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Worlds of History, Volume Two: Since 1400: A Comparative Reader 3rd edition by Reilly, Kevin (2007) Paperback
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First published January 5, 2007
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November 30, 2016
Since the Colombian Exchange in late 15th century, "the world [has] become increasingly integrated and interdependent" as European countries were brought closer together through trade with the Americas (Reilly, 1089). Explorations to the New World reshaped many levels of European society as individuals found their way of life and cultural identities challenged in ways they didn't think possible. As global trade increased, people, cultures, thoughts, and ideas were compressed creating a process known as globalization. Historians define globalization as: "[a complex phenomenon of] large-scale changes and trends in the world" weaving countries into one heterogeneous quilt (Reilly, 1089). Our modern interpretation of history "can be understood as the story of increased interaction on a limited planet" as different systems integrated during the pre and early modern periods (Reilly, 1089). How did the Enlightenment, American Revolutions, and Industrialization contribute to globalization and the synthesis of nations?
In the 18th century, the great movement preceding the French Revolution throughout Europe is known as the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment, or Age of Reason, was a new way of thinking about society introducing new political ideologies and scientific ideas that helped shape the world today. Philosophers like John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau focused their ideas on society and reason. Philosophers believed that human reason could produce a better society and applied new ways of thinking to resolve social problems. Questioning everything, revolutionary philosophers argued equality of all individuals, regardless of class, infusing enlightened ideas into all aspects of society. These new ways of thinking reformed government and society threatening the current state of the nation and religious views while allowing the spread of art, literature, science, and ultimately: freedom for all.
In 1762, the French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote in The Social Contract that "Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains" (Reilly, 774). Amongst the philosophers of his day, Rousseau was the most enlightened challenging "the monarchy and called for a government of the people" (Reilly, 773). Rousseau argued that freedom was essential to being human. He sought to answer the question: is the authority of the state legitimate? Exploring the notion of individual rights, Rousseau concluded that "if individuals retained certain rights, as there would be no common superior to decide between them" in turn establishing a social contract of freedom (Reilly, 775). Rousseau believed that when people consent to be governed everyone has equal rights and that government will act in the interest of the common good, not just for a select few. If government fails to meet the needs of the people, then the people have the right to revolt and overthrow their government and install a new system that better meets their needs.
In the late 1600's, Europeans focused their attention on colonizing the eastern seaboard of North America. Although colonists considered themselves British citizens, many resisted new taxes and what they saw as the imposition of taxes and laws without their consent resulting in revolutions within the British colonies against British rule. Revolutions are a turning point intended to create change while encouraging the spread of new political ideas, growth of the nation state, and end to the old social order.
Drawing inspiration from Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the American colonies declared Independence in 1776 demonstrating that it was possible to overthrow British rule. Through independence, the British colonists successfully established "rights of man", self-government, and nationhood. Globally, the ideas founded in the Enlightenment paved the path for American Independence and "the founding of the Republic of the United States of America provided a model for other peoples chafing under oppressive rule to emulate" (Reilly, 783). John Locke's enlightened words helped shaped the American Declaration of Independence making America the country that it is today.
In 1789, the American Independence influenced the French citizens to revolt against the aristocrats and overthrow centuries of monarchical rule. "The slogan of the French Revolution was: `Liberty, Equality, Fraternity' (Reilly, 783), very similar to the American Declaration of Independence. What sparked the French to revolt at this particular time in history? Connected by trade routes, European citizens obtained information about the American revolutions and independence through soldiers returning home to France from the Americas. French soldiers returned with new ideas of individual liberty, justice, and equality. European Enlightenment influenced the American Revolution, which in turn, inspired the French Revolution. This illustrates how the ideas in one country attribute to globalization and influence the actions not just one country, but the actions of many countries.
The Enlightenment provided the world with revolutionary ideas of individual freedoms and new ways of thinking. As a result of those ideas, the revolutions in the American colonies and French nation-state sought to deliver those freedoms. As globalization spread, new political ideas sparked economic change. New economic ideas and new ways to serve the economy and government lead the world into an era of Industrialization. Historians and economists define industrialization as: the replacement of human and animal power by mechanical machines through the development of new skills and disciplines leading to long-term sustained economic growth.
From 1750 -1850 the European Industrial Revolution was a period of drastic change. Through the establishment of banks and a stable political government supporting private enterprise, Europeans saw the rise of new markets and economies and a labor force that was willing to work for a wage, known as the middle class. Europeans saw a huge shift in their economies from individual hand made items to mass-produced goods. Mass production transformed the European economic system from an agriculture cottage industry to a factory mass-produced environment. Greater quantities of goods were produced at a lower cost with increased efficiency.
The European economic and social development expanded across the world as Europeans continued their overseas expansion fighting to increase their natural resources required for production, and in particular, to increase their profits. In the late 1800's, Europeans concentrated much of their attention on the unexplored and un-colonized continent of Africa. From 1880 to 1890 the race for Africa among the most powerful European nations was known as "the scramble for Africa" (Reilly, 846). Within ten years, European colonists invaded and colonized the entire continent of Africa, excluding Ethiopia and Liberia. The primary motive for expansion was economic. European manufactures seeking new sources of raw materials and new markets promoted expansion into regions that were previously uncolonized.
