The document traces the major developments in Europe across four periods from 1450 to the present:
1. The Scientific Revolution led to new ideas based on observation rather than authority, while religious pluralism challenged Catholic unity. Europeans also explored overseas territories.
2. The Enlightenment popularized reason and scientific thought, while revolutions protected rights and parliamentary power. Industrialization began in Britain and spread.
3. Industrialization transformed daily life and sparked new ideologies like socialism and nationalism as states struggled to maintain stability. Imperialism and social Darwinism justified European global dominance.
4. The 20th century saw world wars, totalitarianism, decolonization, and efforts at transnational cooperation and human rights
HY 1020, Western Civilization II 1 UNIT IV STUDY GUIDE .docxwilcockiris
HY 1020, Western Civilization II 1
UNIT IV STUDY GUIDE
Mass Politics, Industrialization, Cultural Crisis,
and the New Imperialism, 1870-1914
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:
1. Explain how the economic and social transformation of Europe after
1870 shaped the encounters between established political elites and
those new to the political process.
2. Describe the response of the ruling classes to the challenges of mass
political participation.
3. Identify the forms that mass politics assumed during this time of
industrial expansion and how that affected the spread of nationalism.
4. Discuss the ways that the emergence of feminism in this period
illustrates both the potential and the limits of political change.
5. Discuss how the scientific developments during this period led to greater
intellectual and cultural optimism and greater anxiety.
6. Explain the factors that led many Europeans in this period to believe
there was a cultural crisis.
7. Describe the causes and consequences of the new imperialist ideology
for both the West and the non-Western world.
Unit Lesson
Europe’s political life in the period from 1870 to 1914 was transformed by
several economic developments. Among these economic developments were
the economic depression beginning in 1873, the industrialization of new regions,
new patterns of production and consumption of industrial goods, and rapid
urbanization and immigration.
The 1870s also witnessed the introduction of new techniques and technologies
that historians label the “Second Industrial Revolution.” More mechanization
replaced handcraft production, and innovations in steel technology ensured that
inexpensive, high-quality steel was widely available. In construction, the
introduction of steel, cement, plate glass, and the mechanical crane permitted
the building of the first skyscrapers. As depression hit agricultural regions hard, it
increased immigration from the village to the industrialized city. The rapid
economic changes, combined with rising immigration and urbanization,
increased social tensions and destabilized political structures. As business
owners attempted to protect their profits by cutting labor costs, the workers
became increasingly hostile. In this new environment, political leaders sought to
overcome social discontent and ensure loyalty. The emergence of mass politics
transformed political culture.
Creating a sense of national identity and fostering national unity were both
crucially important and very complex. Despite the efforts of liberal and
conservative politicians to ensure support through nation-making, socialist and
racist-nationalist parties challenged traditional elites. Class hostilities escalated
with the rise of working-class socialist parties and more radical forms of trade-
unionism; workers sought to define their own political vision and influence the
political nation.
.
HY 1020, Western Civilization II 1 UNIT IV STUDY GUIDE .docxwilcockiris
HY 1020, Western Civilization II 1
UNIT IV STUDY GUIDE
Mass Politics, Industrialization, Cultural Crisis,
and the New Imperialism, 1870-1914
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:
1. Explain how the economic and social transformation of Europe after
1870 shaped the encounters between established political elites and
those new to the political process.
2. Describe the response of the ruling classes to the challenges of mass
political participation.
3. Identify the forms that mass politics assumed during this time of
industrial expansion and how that affected the spread of nationalism.
4. Discuss the ways that the emergence of feminism in this period
illustrates both the potential and the limits of political change.
5. Discuss how the scientific developments during this period led to greater
intellectual and cultural optimism and greater anxiety.
6. Explain the factors that led many Europeans in this period to believe
there was a cultural crisis.
7. Describe the causes and consequences of the new imperialist ideology
for both the West and the non-Western world.
Unit Lesson
Europe’s political life in the period from 1870 to 1914 was transformed by
several economic developments. Among these economic developments were
the economic depression beginning in 1873, the industrialization of new regions,
new patterns of production and consumption of industrial goods, and rapid
urbanization and immigration.
