How Did the West Become the West?

How did the West become the West? For some of us, the West is a symbol of hostility, colonialism, and exploitation, while for others, it is the cradle of civilization and culture. However, both groups share one point in common: the current West, in terms of politics, economics, and perhaps even socially, occupies a higher position compared to the rest of the world, especially third-world countries. But how did the West achieve this status? Was it the result of colonization, or does it stem from an evolutionary process that should be traced through history? Sadegh Zibakalam believes in the latter option, considering the current progress of the West to be indebted to a transformational journey that began in the 14th century and continued until the 18th century. A transformation rooted in the change of Western human thought—a renaissance of ideas that led to advancements in other domains. With a historical perspective and a simple, straightforward language, Zibakalam seeks to explain how the backward West before the 14th century surpassed the civilized East, particularly Islamic civilization. In the first chapter, he examines and critiques the roots of anti-Western sentiments among Iranians, and in the subsequent chapters, he elaborates on his views regarding the development of Western civilization and its causes.