Europe: The Birthplace of Western Civilization

Paper Summary:

This paper analyzes the influences and contributions of European history and culture from the late 15th century to the mid-18th century and its impact on western civilization. The writer of this paper discusses and details the various scientific discoveries, political ideas, arts, philosophies and religious beliefs that had spread to other parts of the world and many modern civilizations, which had developed largely due to these influences. Democracy and nationalism became powerful political forces in Europe after the 1500s. The growth of the democratic movement developed because of the age of reason and its challenge of traditional authority. At the time that the Renaissance period was transforming Europe's art and the age of discovery, its physical and psychological geography and religious debates were changing the theological landscape. The age of reason began in the 1600s and lasted until the late 1700s. During this period, traditional European thinkers insisted that the use of reason was the only way to determine truth.

Table of Contents:
Social Changes
Political Changes
Religious Changes
Scientific Changes
Artistic/Cultural Changes
References

From the Paper:

"Democracy and Nationalism became powerful political forces in Europe after the 1500s. The growth of the democratic movement developed because of the Age of Reason and its challenge of traditional authority. Nationalism, in turn, developed from strong feelings that the united people of each country in their fight for democracy. In the 1600's, the English people made the most important challenge since the Middle Ages against the power of kings in Europe. Following a civil war, they abolished the monarchy. In 1689, the English Parliament passed a Bill of Rights that increased its own authority, limited the power of the king, and guaranteed the liberty of the English people."

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