The 1870s also witnessed the introduction of new techniques and technologies
that historians label the “Second Industrial Revolution.” More mechanization
replaced handcraft production, and innovations in steel technology ensured that
inexpensive, high-quality steel was widely available. In construction, the
introduction of steel, cement, plate glass, and the mechanical crane permitted
the building of the first skyscrapers. As depression hit agricultural regions hard, it
increased immigration from the village to the industrialized city. The rapid
economic changes, combined with rising immigration and urbanization,
increased social tensions and destabilized political structures. As business
owners attempted to protect their profits by cutting labor costs, the workers
became increasingly hostile. In this new environment, political leaders sought to
overcome social discontent and ensure loyalty. The emergence of mass politics
transformed political culture.
Creating a sense of national identity and fostering national unity were both
crucially important and very complex. Despite the efforts of liberal and
conservative politicians to ensure support through nation-making, socialist and
racist-nationalist parties challenged traditional elites. Class hostilities escalated
with the rise of working-class socialist parties and more radical forms of trade-
unionism; workers sought to define their own political vision and influence the
political nation.
.
Age of Exploration, beginning in the 15th century, marked a period of unprecedented global exploration and expansion. European powers embarked on voyages of discovery, resulting in the establishment of colonies, the Columbian Exchange, and the transatlantic slave trade. This era also witnessed scientific advancements, such as Copernicus' heliocentric theory and Galileo's telescopic observations.
5. Enlightenment and Revolution:
The 18th century brought about the Enlightenment, an intellectual movement challenging traditional authority and advocating for reason, science, and individual rights. The ideas of thinkers like John Locke, Voltaire, and Rousseau inspired revolutions, including the American Revolution and the French Revolution, which forever transformed the political landscape.
6. Industrial Revolution:
The Industrial Revolution, starting in the late 18th century, brought mechanization and technological advancements that revolutionized production methods. Steam power, factories, and the development of railways led to significant social and economic changes, urbanization, and the rise of capitalism.
7. World Wars and the Cold War:
The 20th century was marked by two devastating World Wars, causing immense human suffering and redrawing the global map. The Cold War emerged between the United States and the Soviet Union, leading to political, economic, and ideological tensions that shaped international relations for decades.
8. Globalization and the Digital Age:
The latter part of the 20th century witnessed unprecedented globalization, characterized by increased interconnectedness and the rapid exchange of goods, ideas, and information. The rise of the internet and digital technologies has further transformed communication, commerce, and social interactions, creating new challenges and opportunities for societies worldwide
.
Conclusion:
World history is an intricate web of human achievements, conflicts, and cultural exchanges. By understanding the past, we can gain valuable insights into the present and shape a better future. This article provides a glimpse into the vast panorama of world history, highlighting key periods and events that have shaped the course of humanity's journey through time.
Conclusion:
World history is an intricate web of human achievements, conflicts, and cultural exchanges. By understanding the past, we can gain valuable insights into the present and shape a better future. This article provides a glimpse into the vast panorama of world history, highlighting key periods and events that have shaped the course of humanity's journey through time.
Conclusion:
World history is an intricate web of human achievements, conflicts, and cultural exchanges. By understanding the past, we can gain valuable insights into the present and shape a better future. This article provides a glimpse into the vast panorama of world history, highlighting key periods and events that have shaped the course of humanity's
Stacey
1 posts
Re:Topic 2 DQ 2
· Treaty of Westphalia, Colonialism, Independence; The Germinal Phase
· The Silk Road Into the Middle Ages; Early Waves of Economic Globalization
· Seed of the Global Economy; The Colonial Wave
The Treaty of Westphalia started a wave of global governance for the treaties, leaving the religious powers of authority. ""Religious and political freedoms from empire were established, not for individuals, but for nations" (Chirico, 2014). This was the starting of sovereignty, states were able to govern themselves from religious authorities. At this time colonization started when Europe started to make boundaries on their land to show the domination of power to which land. Americans developed the land of their own creating Independence in the democratic republic that had branches of government based on the Constitution that we still impose today. This separated us from the European nation but alienated the Native Americans with treaties that justified the taking. England negotiated with the Native Americans but always had the upper hand in the negotiation, leaving them landless and resource less. Even though our separation from Europe, it seems that it was about who had power over what land, this is where we are today. Even though the United States became independent, many of the protests were violent while others were not. The colonization created severe inequality tensions, neglected education attainment, religious tensions, again unprepared as Giddens stated for the prosperity of Democratic government.
Shelly
1 posts
Re:Topic 2 DQ 2
Hi class,
Waves of globalization are as follows:
1. Waves of Nationhood the Germinal Phase: The Treaty of Westphalia and the Principle of Sovereignty
2. Early Waves of Economic Globalization: The Silk Road into the Middle Ages
3. The Colonial Wave: Planting the Seed of the Global Economy, 1500s to 1860s
The Colonial Wave:
According to the book, the Colonial Wave was extremely influential. Overall, it dealt with “the respect to the economy, the capitalist economy began its global expansion in this era. With respect to culture, the era spread both enlightenment ideals and rational thought” (Chirico, 2014). While societies were restructured, they were also able to create and obtain more resources (i.e. land). As the colonial wave developed, so did the population of people in territories and the land that was used because more in demand. As the Industrial Revolution began, an increase in the trading of resources, like slaves, also became prominent. This way land owners were able to produce more product and gain more money. However, with the growth and lack of land because of it, there was a problem with equality and a halt was put on economic growth. The economy started to become more complex and the “success of former colonies were complex and involved in economics, cultural, and political dynamics, along with population growth and density, international relations, pr.
2. To what extent do cultures undergo changes Expound upon your sta.pdfarkleatheray
2. To what extent do cultures undergo changes? Expound upon your statement with an example.
Your response should be at least 200 words in length.
Solution
Transformation of culture, or cultural change, is the dynamic process whereby the living cultures
of the world are changing and adapting to external or internal forces. This process is occurring
within Western culture as well as non-Western and indigenous cultures and cultures of the world.
Forces which contribute to the cultural change described in this article include: colonization,
globalization, advances in communication, transport and infrastructure improvements, and
military expansion.
\"Western\" or European culture began to undergo rapid change starting with the arrival of
Columbus in the New World, and continuing with the Industrial Revolution. The Modern Period,
from 1914–1945, is characterized as a highly transformative era, with World War I serving as the
watershed moment initiating and forever marking the Modern period.[2] In literature, the work
of the High Modernists ruled this period. Notable High Modernists include: T.S. Eliot, Ernest
Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, and James Joyce. The High Modernists were
predominantly American expatriates living abroad after the war and strongly marked by the war
experience. A great deal of literature was written attempting to convey the World War I
experience. Among these is Ezra Pound\'s poem, \"Hugh Selwyn Mauberley\", published in
1920. The poem points out the perceived pointlessness of World War I, but also the loss of faith
in the British Empire and Western ideals. Another example of literature during this time is the
anti-war poem \"Dulce et Decorum Est.\", written by Wilfred Owen. This poem contests the
deep-seated tradition of noblesse oblige, and questions the idea of dying for one\'s country.
The 1960s were a tumultuous time in Western culture, especially in Europe due to the severe
restructuring necessary following the Post–World War II economic expansion and in the United
States due to its controversial participation in both the Cold War and South East Asian political
affairs with the Vietnam War, where the US role was perceived from a number of directions as
prolonging the residual effects of decades of colonial patronization in the Asian region by
economically well to do European powers. This period was marked by a number of nascent
social changes including a heightened sensitivity to the futility of war which sparked hundreds of
protest marches and popular uprisings on a world-wide scale, rising tides of awareness
concerning the need to change overwhelmingly negative race-relations in the USA, experimental
drug use, the growth of television, a new genre in popular music, and a general shift away from
social normatives of previous generations. Out of this era stemmed some of today\'s most
powerful forces, such as the internet. The internet was created in large part by people
cooperating, taking chances, and experime.
