| − | '''Western Civilization''' is the name given to one of the four great and ancient [[civilization]]s of the world. It began in [[Ancient Greece]] more than 3000 years ago, and currently covers Europe, North America, and Australasia. Traditionally, the major religion has been [[Christianity]], but Western Civilization has its roots in the [[pagan]] traditions of the [[Greece|Greeks]]. Since the 20th Century, Western Civilization has gradually been losing its religious outlook. | + | '''Western Civilization''' is the name given to one of the four significant ancient [[civilization]]s of the world. It began in [[Ancient Greece]] more than 3000 years ago, and currently covers Europe, North America, and Australasia. [[Christianity]], which spread using the language of the [[Greece|Greeks]] and then the [[Romans]], pushed the achievements of Western Civilization to the greatest of all of world history. Beginning in the late 20th Century, attempts to undermine the [[Christian]] foundation of Western Civilization has gained ground in [[Britain]], [[France]], and [[Germany]], but not [[Poland]]. |
| | Western values, which have always emphasized individual rights and freedoms, are often contrasted with the values of the other great civilizations of the world, those of the [[Middle East]], [[India]], and [[China]]. | | Western values, which have always emphasized individual rights and freedoms, are often contrasted with the values of the other great civilizations of the world, those of the [[Middle East]], [[India]], and [[China]]. |