The ‘Modern’ World

A Thought Experiment… Imagine a person from the ancient past – say, somebody who lived about the same time as Jesus of Nazareth - is brought back to life. Having shaken off the dust and gathered themselves, they ask you to show them one thing that sums up modern life. Write down what you’d show them and why.

The Universal Declaration (1948) All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

The Universal Declaration (1948) No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms. No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law.

The Universal Declaration (1948) No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home… Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.

The Medieval WorldReasons for change >>> The Modern World

The Medieval WorldReasons for change >>> The Modern World Circa AD 470 to 1450

The Medieval WorldReasons for change >>> The Modern World Circa AD 470 to 1450 Collapse of Roman power mean Europe was in a state of fear & uncertainty.

The Medieval WorldReasons for change >>> The Modern World Circa AD 470 to 1450 Collapse of Roman power mean Europe was in a state of fear & uncertainty. Feudalism - lord gave security & land in return for loyalty & payment

The Medieval WorldReasons for change >>> The Modern World Circa AD 470 to 1450 Collapse of Roman power mean Europe was in a state of fear & uncertainty. Feudalism - lord gave security & land in return for loyalty & payment Centrality of Roman Catholic Church to everyday life.

The Medieval WorldReasons for change >>> The Modern World Circa AD 470 to 1450 Collapse of Roman power mean Europe was in a state of fear & uncertainty. Feudalism - lord gave security & land in return for loyalty & payment Centrality of Roman Catholic Church to everyday life. Circa 1500 to the present

The Medieval WorldReasons for change >>> The Modern World Circa AD 470 to 1450 Collapse of Roman power mean Europe was in a state of fear & uncertainty. Feudalism - lord gave security & land in return for loyalty & payment Centrality of Roman Catholic Church to everyday life. Circa 1500 to the present Reason not divine authority

The Medieval WorldReasons for change >>> The Modern World Circa AD 470 to 1450 Collapse of Roman power mean Europe was in a state of fear & uncertainty. Feudalism - lord gave security & land in return for loyalty & payment Centrality of Roman Catholic Church to everyday life. Circa 1500 to the present Reason not divine authority Religious freedom

The Medieval WorldReasons for change >>> The Modern World Circa AD 470 to 1450 Collapse of Roman power mean Europe was in a state of fear & uncertainty. Feudalism - lord gave security & land in return for loyalty & payment Centrality of Roman Catholic Church to everyday life. Circa 1500 to the present Reason not divine authority Religious freedom Equal moral worth, equality before the law, human rights

The Medieval WorldReasons for change >>> The Modern World Circa AD 470 to 1450 Collapse of Roman power mean Europe was in a state of fear & uncertainty. Feudalism - lord gave security & land in return for loyalty & payment Centrality of Roman Catholic Church to everyday life. Circa 1500 to the present Reason not divine authority Religious freedom Equal moral worth, equality before the law, human rights Social mobility

The Medieval WorldReasons for change >>> The Modern World Circa AD 470 to 1450 Collapse of Roman power mean Europe was in a state of fear & uncertainty. Feudalism - lord gave security & land in return for loyalty & payment Centrality of Roman Catholic Church to everyday life. Circa 1500 to the present Reason not divine authority Religious freedom Equal moral worth, equality before the law, human rights Social mobility The nation-state

The Medieval WorldReasons for change >>> The Modern World Circa AD 470 to 1450 Collapse of Roman power mean Europe was in a state of fear & uncertainty. Feudalism - lord gave security & land in return for loyalty & payment Centrality of Roman Catholic Church to everyday life. The Renaissance Circa 1500 to the present Reason not divine authority Religious freedom Equal moral worth, equality before the law, human rights Social mobility The nation-state

The Medieval WorldReasons for change >>> The Modern World Circa AD 470 to 1450 Collapse of Roman power mean Europe was in a state of fear & uncertainty. Feudalism - lord gave security & land in return for loyalty & payment Centrality of Roman Catholic Church to everyday life. The Renaissance Church abuse of power > The Reformation Circa 1500 to the present Reason not divine authority Religious freedom Equal moral worth, equality before the law, human rights Social mobility The nation-state

The Medieval WorldReasons for change >>> The Modern World Circa AD 470 to 1450 Collapse of Roman power mean Europe was in a state of fear & uncertainty. Feudalism - lord gave security & land in return for loyalty & payment Centrality of Roman Catholic Church to everyday life. The Renaissance Church abuse of power > The Reformation Economic growth > urbanisation > growth of the bourgeoisie Circa 1500 to the present Reason not divine authority Religious freedom Equal moral worth, equality before the law, human rights Social mobility The nation-state

The Medieval WorldReasons for change >>> The Modern World Circa AD 470 to 1450 Collapse of Roman power mean Europe was in a state of fear & uncertainty. Feudalism - lord gave security & land in return for loyalty & payment Centrality of Roman Catholic Church to everyday life. The Renaissance Church abuse of power > The Reformation Economic growth > urbanisation > growth of the bourgeoisie The Enlightenment or Age of Reason Circa 1500 to the present Reason not divine authority Religious freedom Equal moral worth, equality before the law, human rights Social mobility The nation-state

We've thought about what we mean by the 'modern world'. What do we mean by 'revolution'? REFORM: Change within the system. Solving problems in parts of our society, using other elements of our society. Eg, we solve climate change using an Act of Parliament. REVOLUTION: Change of the system. Creating a wholly new society because the problem is so fundamental that using our current problem-solving methods will only perpetuate the problem. Eg, Climate change is addressed by a dictatorship of the scientists who sieze power through the use of violence.