Archived What was the worst disaster in Western history? (OccidentalEnclave)
submitted ago by Joe_McCarthy
Posted by: Joe_McCarthy
Posting time: 2 years ago on
Last edit time: 2 years ago on
Archived on: 3/10/2019 10:00:00 AM
Views: 235
SCP: 4
6 upvotes, 2 downvotes (75% upvoted it)
Archived What was the worst disaster in Western history? (OccidentalEnclave)
submitted ago by Joe_McCarthy
view the rest of the comments →
[–] Oswy 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
Good one, though our Western civilisation only encountered Islam when it hit Spain. We weren't really ready to deal with such a big problem then. I'd say that the discovery of America in 1492 was an unfortunate moment - without it, the reconquistadores would have continued on through North Africa, eventually to reach Jerusalem. Just imagine the effort that was put into conquering America having been used for this instead. We could THEN have turned west, just with a bit of a delay. The experience would probably have made lots of changes to how we dealt with the colonies, though it's impossible to say how this might have turned out.
[–] Joe_McCarthy [S] 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago (edited ago)
You should probably consider how much events after 1492 strengthened Habsburg Spain and how not having the power gained through the acquisition of wealth in the Americas would have compromised it in a time when the Ottomans were at the zenith of their power.
These Atlantic maritime powers were more or less middlin' backwaters before 1492. Columbus heralded one of the great triumphs and expansions of power in Western history. Very possibly the greatest even. I can't think of a better takeoff point. Western rule has been of the last 500 years.
[–] Oswy 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
So we might have seen France play a greater role, then? She could have played a big part in the Mediterranean too.
[–] WORF_MOTORBOATS_TROI 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago (edited ago)
Incorrect, the byzantine empire fought some of the first wars against the muslims in the 7th century as it was starting to expand out of the arabian peninsula. That was why I mentioned it. Europeans could have continued to dominate the entire meditteranean even up to the modern day if the arabs had been contained at that point
[–] Joe_McCarthy [S] 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
I think his point is that Byzantium is better dubbed Orient than Occident. Certainly Byzantine Syria being Western is a stretch. But your point is well taken nonetheless. A state that had continuity with Rome and was indeed known as the Roman Empire falls into the 'close enough' category - particularly given how Islam has impacted Western history proper.