The document discusses social movements throughout history from ancient to modern periods. It defines social movements as collective efforts to enact change in a community that can be positive or negative and include various factors like politics, economy, and religion. Some key examples provided include intellectual renaissances, wars, and periods of famine that sparked social transformations. The document also notes that social movements take numerous forms such as religious, reform, or revolutionary movements. It analyzes how the end of the medieval period opened up new ideas and challenged the previous feudal system, paving the way for more dynamic communities in modern times with increased knowledge and reactions to events like World War I and the rise of nationalism.