The last five hundred years were a time of great expansion across the globe. The philosophical, scientific, political and industrial revolutions in the American colonies and Europe transformed the world forever. Without the philosophical reasoning during the Enlightenment, the American colonies may not have revolted against British rule. Without the American Independence of 1776 there may not have been a French Revolution in 1789. Without these revolutions European society may not have shifted from an agricultural community to industrialized nations seeking to explore Africa in search of new markets and economies. The Enlightenment, American Revolutions, and Industrialization brought our world closer together and increased the interdependence between people, cultures, and countries. Perhaps the most important outcome from the sixteenth century through the early 1900's were the ideological advancements that integrated countries, opened the doors to freedom, and established independence from class rule that the greater part of the modern world now experiences.
In the 18th century, the great movement preceding the French Revolution throughout Europe is known as the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment, or Age of Reason, was a new way of thinking about society introducing new political ideologies and scientific ideas that helped shape the world today. Philosophers like John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau focused their ideas on society and reason. Philosophers believed that human reason could produce a better society and applied new ways of thinking to resolve social problems. Questioning everything, revolutionary philosophers argued equality of all individuals, regardless of class, infusing enlightened ideas into all aspects of society. These new ways of thinking reformed government and society threatening the current state of the nation and religious views while allowing the spread of art, literature, science, and ultimately: freedom for all.
In 1762, the French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote in The Social Contract that "Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains" (Reilly, 774). Amongst the philosophers of his day, Rousseau was the most enlightened challenging "the monarchy and called for a government of the people" (Reilly, 773). Rousseau argued that freedom was essential to being human. He sought to answer the question: is the authority of the state legitimate? Exploring the notion of individual rights, Rousseau concluded that "if individuals retained certain rights, as there would be no common superior to decide between them" in turn establishing a social contract of freedom (Reilly, 775). Rousseau believed that when people consent to be governed everyone has equal rights and that government will act in the interest of the common good, not just for a select few. If government fails to meet the needs of the people, then the people have the right to revolt and overthrow their government and install a new system that better meets their needs.
In the late 1600's, Europeans focused their attention on colonizing the eastern seaboard of North America. Although colonists considered themselves British citizens, many resisted new taxes and what they saw as the imposition of taxes and laws without their consent resulting in revolutions within the British colonies against British rule. Revolutions are a turning point intended to create change while encouraging the spread of new political ideas, growth of the nation state, and end to the old social order.
Drawing inspiration from Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the American colonies declared Independence in 1776 demonstrating that it was possible to overthrow British rule. Through independence, the British colonists successfully established "rights of man", self-government, and nationhood. Globally, the ideas founded in the Enlightenment paved the path for American Independence and "the founding of the Republic of the United States of America provided a model for other peoples chafing under oppressive rule to emulate" (Reilly, 783). John Locke's enlightened words helped shaped the American Declaration of Independence making America the country that it is today.
In 1789, the American Independence influenced the French citizens to revolt against the aristocrats and overthrow centuries of monarchical rule. "The slogan of the French Revolution was: `Liberty, Equality, Fraternity' (Reilly, 783), very similar to the American Declaration of Independence. What sparked the French to revolt at this particular time in history? Connected by trade routes, European citizens obtained information about the American revolutions and independence through soldiers returning home to France from the Americas. French soldiers returned with new ideas of individual liberty, justice, and equality. European Enlightenment influenced the American Revolution, which in turn, inspired the French Revolution. This illustrates how the ideas in one country attribute to globalization and influence the actions not just one country, but the actions of many countries.
The Enlightenment provided the world with revolutionary ideas of individual freedoms and new ways of thinking. As a result of those ideas, the revolutions in the American colonies and French nation-state sought to deliver those freedoms. As globalization spread, new political ideas sparked economic change. New economic ideas and new ways to serve the economy and government lead the world into an era of Industrialization. Historians and economists define industrialization as: the replacement of human and animal power by mechanical machines through the development of new skills and disciplines leading to long-term sustained economic growth.
From 1750 -1850 the European Industrial Revolution was a period of drastic change. Through the establishment of banks and a stable political government supporting private enterprise, Europeans saw the rise of new markets and economies and a labor force that was willing to work for a wage, known as the middle class. Europeans saw a huge shift in their economies from individual hand made items to mass-produced goods. Mass production transformed the European economic system from an agriculture cottage industry to a factory mass-produced environment. Greater quantities of goods were produced at a lower cost with increased efficiency.
The European economic and social development expanded across the world as Europeans continued their overseas expansion fighting to increase their natural resources required for production, and in particular, to increase their profits. In the late 1800's, Europeans concentrated much of their attention on the unexplored and un-colonized continent of Africa. From 1880 to 1890 the race for Africa among the most powerful European nations was known as "the scramble for Africa" (Reilly, 846). Within ten years, European colonists invaded and colonized the entire continent of Africa, excluding Ethiopia and Liberia. The primary motive for expansion was economic. European manufactures seeking new sources of raw materials and new markets promoted expansion into regions that were previously uncolonized.
The last five hundred years were a time of great expansion across the globe. The philosophical, scientific, political and industrial revolutions in the American colonies and Europe transformed the world forever. Without the philosophical reasoning during the Enlightenment, the American colonies may not have revolted against British rule. Without the American Independence of 1776 there may not have been a French Revolution in 1789. Without these revolutions European society may not have shifted from an agricultural community to industrialized nations seeking to explore Africa in search of new markets and economies. The Enlightenment, American Revolutions, and Industrialization brought our world closer together and increased the interdependence between people, cultures, and countries. Perhaps the most important outcome from the sixteenth century through the early 1900's were the ideological advancements that integrated countries, opened the doors to freedom, and established independence from class rule that the greater part of the modern world now experiences.
April 18, 2010
This is the reader we used for the world history class I was a teaching assistant for this semester...I thought the readings were well chosen and I liked the editor's introductions to each section.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews