While we remain isolated in our everyday bubble and increasingly disconnected from global society, a new world order is taking shape right under our noses. Why are we not aware of this and what lessons can we learn from it? Peter Frankopan, a renowned historian at the University of Oxford, argues that the arrogance of the West has rendered them incapable of exerting truly significant power and influence around the world. Based on his book of the same name, the vpro documentary Silk Road presents Frankopan’s revisionist take on world history, showing the diverse connections between our past and our future.
The film argues that America and its European neighbors are paralyzed by a strong sense of nationalism; a belief that their country should set the standard for every continent in the world. This narrow view blinds them to the unique qualities of other countries and limits their own potential. In order to spread their values, the West pretends to be the center of the world. But this center has long been a self-perpetuating illusion.
Beginning around AD 800, the Middle East was a model of extreme prosperity and progress for the West. After Western interests took control of the oil interests in the region, they kept most of the profits and shared little capital in return. They bribed the Iranians with arms and nuclear capabilities when the US and UK oil monopoly was threatened. This faltering alliance was doomed, and its disastrous effects are still felt around the world.
Intellectually ambitious and articulate, Frankopan often scans centuries of historical highlights into a single movement. His job is to make connections between the reality of where we started, the corruption that got us here, and the goals that might await us. Silk Road touches on a variety of themes, including the Crusades, Christopher Columbus, global religious conflicts, greed, and modern warfare. It’s a fascinating stew that challenges our conventional understanding of history.
Directed by: Floris-Jan van Luyn
