Asia and Africa together constitute approaximately 75% of world population. Which means, white people are the minority. Then, why is it still a "white man's world"? What do they possess that others don't? Is it power, intelligense, beauty or something else? Why the western culture is considered as the better while others are seen as barbarians or undeveloped? Is it just because the western culture as a whole is comparatively new? Or, are they ready to accept changes more often? Are they more straight forward and simple? We may not reach a final conclusion but, let's look at the facts.
The 250,000 years old history of our species has been so dramatic. Historians and Anthropologists fight each other about many parts of this long story. Whether there existed an ancestor known as Homo erectus or not, we can't change the past. Now, in this twentyfirst century geographical and cultural differences between nations are more obvious than mere racial distinctions. Let's have a look at our world's recent past.
Religions: The west and the east
Nature had a significant importance in all ancient religions despite the national and cultural distinctions. Powers of nature were always seen with respect and sometimes fear. Pagan Gods were the characters who controlled those powers of nature or personified powers themselves. They too had feelings, weaknesses, thoughts, etc just like the humans. They existed in between us, and they were so familiar to everyone. The world was too big for us to understand or even try to explore it. Even then in every corners of world people had their own stuffs going on.
In the west: Monotheism was a kind of revolution in common-man's thoughts. A new style, a new way to look at things, so many people who found it more convenient than, remembering names of thousands of Gods and confusing themselves by thinking which God to side in hard times, found the concept very attractive. The theories put forward by the advocates of Monotheism must have been sufficient enough to satisfy the doubting Thomas' of those days. Another possible reason can be, Even in ancient religions, there existed a hierarchy of heaven which was assumed to be controlled by a top most position which was occupied by a super god. Someone might have found it just simple to approach the God of Gods directly rather than taking a complicated route to reach the ultimate. The simplification always had an unavoidable part, omission of complex beliefs. It made the religious belief simple enough to understand and follow. The monarchy, which was so common in those days found monotheism more suiting to the system going on than having a lot of heavenly or earthly rulers. Sometimes the things were easier when the earthly rulers took another step and appointed themselves as the Gods. Even though Christianity was formed from a system which supported Kings and the upper class, it always had a philosophy which (at least pretended) stood with the sufferers.
The East: Common man had a lot of people above their heads so were Gods. On the other side, high quality philosophical theories and assumptions were being formed. As there were so many Gods and so many theories, no one was compelled to follow any particular belief. One could even be an atheist(remember charvaka) as there were equal number of theist and atheist theories. Belief systems had almost nothing in common other than 'belief'. The Eastern philosophies were not much bothered about the concept of sin. They just reminded people to do their duties.
Knowledge accumulation: Sciences and Arts
The western science and technology has started its pioneering only some four or five centuries back. In this short term, it has made such a dramatical progress in comforting and bettering human lives. Even though it is argued by some people that there existed civilizations which were more or equally advanced as the present day humans, it could not be proved. Though in ancient India and China Mathematics, astronomy, philosophy, and technology was good enough to compete with present day's higher secondary school curriculum(Vedic mathematics, Upanishads, Vedas, discovery of gun powder, paper, silk etc).
Where did we lose the momentum? Even though wars boosted some discoveries, invasions destroyed what was characteristic for many societies. Same was the case with different art forms. When civilizations were disappeared or made insignificant, their characteristic art forms also vanished. Threat of a war is good, but war is not.
Mutual influences
For the Europeans Europe was the only 'world' and Europeans were the only 'people'. So, when ever they found a new place, they neglected the fact that there exist some other people and pretended that that place didn't exist before they found it. But, some of those continents were so massive and populated well that they couldn't just ignore. Where ever fights couldn't assure victory, they used tactics. Invasion included not just aggression, some times it was Christian missionaries. These approaches had more influence on the people who were ruled or invaded than those rulers or invaders. Their cultures were spoiled, minds were poisoned and pride was robbed. It was the first part. Now, countries no more fight each other. Europeans have gone back after completing the missions. In the modern era, it is Globalization. Technology, Science, the new art forms like films and albums, and the media are no more owned by just the Europeans. Eastern minds were infected by the easy and strict rules of Christian morality while those who contributed it never followed nine out of the ten commandments.
Aftermath
Easterners lost belief in thier own abilities. They needed Gods more than anyone else. That thirst was not out of any spiritual quest. It was the insecurity transformed. They did everything that was western to become like them. They did everything with a fear in the corner of their minds, "what will the westerners think of us if we do this!" Western clothing, western music, western everything. Even the concept of beauty was changed according to the new world. In the new world, the distinctions between west and the east is becoming less significant. Migrations triggered the birth of mixed cultures. The way people think became more similar than ever.
'I' was very important in the west. In the east, it was more about community life. For the westerners enjoyment in life was always the priority. Knowledge and nature was easterners' assets. Now, these distinctions have no significance. City life rules. Being a country man is a shame in the modern society. The world is unified not by merging the west and the east, but by vanishing the east.
Enough?
Is it what we need? Should we be satisfied with what we have got? Aren't we still aware of the ethnicity of the man who sits near us in the flight? Isn't individuals more important than the society now? Do we need a change? Think about.
