The Extreme Change in Western Europe From 1450 and 1750

How did Europeans push toward such a serious transformation? The answer can be seen in the mid-18th century when dramatic changes started become more prevalent. European states saw significant changes politically and economically during the 18th and 19th centuries. By incorporating new methods of factories and protective tariffs, states prospered very well during this time period. European states also used the previous ideas from the Enlightenment period to reject traditional methods, for new revolutionary ideas that applied to all aspects of society.

In the late 1800’s, before World War 1, European countries saw a dramatic change within their societies. New and more liberal ideas began to emerge, and challenged the traditional European beliefs. Ordinary, average people started to ponder on new practices that would forever change society. Ideologies such as Marxism, Freudianism, and women’s movement not only revolutionized the face of Europe, but also shaped the continent’s government and society. Marxism was a theory from Karl Marx that spread a thought for communist regime.

The strive for reformation lead to larger implications of revolutions that resulted from the growing urge for freedom. The American and French revolutions along with the Meiji Restoration had founded the basis of standard and transition from imperialism to decolonization and the establishment of modern states. Although, the revolutions weren't just war but also helped build the foundation for diplomatic relations and economic opportunities. The struggles within the country was actually necessary because it lead to revolutions and reformations that lead the outcome of unification. This is seen through the Meiji Restoration impacts as they took in Western influences and became unified through government changes along with building a sense of Nationalism.

The French Revolution left several legacies, of which the most important were the notions that revolution could topple any government and that a charismatic leader could seize power. Both of these ideas would influence future French revolutions. The new Britain July 24, 2006 Today in class we discuss the industrial revolution of 1780-1850 and how it transformed the economic and social life in Britain. Industrialization had started because Britain enjoyed the many advantages over the rest of Europe and had already undergone an agricultural revolution. During the Industrial Revolution era, new machines and the expansion of factories changed the traditional economy, mainly based on agriculture and handicrafts that was made.

In the economic system, landlords would force laborers to work on the lord’s manor to the lord’s profit (Medieval 65). Feudalism cultured many aspects of Europe that remained in place (Hay 39). “The feudal system was invented by 16th and 17th century lawyers and legal historians who were investigating the origins of the most common form of noble landholding in their own time (The Brown Reference Group 64). The feudal system was used in many aspects to making society and country simpler. Before the king would give out his land to the Barons, the barons would have to take an Oath of Fidelity.

Lily Benda CIV 202 Professor Heern 23 April 2014 The Enlightenment, a period marked by significant changes in rational thought, secularism, social equality, individual freedom, right to property, and human rights, occurred during the eighteenth century. The scientific revolution of the seventeenth century brought about the fundamental ideas on which the Enlightenment was based. Trade and science at the time were already spreading but during the Enlightenment era, these ideas started in Europe, spread globally, and became popular. This new transformation of thought and everyday life impacted the world on a global scale by bringing up new ways to make the government more rational. During the eighteenth century, these new ideas on scientific thought, advanced technologies, and new interests in trade-helped spread and impact the Enlightenment globally.

In the book, Enlightenment: Britain and the Creation of the Modern World written by Roy Porter, he explains how Britain was affected by the enlightenment in a social, economic and cultural way. Porter's discussion of the British enlightenment shows just how important this era was, and that is often played down in the history of the enlightenment; due to other more significant and well known industrial revolution, like the one in the States. The essence of Porter's argument is that Britain did, in fact, have an enlightenment as vibrant and relevant as those more studied enlightenments in France or the rest of Europe, but that started earlier with ideas that influenced freedom, toleration, and independence. Porter proves of the existence of a British enlightenment through a well-researched, argument that tracks current discussions in a broad area of studies, such as science, religion, human nature, and politics. He shows that as a result of all these new ways of thinking more people obtain a new vision to the things around them during the eighteenth century in Britain.

Unlike previous centuries, the eighteenth century was the dawn of a new age in Western Europe where intellectuals thrived, science was honored, and curiosity was encouraged; and the framework of how civil society was changed as a whole. From the dawn of the Enlightenment Western European culture was changing due to the revolutionary new ideas that were changing. With the social change going on, political change was as ever evident as time went on. With these changes rooted in social change went out, the effects of the Enlightenment can be seen over 18th century Western Europe and beyond. Towards the late 1780s the late German Philosopher Immanuel Kant described the Enlightenment as, “ Man leaving his self caused immaturity” (Spiel Vogel

The Romantic’s ideas ran counter to much of the thinking of the intellectual community and to the values of industry and government of the time. By changing and challenging the minds of the masses to think differently they created a revolution in literature. 18th Century Europe was in the heights of the Enlightenment. Science, medicine, and lofty pursuits of reason and rationality were at the forefront of conversation and media of the age. The Industrial Revolution was just beginning to really gain traction in much of Europe and also played its part in the foundation of the

During the industrial revolution though, these two new classes evolved and were named the middle class and the working class. The industrial revolution increased the material wealth of the Western world. It also ended the dominance of agriculture and initiated significant social change. The everyday work environment also changed drastically, and the West became an urban civilization. Radical new schools of economic and philosophical thought began to replace the traditional ideas of Western civilization.