Western civilization has a long and intriguing history. There are certain key events that have shaped the culture and lifestyles adopted in the West. Some of these events have been tragic while others have facilitated the development of Western civilization. The democratic principles, the religious practices and the social elements of Western culture are all the result of some key developments. In this essay, some of the turning points in Western civilization are highlighted.
1453
There are a number of documented events that occurred in 1453. Most of these events shaped Western civilization. However, the clash of Islam and Christianity had the most profound effect. In 1453, Mehmet II led Ottoman forces in a campaign to take over Constantinople (Crowley, 2006). The campaign resulted in an end to the Christian influences that had shaped Constantinople. After conquering this city, the Ottoman forces established Islam and expanded their influence and authority over the former Roman Empire. The victory secured by the Ottoman forces also led to the development of some principles that define Western civilizations to date. For example, when the Ottoman forces conquered Constantinople, they promoted religious tolerance (Crowley, 2006). Today, religious tolerance is one of the defining features of the Western civilization.
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1492
1492 is another year that marked a turning point in Western civilization. It is on this year that Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas. With the support of Spanish royalty, he set out to establish a trading route that would connect Europe to Asia (“1492 Columbus Reaches”, n.d) . While he failed to accomplish this goal, he managed to make contact with indigenous communities that inhabited the American continent. His voyage took him to such lands as the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Islands (“1492 Columbus Reaches”, n.d). Columbus’ discovery of the New World set the stage for the American continent to become the center of global trade and politics. Thanks to the discovery of the New World, Western civilization was expanded.
1517
Religion is one of the forces that have profoundly shaped Western civilization. Today, there are different Christian denominations. The emergence of religious plurality can be traced to 1517. It was in 1517 that Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses onto the Castle Church door (“1517 Martin Luther”, n.d). The theses outlined his positions on the Church and the relationship between mankind and God. The theses were a challenge to the traditions and the authority of the Catholic Church. The actions of Martin Luther set the foundations of the Protestant Reformation and marked the beginning of the decline of the Roman Catholic Church. The numerous Christian denominations that exist today are among the features of Western civilization. This means that 1517 was a turning point in Western civilization.
1648
The year 1648 is another moment in the history of Western civilization that marked a turning point. This year marked the end of the religious wars that had plagued Europe for decades (Onnekink, 2016). These wars pitted the Roman Catholic Church against newly formed protestant communities and ideologies such as Calvinism and Lutheranism. These wars were an attempt by the Roman Catholic Church to assert its dominance. The protestant communities were defiant as they challenged the authority of the Roman Catholic Church. When these wars ended in 1648, the protestant faiths gained independence and recognition. The influence of the protestant force can still be felt today. This force has swept the West as the influence of the Roman Catholic Church continues to decline.
1688
The Glorious Revolution was the major event that occurred in 1688. In previous years, there had been a desire for a parliamentary system to be established in England. This desire grew over time and it resulted in the removal from power of King James II (Miller, 2014). His overthrow ushered changes in how the English people were governed. England did away with the absolute monarchy system of governance (Miller, 2014). It also adopted policies that made it impossible for a Catholic Monarchy to ever be established. A bill of rights which outlined the privileges and liberties that the British people was also created following the overthrow of King James II.
End of Medieval period and beginning of modern age
The medieval period was one of the most significant moments in the history of Europe. During this period, the Roman Catholic Church gained greater influence (Bell, 2008). It is also during this period that the rise of Islam began. The conflict between Islam and Christianity which escalated into the Crusades is another development that defined the medieval period. There is no consensus regarding the exact date when the medieval period ended. However, it is generally agreed that this period ended in mid 16th century (Bell, 2008). The medieval period gave way to the modern age. The modern age is believed to have begun in 1500. However, different scholars identify different dates as the beginning of this age. These dates also vary with different countries.
Influence on American Revolution
The American Revolution was a violent response by the colonists to the cruelty of the British colonizers (Gray & Kamensky, 2013). The colonists challenged the authority of the British monarchy. There are a number of events that had a significant influence on the American Revolution. The overthrow of King James II in 1688 seems to have had the greatest influence. The colonists were inspired by the desire for self-government and the need to root out government corruption (Gray & Kamensky, 2013). These are the same forces that motivated those who forced King James II out of office.
Other significant dates
In addition to the dates already discussed above, there are other moments that shaped Western civilization. 1346 is another year that saw key events which would shape the development of Western civilization. It is in this year that the bubonic plague hit Europe. This infection caused devastation and left thousands dead in its wake (“Black Death”, n.d). The devastation that the plague caused is commonly referred to as Black Death. This calamity shaped the demographic profile of Europe as it wiped out a significant portion of the population.
In conclusion, Western civilization has developed over many years. It has been shaped by many different forces. These forces include political revolt and religious reform. The forces introduced new political and social systems. The impact of these forces underscores the role that events that are seemingly insignificant can play in shaping mankind. Since events have the power to determine the direction of humanity, care must be exercised to ensure that the future of mankind is guaranteed.
References
1492 Columbus Reaches the New World. (n.d). Retrieved 25th May 2017 from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/columbus-reaches-the-new-world
1517 Martin Luther Posts 95 Theses. (n.d). Retrieved 25th May 2017 from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/martin-luther-posts-95-theses
Bell, D. P. (2008). Jews in the Early Modern World. Rowman & Littlefield.
Black Death. (n.d). Retrieved 25th May 2017 from http://www.history.com/topics/black-death
Crowley, R. (2006). 1453: The Holy War for Constantinople and the Clash of Islam and the West . New York City: Hachette Books.
Gray, E. G. & Kamensky, J. (2013). The Oxford Handbook of the American Revolution. Cary, NC: OUP USA.
Miller, J. (2014). The Glorious Revolution. London: Routledge.
Onnekink, D. (2016). War and Religion after Westphalia, 1648-1713. London: Routledge.
