Moving towards Modernity

20th Century World History

B. Bergey, 2008

The Long View

Ancient700 BCE – 500 CE

Modern1500 CE - Present

Middle Ages

Medieval

•Ancient Greece

•Ancient Rome

•Renaissance

•Scientific Revolution (late 1600s-1700s)

Modern Era defined by

Rationality & Logic

Optimism & Progress

Individualism

Rationality & Logic

Newton, Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy, 1684

• New mathematical model of the universe, “portraying it as a materialistic world of mindless bodies coursing in regular motions according to inflexible laws of nature.”

• Scientific method: Inductive empiricism• Expanded to form new disciplines:

Social Sciences, whose focus it was to improve the society, politics and ethics.

Optimism & Progress

Optimism about change– Kant (1784) calls it the

age of enlightenment– No more fear of change;

change was progress; progress was good.

– Progress: belief that humans were advancing in a continuous process of improvement, that in a constantly improving world, the future would always be better

– Looking to the future, not to the past

Optimism & Progress

Voltaire: Humans, by nature, our good; the ills of society corrupt

Optimism & Progress

Locke: All humans have natural rights that no one can legitimately violate

Promoted and articulated the framework of democratic, just governments

Individualism

Classical Liberalism: social betterment though the liberation of individual potential.

• Believed: Individual is the basic unit of society

• Pressed for more personal freedom

Capitalism: Adam Smith

Ideal: A society of autonomous citizens in which the pursuit of rational self-interest brought about the good for all.

Individualism

The ideas of classical liberalism (social and economic individualism) and other enlightenment principles are spread throughout Europe after Napoleon.

Industrialization

Dramatically altered social patterns

• Rapid urbanization: Move from agriculture for cities• Many joined industrial working class

• Poor working conditions• Large supply of workers kept wages low• Especially women and children• Fostered violence and crime

• Opportunities for some• Created a professional, affluent middle-class, called

bourgeoisie• Greater social mobility• Some safety nets (Start of public education & Social welfare

programs)

Industrialization

Industrialization

Spurred colonization: European imperial powers seeking raw materials and markets for finished goods

Industrialization

Marxism—Alternative vision: Urged workers to overthrow the present order and shape in their interests

Industrialization

Industrialism produced “mass society”• Mass consumption of materials, entertainment,

news• Increased material conditions• Better health

“Second Coming” William Butler Yeats (1921)

Turning and turning in the widening gyreThe falcon cannot hear the falconer;

Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,

The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhereThe ceremony of innocence is drowned;

The best lack all conviction, while the worstAre full of passionate intensity.