Forging the West

The term “West” comes back from approx the 5th century when the Roman Empire moved its headquarters to Constantinople. And then the Empire was divided into the West and Eastern Empire. However this was only referring to the European continent. It was a geographic term of “East”.

Currently the term “West” is subjective. An ideological concept. A set of nations, a concentration of power and wealth. The West doesn’t work when we try to solidify the definition, however most people understand when it is used.

Hegemonic Power = Not just raw resources. When the power comes with a form of recognised legitimacy. It sets norms. E.g. the United States post WW2 became the global Hegemonic Power. Moral, cultural, raw, influential power.

An example of the Christmas Tree - has become a cultural norm worldwide, set by Western Hegemonic Power.

‘The West’ as a term was particularly used post 9/11, to create a counterpart to the Muslim world, referred to as ‘The East’.

Why is this unit starting at 1215?

The following were established/formally recognised:

Europe

  • The University of Paris

Emerged as leading European centre for theology, arts, law and medicine.

  • The 4th Lateran Council

Established foundational Catholic doctrines and policies that shaped the medieval Church. It resulted in the definition of transubstantiation, mandated annual confession, solidified papal authority, reformed clerical discipline, and set strict measures against heretics, Jews and Muslims.

  • The Magna Carta

Seen in English constitutional history as one of the first moments of intimations of a democratic purpose

“No Taxation Without Representation”

A foundational document limiting royal power, establishing that the monarch is subject to the rule of law.

The Global World in 1215

  • Genghis Khan conquered Zhongdu (Beijing) - the Imperial Capital of the Jin Dynasty. New Mongolian Empire established in the East. Still the largest contiguous empire that has ever been established.

  • The Byzantine Empire is far more economically vibrant and educationally sophisticated than Western Europe at this point, despite being nowhere near as wealthy as it was 30-400 years before. Constantinople was still a vast trading centre, rich dense urban population where many languages e.g. Greek, Latin, Arabic are spoken.

  • The Rise of Islam - Territories under Muslim governance encompasses Northern Africa, much of Spain, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and India. What’s significant in this is that across much of the globe, there is a shared religious culture that is significant for trade. At this time Muslim traders have complete control over the Red Sea which means that it is almost impossible for Western European traders to get any purchase into south of the Red Sea, and the Indian Ocean.

  • The Khmer Empire extends over modern-day Cambodia, much of South-East Asia and well into Southern China. (Not much on the Khmer Empire as they were not incredibly literate in comparison to the Byzantines and the Mongolians).

  • Big centres of trade and exchange in Baghdad, Angkor, Kaifeng (China), Cairo, Constantinople. All the big trading hubs were not in Western Europe. Western Europe was not for the most part using cash at this point.

CORE QUESTION OF THE UNIT

In 1215, western Europe is relatively poor globally, and the continent has little to no influence on affairs beyond its territories. By 1788, global wealth and power is concentrated in western Europe. Much of the world’s territory has been conquered by European powers, whether for reasons of extractive or settler-colonialism.