Westsiiide, And How We Got This Way.

[pyrrhiccomedy]

Hey guys--come play with me. What do you think are the most significant events in the history of Western civilization?

Comments

[sadlygrove]

WWII was just in-fucking-sane, I don't even know how else to say it. It, like, bitch slapped the status quo of nearly everything ever. And the industrial revolution meant some countries get to sprint ahead of others and somehow one little cocky shit of an island takes over, like, fucking everything. That's pretty impressive; quality, not quantity, chaps! And, to be honest, I feel like WWI was the stupidest war that ever war'd :| Franz Ferdinand, really? You couldn't just order in pizza or Chinese that day? I think its greatest legacy was setting up the clusterfuck that would result in WWII; not something to be proud of WWI, get back in your corner, tut tut.

I wanted to make an argument for the fall of Constantinople, but then I'm horribly biased and that probably could be considered towards the 'eastern' world's list of biggest events. So. Yes.

Oh. And: 22, USA, lived in Japan for a bit, history major, gray eyes, long walks on the beach.

[pyrrhiccomedy]

I actually debated with myself over whether to include WW1 or the Great Schism, but then I couldn't make the neat predication example. >_> Anyway, I am kind of a champion for understanding WW1; Franz Ferdinand really had fuck-all to do with it (he was just a convenient excuse, Europe was itching for a rumble) and the way it managed to not-really-help-anything is like...I mean, if you don't understand that, you don't understand World War 2, full stop.

But, yeah. I picked World War 2 anyway, because I think chickens are tastier than eggs.

[sadlygrove]

WWI kinda reminds me of a high school cheerleader squabble where you use Debbie wearing the same sweater as Michelle to start shit :l

[pyrrhiccomedy]

...*thinks*

Yes.

[tauruschick12]

fff World War 2. baby. Aside from picking out who the major players of the world are, and various other things, I think that World War 2 was the last 'big' scuffle for land we're ever going to have. For centuries everyone has been having a war with each other over 'I want this land, you want this mountain, he wants these colonies, etc.' and fighting the hell over each other for it.

Sure, a lot of countries are still going to fight with each other over territory, but now the lines are pretty much permanent. Probably no one is going to try taking over the world like the Nazis did. And now, wars are mostly fought over ideaology or oil or stupid shit.

The prionting press invention is my second choice. After all, that made books much easier to get and more people were able to get educated because of it.

[pyrrhiccomedy]

Oh, absolutely. WW2 was game changing. As in, like, knocked the game board to the floor, flipped over the table, then marched to the Toys R Us and demanded a refund.

[alatherna]

Ok, this was... hard, because all of those are so important and all... I only didn't have second thoughts with the movable type and the printing press 'cause that was always in my head one of, you know, really important things.

But for me very important thing was also the discovery of antibiotics and general anesthesia 'cause that allowed people who were otherwise doomed to death to, you know... live ._." but that's because my mom is a doctor so I'm kinda more knowledgeable with those medical stuff...

... WWII is also important, especially for us, here in Poland... so yeah... but... didn't pick that 'cause it's a touchy subject I guess XD"

I'm from Poland, but I think you know that, and I'm 24 which makes me completely ridiculous to be into stuff like Hetalia and personified countries slash but... yeah OTL

[pyrrhiccomedy]

I'm also 24! Nothing wrong with being in your 20s in fandom! There's a lot of us actually. =D Do not feel weird!

Penicillin was also on my list of "fuck you livejournal, just give me a couple more slots" developments. ._. Not dying is, like, a good development!

[alatherna]

No, I didn't mean that I feel weird in the fandom, my best Hetalia-friend is same age as me, just... for general people in Poland, 24 and no husband and kids = weird and childish lol and my one year older sis is due to give birth this month and she's giving my parents a grandson, shit... and I waste my time drawing countries pr0n ._." I'm not saying that I complain, it's just, oh you know... awkward XD" ...this became existential, god, sorry OTL

Yeah, I know, so many stuff to pick, so little space D:

... but high-five for 24yrs olds! =D

[puddingcat]

(psst. I'm 36. Also not married, no kids.)

[fallenxembers17]

....fffffff.

*just stared at the screen for like ten minutes*

I eventually picked the Industrial Revolution - it shaped modern civilization and rapid industrialization in Germany led to the unification, and then the Empire, and then WWI because of their growing ego. Industrialization in other nations, like England and America, also contributed to the shitfest that was WWI (weapons race, yupyup.)

The printing press because-- man do I even need to explain myself on that one? And finally the conversion to Christianity. Because Christianity... yeah.

However, I do think the Peace of Westphalia also deserves a mention, if only for the way it shaped Europe and ended the wars of religion. Which were tearing up Europe and pretty much inhibiting progress. And allowing England to sneak over to America when everyone else was fighting and be all, 'Hahaha I'll power up while they're killing each other.'

(16, and American through-and-through xD)

[pyrrhiccomedy]

Groovy, thank you! =D

[meganinhiding]

I'm the only person who chose fall of the Roman Empire because its survival would have sent massive butterflies that could potentially have affected or done away with everything else on the list. I'm speaking of the Western Empire or the Empire as a whole; the East technically didn't fall until the Turks took Constantinople in the 15th century though they were never the same after the Fourth Crusade.

It pained me to choose the printing press over the Enlightenment and Newton but I doubt they would have had quite the same impact without a medium that could be widely circulated; you can't invent the car before the wheel.

Finally I chose the industrial revolution because it changed the basic lifestyle of, well, everyone, not just the educated folk. More people started to live in urban areas rather than rural, Europe took over the planet, people could cross continents via railroad, wars adapted to guns, tanks, bomabs, the environmental impact....you name it the IR changed it.

[pyrrhiccomedy]

Oh, jeez, the fall of Rome affected everything and I'm surprised it hasn't gotten more love. There would be no Europe the way we understand it today if Rome hadn't collapsed.

Great answers, thank you!