. The problem is he doesn't seem to know the subject that well. The coverage of everything before the early modern period is littered with errors - including some real howlers. At one point it is stated that the Roman Empire reached as far as the Indus valley and then a couple of pages later, that both
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Jan 12, 2010
William
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Choose the right theme and you can organize the chaotic sweep of history into a coherent tale the reader can grasp. Anthony Pagden tried his best in "Worlds at War--The 2,500-Year Struggle Between East and West." But I have to wonder if the topic was too big for the book.
Pagden's thesis is deceptively easy. "The West" long embodied individualism, inquiry and initiative while "The East" stressed subservience, statism and stasis. The theme gets a good star More...
Pagden's thesis is deceptively easy. "The West" long embodied individualism, inquiry and initiative while "The East" stressed subservience, statism and stasis. The theme gets a good star More...
Jul 29, 2011
Nilesh
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Excellent history of clash between estern and western ways of thinking, particularly European and Middle-Eastern in today's parlance. I am sure the struggle was not seen as such for most time, but the shape given to the struggle goes on to explain at least some of what is going on now. The book is perhaps too superficial given the timeframe it is covering but a brilliant read for anyone interested in key events.
Aug 01, 2008
Ajay
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This book masterfully describes the 2,500-year struggle between East and West and is the latest in a string of scholarly but highly accessible historical epics for which the author is noted. As one of the world's foremost experts on empire, Anthony Pagden delineates the boundaries between East and West, highlighting how nations are built on shared memories, both good and bad, and why victory and defeat in battles is an important element of nationhood. Educated in Chile, Spain, France and Oxford,
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Sep 05, 2010
David
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A good survey that is marred by sub-par analysis. If you don't know the history of this period it is a very useful book...but if you are looking for a good analysis of the issues you will not find it here...at least nothing original. But worth a look.
Apr 11, 2009
Garrett
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This book offers an exceptional survey of the interaction and struggle between East and West from the time of the Ancient Greeks to the current conflicts. I was floored by the differences and historical incidences that continue to influence our time.
Nov 15, 2011
Paul
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A really good primer on the historical factors that lead to the "irreconcilable differences" between East (middle east) and West. it does leave the reader troubled as to the future of two great civilizations.
Dec 07, 2008
Dave
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One of the clearest accounts of the "battle" between east and west that I have read. Highly recommended.
Dec 15, 2011
Ronn
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Very informative and relative to current events but takes a big commentment to read. I needed to have Encyclopedic World Atlas, dictionary and Wikipedia on hand constantly but glad to have read it.
Jun 01, 2011
Chip
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A far reaching, in-depth look at the struggle of Europe and Islam. Very interesting and fair minded.
Apr 28, 2010
Chris
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Loved the book, Gave a great idea of East vs. West from the Persians to the US
Sep 12, 2011
Steve
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Very poor Book. Author, regardless of his lack of religious background, ought to keep his prejudices to himself. Very Simplistic retelling of
world history with no depth of understanding. A waste of time and money.
world history with no depth of understanding. A waste of time and money.
Jan 06, 2012
Luke
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Very informative, if a bit dry and long winded. Great resource for a complete overview of the conflict between east and west.
Sep 22, 2008
Kyle
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This book explores the wars between Europe and Asia (AKA East Vs. West) from the time of The Iliad to the present.
Nov 04, 2010
a historical review of clash civilisations of east and west. analytic way of understanding the differences from a historical perspective
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