Age of Exploration, beginning in the 15th century, marked a period of unprecedented global exploration and expansion. European powers embarked on voyages of discovery, resulting in the establishment of colonies, the Columbian Exchange, and the transatlantic slave trade. This era also witnessed scientific advancements, such as Copernicus' heliocentric theory and Galileo's telescopic observations.
5. Enlightenment and Revolution:
The 18th century brought about the Enlightenment, an intellectual movement challenging traditional authority and advocating for reason, science, and individual rights. The ideas of thinkers like John Locke, Voltaire, and Rousseau inspired revolutions, including the American Revolution and the French Revolution, which forever transformed the political landscape.
6. Industrial Revolution:
The Industrial Revolution, starting in the late 18th century, brought mechanization and technological advancements that revolutionized production methods. Steam power, factories, and the development of railways led to significant social and economic changes, urbanization, and the rise of capitalism.
7. World Wars and the Cold War:
The 20th century was marked by two devastating World Wars, causing immense human suffering and redrawing the global map. The Cold War emerged between the United States and the Soviet Union, leading to political, economic, and ideological tensions that shaped international relations for decades.
8. Globalization and the Digital Age:
The latter part of the 20th century witnessed unprecedented globalization, characterized by increased interconnectedness and the rapid exchange of goods, ideas, and information. The rise of the internet and digital technologies has further transformed communication, commerce, and social interactions, creating new challenges and opportunities for societies worldwide
.
Conclusion:
World history is an intricate web of human achievements, conflicts, and cultural exchanges. By understanding the past, we can gain valuable insights into the present and shape a better future. This article provides a glimpse into the vast panorama of world history, highlighting key periods and events that have shaped the course of humanity's journey through time.
Conclusion:
World history is an intricate web of human achievements, conflicts, and cultural exchanges. By understanding the past, we can gain valuable insights into the present and shape a better future. This article provides a glimpse into the vast panorama of world history, highlighting key periods and events that have shaped the course of humanity's journey through time.
Conclusion:
World history is an intricate web of human achievements, conflicts, and cultural exchanges. By understanding the past, we can gain valuable insights into the present and shape a better future. This article provides a glimpse into the vast panorama of world history, highlighting key periods and events that have shaped the course of humanity's
Stacey
1 posts
Re:Topic 2 DQ 2
· Treaty of Westphalia, Colonialism, Independence; The Germinal Phase
· The Silk Road Into the Middle Ages; Early Waves of Economic Globalization
· Seed of the Global Economy; The Colonial Wave
The Treaty of Westphalia started a wave of global governance for the treaties, leaving the religious powers of authority. ""Religious and political freedoms from empire were established, not for individuals, but for nations" (Chirico, 2014). This was the starting of sovereignty, states were able to govern themselves from religious authorities. At this time colonization started when Europe started to make boundaries on their land to show the domination of power to which land. Americans developed the land of their own creating Independence in the democratic republic that had branches of government based on the Constitution that we still impose today. This separated us from the European nation but alienated the Native Americans with treaties that justified the taking. England negotiated with the Native Americans but always had the upper hand in the negotiation, leaving them landless and resource less. Even though our separation from Europe, it seems that it was about who had power over what land, this is where we are today. Even though the United States became independent, many of the protests were violent while others were not. The colonization created severe inequality tensions, neglected education attainment, religious tensions, again unprepared as Giddens stated for the prosperity of Democratic government.
Shelly
1 posts
Re:Topic 2 DQ 2
Hi class,
Waves of globalization are as follows:
1. Waves of Nationhood the Germinal Phase: The Treaty of Westphalia and the Principle of Sovereignty
2. Early Waves of Economic Globalization: The Silk Road into the Middle Ages
3. The Colonial Wave: Planting the Seed of the Global Economy, 1500s to 1860s
The Colonial Wave:
According to the book, the Colonial Wave was extremely influential. Overall, it dealt with “the respect to the economy, the capitalist economy began its global expansion in this era. With respect to culture, the era spread both enlightenment ideals and rational thought” (Chirico, 2014). While societies were restructured, they were also able to create and obtain more resources (i.e. land). As the colonial wave developed, so did the population of people in territories and the land that was used because more in demand. As the Industrial Revolution began, an increase in the trading of resources, like slaves, also became prominent. This way land owners were able to produce more product and gain more money. However, with the growth and lack of land because of it, there was a problem with equality and a halt was put on economic growth. The economy started to become more complex and the “success of former colonies were complex and involved in economics, cultural, and political dynamics, along with population growth and density, international relations, pr.
2. To what extent do cultures undergo changes Expound upon your sta.pdfarkleatheray
2. To what extent do cultures undergo changes? Expound upon your statement with an example.
Your response should be at least 200 words in length.
Solution
Transformation of culture, or cultural change, is the dynamic process whereby the living cultures
of the world are changing and adapting to external or internal forces. This process is occurring
within Western culture as well as non-Western and indigenous cultures and cultures of the world.
Forces which contribute to the cultural change described in this article include: colonization,
globalization, advances in communication, transport and infrastructure improvements, and
military expansion.
\"Western\" or European culture began to undergo rapid change starting with the arrival of
Columbus in the New World, and continuing with the Industrial Revolution. The Modern Period,
from 1914–1945, is characterized as a highly transformative era, with World War I serving as the
watershed moment initiating and forever marking the Modern period.[2] In literature, the work
of the High Modernists ruled this period. Notable High Modernists include: T.S. Eliot, Ernest
Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, and James Joyce. The High Modernists were
predominantly American expatriates living abroad after the war and strongly marked by the war
experience. A great deal of literature was written attempting to convey the World War I
experience. Among these is Ezra Pound\'s poem, \"Hugh Selwyn Mauberley\", published in
1920. The poem points out the perceived pointlessness of World War I, but also the loss of faith
in the British Empire and Western ideals. Another example of literature during this time is the
anti-war poem \"Dulce et Decorum Est.\", written by Wilfred Owen. This poem contests the
deep-seated tradition of noblesse oblige, and questions the idea of dying for one\'s country.
The 1960s were a tumultuous time in Western culture, especially in Europe due to the severe
restructuring necessary following the Post–World War II economic expansion and in the United
States due to its controversial participation in both the Cold War and South East Asian political
affairs with the Vietnam War, where the US role was perceived from a number of directions as
prolonging the residual effects of decades of colonial patronization in the Asian region by
economically well to do European powers. This period was marked by a number of nascent
social changes including a heightened sensitivity to the futility of war which sparked hundreds of
protest marches and popular uprisings on a world-wide scale, rising tides of awareness
concerning the need to change overwhelmingly negative race-relations in the USA, experimental
drug use, the growth of television, a new genre in popular music, and a general shift away from
social normatives of previous generations. Out of this era stemmed some of today\'s most
powerful forces, such as the internet. The internet was created in large part by people
cooperating, taking chances, and experime.
2137ad Merindol Colony Interiors where refugee try to build a seemengly norm...luforfor
This are the interiors of the Merindol Colony in 2137ad after the Climate Change Collapse and the Apocalipse Wars. Merindol is a small Colony in the Italian Alps where there are around 4000 humans. The Colony values mainly around meritocracy and selection by effort.
Explore the multifaceted world of Muntadher Saleh, an Iraqi polymath renowned for his expertise in visual art, writing, design, and pharmacy. This SlideShare delves into his innovative contributions across various disciplines, showcasing his unique ability to blend traditional themes with modern aesthetics. Learn about his impactful artworks, thought-provoking literary pieces, and his vision as a Neo-Pop artist dedicated to raising awareness about Iraq's cultural heritage. Discover why Muntadher Saleh is celebrated as "The Last Polymath" and how his multidisciplinary talents continue to inspire and influence.
2137ad - Characters that live in Merindol and are at the center of main storiesluforfor
Kurgan is a russian expatriate that is secretly in love with Sonia Contado. Henry is a british soldier that took refuge in Merindol Colony in 2137ad. He is the lover of Sonia Contado.
Hadj Ounis's most notable work is his sculpture titled "Metamorphosis." This piece showcases Ounis's mastery of form and texture, as he seamlessly combines metal and wood to create a dynamic and visually striking composition. The juxtaposition of the two materials creates a sense of tension and harmony, inviting viewers to contemplate the relationship between nature and industry.
1. The worldview of European intellectuals shifts from one based on ecclesiastical and
classical authority to one based primarily on inquiry and observation of the natural
world. Period 1
Scientific Revolution, natural philosophers (later called scientists) such as
Copernicus, Galileo, and Newton, began to create and developing their theories
Renaissance intellectuals — later called humanists — revived classical ideas that
made human beings the measure of all things.
The struggle for sovereignty within and among states resulted in varying degrees of
political centralization. Period 1
The Peace of Westphalia (1648), which marked the effective and the medieval idea
of universal Christendom, accelerating the decline of the Holy Roman Empire by
granting princes, bishops, and other local leaders control over religion.
Secular political theories, such as those espoused in Machiavelli's The Prince,
provided a new concept of the state.
Religious pluralism challenged the concept of a united Europe Period 1
The efforts of Habsburg rulers failed to restore Catholic unity across Europe.
Reformers Martin Luther and John Calvin, as well as religious radicals such as the
Anabaptists, criticized Catholic abuses and established new interpretations of
Christian doctrine and practice.
Europeans explored and settled overseas territories, encountering and interacting
with indigenous populations. Period 1
The exchange of new plants, animals, and diseases - the Columbian Exchange -
created economic opportunities for European and facilitated European subjugation
and destruction of indigenous peoples, particularly in the Americas
The Spanish established colonies across the Americas, the Caribbean, and the
Pacific, which made Spain a dominant state in Europe. Encomienda system.
2. European society and the experiences of everyday life were increasingly shaped by
commercial and agricultural capitalism, notwithstanding the persistence of
medieval social and economic structures. Period 1
Innovations in banking and finance promoted the growth of urban financial centers
and a money economy.Innovations in banking and finance promoted the growth of
urban financial centers and a money economy: double entry book-keeping, Bank of
Amsterdam, The Dutch East India Company, the British East India Company.
Subsistence agriculture was the rule in most areas, with three-crop field rotation, in
the north and two-crop rotation in the Mediterranean; in many cases, farmers paid
rent and labor services for their land.
Different models of political sovereignty affected the relationship among states and
between states and individuals. Period 2
The outcome of the English Civil War and the Glorious Revolution protected the
rights of gentry and aristocracy from absolutism through assertions of the rights of
Parliament. Examples of these outcomes such as the following, English Bill of
Rights, Parliamentary sovereignty
actions taken during the moderate phase of the French Revolution, Declaration of
the Rights of Man and Citizen, Civil Constitution of the Clergy, Constitution of 1791,
Abolition of provinces and division of France into departments
The expansion of European commerce accelerated the growth of a worldwide
economic network. Period 2
The Agricultural Revolution raised productivity and increased the supply of food and
other agricultural products.
European states followed mercantilist policies by exploiting colonies in the New
World and elsewhere.
The popularization and dissemination of the Scientific Revolution and the
application of its methods to political, social, and ethical issues led to an increased,
although not unchallenged, emphasis on reason in European culture. Period 2
A variety of institutions, such as salons, explored and disseminated Enlightenment
culture.
3. Despite censorship, increasingly numerous and varied printed materials served a
growing literate public and led to the development of public opinion. The
Encyclopédie.
The experiences of everyday life were shaped by demographic, environmental,
medical, and technological changes. Period 2
By the middle of the 18th century, higher agricultural productivity and improved
transportation increased the food supply, allowing populations to grow and reducing
the number of demographic crises (a process known as the Agricultural Revolution).
As infant and child mortality decreased and commercial wealth increased, families
dedicated more space and resources to children and child-rearing, as well as private
life and comfort.
The Industrial Revolution spread from Great Britain to the continent, where the state
played a greater role in promoting industry. Period 3
France moved toward industrialization at a more gradual pace than Great Britain,
with government support and with less dislocation of traditional methods of
production.
Industrialization in Prussia allowed that state to become the leader of a unified
Germany, which subsequently underwent rapid industrialization under government
sponsorship.
The experiences of everyday life were shaped by industrialization, depending on the
level of industrial development in a particular location. Period 3
Bourgeois families became focused on the nuclear family and the cult of
domesticity, with distinct gender roles for men and women.
Economic motivations for marriage, while still important for all classes, diminished
as the middle-class notion of companionate marriage began to be adopted by the
working classes
Political revolutions and the complications resulting from industrialization triggered
a range of ideological, governmental, and collective responses. Period 3
4. Radicals in Britain and republicans on the continent demanded universal male
suffrage and full citizenship without regard to wealth and property ownership; some
argued that such rights should be extended to women.
Socialists called for the redistribution of society's resources and wealth and evolved
from a utopian to a Marxist scientific critique of capitalism.
European states struggled to maintain international stability in an age of
nationalism and revolutions. Period 3
Metternich, architect of the Concert of Europe, used it to suppress nationalist and
liberal revolutions
In the first half of the 19th century, revolutionaries attempted to destroy the status
quo. Greek War of Independence and July Revolution
A variety of motives and methods led to the intensification of European global
control and increased tensions among the Great Powers. Period 3
European imperialists justified overseas expansion and rule by claiming cultural and
racial superiority. Social Darwinism and White Man's burden
Machine gun, the development of advanced weaponry invariably ensured the
military superiority of Europeans over colonized areas.
European ideas and culture expressed a tension between objectivity and scientific
realism on one hand, and subjectivity and individual expression on the other.
Period 3
Romantic artists and composers broke from classical artistic forms to emphasize
emotion, nature, individuality, intuition, the supernatural, and national histories in
their works.
Positivism, or the philosophy that science alone provides knowledge, emphasized the
rational and scientific analysis of nature and human affairs.
Total war and political instability in the first half of the 20th century gave way to a
polarized state order during the Cold War and eventually to efforts at transnational
union. Period 4
5. The League of Nations, created to prevent future wars, was weakened from the
outset by the nonparticipation of major powers, including the United States,
Germany, and the Soviet Union.
The United States exerted a strong military, political, and economic influence in
Western Europe, leading to the creation of world monetary and trade systems and
geopolitical alliances such as NATO.
The stresses of economic collapse and total war engendered internal conflicts within
European states and created conflicting conceptions of the relationship between
the individual and the state, as demonstrated in the ideological battle between and
among democracy, communism, and fascism. Period 4
Mussolini and Hitler rose to power by exploiting postwar bitterness and economic
instability, using terror and manipulating the fledgling and unpopular democracies
in their countries.
In Russia, World War I exacerbated long-term problems of political stagnation, social
inequality, incomplete industrialization, and food and land distribution, all while
creating support for revolutionary change (February/March Revolution)
During the 20th century, diverse intellectual and cultural movements questioned the
existence of objective knowledge, the ability of reason to arrive at truth, and the role
of religion in determining moral standards. Period 4
Medical theories and technologies extended life but posed social and moral
questions that eluded consensus and crossed religious, political, and philosophical
perspectives. (eugenics, birth control, genetic engineering)
Increased immigration into Europe altered Europe's religious makeup, causing
debate and conflict over the role of religion in social and political life
Demographic changes, economic growth, total war, disruptions of traditional social
patterns, and competing definitions of freedom and justice altered the experiences
of everyday life. Period 4
6. Various movements, including women's movements, political and social movements,
gay and lesbian movements, and others, worked for expanded civil rights, in some
cases obtaining the goals they sought, and in others facing strong opposition.
New communication and transportation technologies multiplied the connections
across space and time, transforming daily life and contributing to the proliferation of
ideas and to globalization.
Period 1 1450-1648
Period 2 1648-1815
Period 3 1815-1914
Period 4 1914-present