As an aside, I feel like this book, along with Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond and After Tamerlane by John Darwin are a great start to understanding how we got to where we are - or at least up to the early 20th Century.

In short: Diamond explains how Eurasia outpaced the other continents from the Neolithic to the 15th century. He also gives some pointers to the rise of Europe after the 15th century.

Weatherford explains how Asia grew and Europe tagged along in the Middle Ages until the Black Death fatally wounded the greatest Asian Empire.

Darwin (John, not Charles!) helps us understand how Western Europe came to dominate the competition between the various Empires that existed and rose up in the period from the 15th century into the 20th century.

All of them give a nuanced view, with due reference to geography, resources and luck that Ferguson and his ideological tribe refuse to acknowledge.

I hope to write a proper piece on all that one day.