A really big idea; a collection of attitudes, beliefs, and their accompanying literature and art that developed in Europe, North Africa, and Asia Minor over the past 3000 years or so. Much of this has grown out of Judaism and Christianity, and to a lesser extent Islam. See Western ideas.

Arguably the most successful cultural meme in history, the values of Western Civilization have infected almost every other culture on earth, in many cases causing tensions and violent backlashes. Some of its basic tenets (holding individuality, rebellion, flexibility and curiosity as positive values) throw a spanner in the works of more conservative and religious cultures; some people see this as a good thing, others consider it cultural colonialism.