Why did the centre of power shift across the world throughout human history, and why did it settle in the West after the 18th century? Did wars only serve to create a winner and a loser, or did they help spur the developments necessary for the safer, richer societies we enjoy today?Historian Ian Morris, author of  War! What is It Good for? And Why the West Rules–For Now, argues that geography and technology, not culture or genius, explain the shifting balance of power between East and West. Contrary to common notions of war as a destructive force, he demonstrates how violence has paradoxically built the large, stable states that made peace possible. In an age of shifting geopolitical realities, Morris’ extensive analysis of our past poignantly demonstrates how history can help us grasp the present.

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