This lecture challenges the East-West civilization divide, arguing that it's a flawed construct. It traces the origins of civilization to the development of agriculture and government, necessitated by unpredictable weather patterns (like the Nile floods). The lecture highlights the significant contributions of the Persian Empire, emphasizing its tolerance and early Bill of Rights, and contrasts this with the later intolerance of the Roman and Byzantine Empires. It also examines the crucial roles of Arab and Viking cultures in shaping Western knowledge and technology, arguing that the commonly accepted narrative of Western civilization omits significant contributions from the East. The lecture concludes by questioning the very definition of "Western civilization" and proposing a more nuanced understanding of interconnected global history. Take down notes here I've been working on this topic for a while now.