: The Scientific Revolution gave the West a major military and technological advantage over Eastern rivals.
In his book and documentary series Civilization: The West and the Rest , historian Niall Ferguson identifies six "killer applications" that enabled Western civilization to achieve global dominance starting in the 1500s. The Six "Killer Apps" of Western Civilization Civilization The West & the Rest
: Breakthroughs in healthcare more than doubled life expectancy, allowing Western empires to expand into previously inhospitable regions. : The Scientific Revolution gave the West a
: The political and economic fragmentation of Europe fostered a competitive environment between and within states, driving innovation. : The political and economic fragmentation of Europe
Ferguson argues that the West's era of predominance may be ending:
These features distinguish the "West" from the "Rest" by explaining how a small minority of the global population secured the majority of its resources: