8.3.1 GROWTH OF IDEAS ON SOCIETY and RELIGION
Renaissance, a return to the Greco-roman cultural roots, occurred in the period 1350-1600M and led
to secularism (separation of religion from state). Secularism had become necessary because Europeans had turned their back
on Christianity and were returning to their Greco-Roman religions. The protestant reformation movement arose in the 16th
century M as a revolt against church corruption. Enlightenment was use of reason in religion, politics, and the arts. Social
reform movements in the 19th century arose to improve conditions for the disadvantaged. Classicism, romanticism,
realism, and impressionism developed as art forms. In the industrial revolution the main economic thinking was laisser-faire
capitalism. This was challenged by socialism that asserted that means of production must be controlled by society either directly
or indirectly through the government. Karl Marx set out to provide a scientific basis for socialism.
8.3.2 POLITICS
In the 1500s and 1600s European monarchs created powerful kingdoms that were absolute and ruled by
divine right in England,
Spanish, France, and Prussia.
The English, French, and American revolutions challenged absolute monarchies and established the principle of constitutional
government. The revolutions were followed by political reforms. The age of exploration starting in 1492 M was the prelude
to West European overseas empires. Imperialism was both economic and cultural. Europeans were able to occupy, control, and
exploit many parts of the world because of their demographic strength, strong government, effective organization and management,
determination to achieve objectives by any means including extreme cruelty on the argument that the end justifies the means,
use of treachery and deceit, and inter-European competition, and inter-European collaboration.
8.3.3 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
The scientific revolution started with renaissance and reformation. When the authority of the church
was questioned in the reformation everything was questioned including long-held scientific dogmas. Empiricism developed and
replaced the previous concepts based on speculation and not empirical research. Francis Bacon developed the scientific method
emphasizing empiricism. Rene Descartes developed rationalism. Based on empirical observation and experimentation, new ideas
developed on the cosmos and in medical, biological and chemical sciences. Technological improvement led to the agricultural
revolution starting in the 1750s. Farmers who became rich because of the agricultural revolution invested their money in industry
to start the industrial revolution. The industrial revolution had its beginnings in the 1850s. It started in England
and spread to Belgium, France,
and Germany. Under the commercial revolution, European capitalism
contributed to rapid economic growth in the form of increased production of goods, increased standards of living, and trade
exchange.
8.3.4 DECLINE OF WESTERN EUROPE
European decline was hastened by two great civil wars in 1914-1918 and 1939-1945. The two wars were
actually one war with an interlude of 20 years. They caused demographic and economic devastation. European economies had become
so weak that they needed rescue by the US under the Marshall
plan starting in 1947. These wars weakened Europe so much that it was forced to give up its overseas
territories. By 1990 virtually all former colonies were once again independent. Europe emerged from
the second war as a second rate power dependent on the US
for its economy and security
8.3.5 RETURN TO ROME
The return to the Roman era European system is manifesting in increasing economic and political integration
of Europeans under the European Union. These moves towards European unity cannot however reverse basic causes of civilizational
weakness that are manifesting as break-down of the family, falling populations, addiction to drugs, lack of purpose and vigor
among the youths.
