Data Bases • Custom Term Papers • Free Term Papers • Free Research Papers • Free Essays • Free Book Reports • Plagiarism? Links • Top 100 Term Paper Sites • Top 25 Essay Sites • Top 50 Essay Sites • Search 97,000 Papers @ DirectEssays.com • Search 101,000 Papers @ ExampleEssays.com • Search 90,000 Papers @ MegaEssays.com Free Essays • Term Paper Sites • Chuck III's Free Essays • Free College Essays • TermPaperSites.com • My Term Papers • Get Free Essays • Essay World • Planet Papers	Search Lots of Essays Back to Subjects - History Other Foundations Of The Modern World Foundations Of The Modern World After the 15th Century, history began to move really fast in the matter of the things that happened. It is really important this part of the history because it totally changed the way of life and it gives an explanation of why life is like it is in our days. This big change didn’t happen at once. Historians, after studying and trying to find the reasons of this change came up with five foundations. They are The Columbian Exchange, Europe Confronts the World, The Industrial Revolution, The Nationalism and Democracy and Mass Transportation & Communication. They are totally different, took place in different years and places but they all are ingredients of the cake that we call Modern World. The first fundamental, Columbian Exchange, refers to Columbus who was responsible for bringing Europeans to the Western Hemisphere in the sixteenth century. The discovey of America was one of the most important things that ever happened. It is really ironic because Columbus never abandoned the belief that he had reached Asia. After Columbus's voyages many more European ships went back and forth between the New World and the old continents of Africa and Europe exchanging animals, people, germs, and food. When contact was made with the new world, a whole cornucopia of new foods that we eat today like beans, cacao, corn, peanuts just to name a few, were introduced to the explorers. These explorers would bring back these foods, and distribute them all over the world. Exchange means to give and receive reciprocally. The Spanish ships were like Noah's Ark because they brought so many samples of European flora and fauna to reproduce in the New World. The Europeans brought with them the diseases too. The native Americans had never been exposed to European germs; therefore, they died in great numbers, making it easier for the Europeans to conquer them and settle on their vacated land. The idea of the “Columbian Exchange” was a big revolution and opened the people’s minds. Unfortunately it also gave to Europe more land to play those war games that they enjoyed that much. The second fundamental is Europe Confronts the World. After the Columbian Exchange, Europe began to see the whole picture. They began to practice imperialism. Imperialism is to extend and maintain control or influence over weaker nations or peoples. However, imperialism wasn’t something new. The empire of Alexander the Great or the Roman Empire was example of ancient imperialism. History repeats itself! Imperial systems were organized according to the doctrine of mercantilism: Each imperial state attempted to control the trade of its colonies, in order to monopolize the benefits of that trade. Yeah, but why would Europe want to do that? Well, states wanted to pursue imperialism for reasons such as economic, political, and ideological. Economic has always been the most common one because money rules the world. Every country wanted to expand their economy to acquire raw materials and additional sources of labor, or to find outlets for surplus capital and markets for surplus goods. Another reason refers to “power;” The nations desired power, prestige, security, and diplomatic advantages vis-à-vis other states. A third set of explanations focuses on ideological or moral motives. According to this perspective, political, cultural and religious beliefs force states into imperialism as a "missionary activity." For example, Britain's colonial empire was motivated at least in part by the idea that it was the "white man's burden" to civilize "backward" peoples. Two centuries later Germany's expansion under Hitler was based on belief that the German race was superior. Imperialism until the end of the World War II was all over the place. The Third Fundamental is The Industrial Revolution. In my opinion this was the Big Kahuna in the modern world, where the power was given to a new class, the bourgeoisie. The Industrial Revolution took place in England, which was the only country that was ready for it in the 18th century. The production from handcraft using muscle power was no longer worth it because the steam-machines were invented. These machines meant mass production and working in assembly lines. New materials were introduced to help this mass production like coal and cotton. Coal, for example, would burn faster and at a higher temperature that wood. There always needs to be a class to rule and a class to be ruled. The bourgeoisie, were the businessmen who owned the factories; therefore, a new class called the workers was born. The workers, were then the old peasants and the bourgeoisie the old landlords. Different names but same ideas. The Industrial Revolution wasn’t only about production. A new political system called socialism was introduced. Socialism came from the hands of a German called Karl Marx. Marx believed that the workers were the most important class; therefore they should rule. Karl Marx with his two books, the “Communism Manifesto” and “Capital” revolutionized some people’s minds. The Industrial Revolution made the big change on people’s lives. The fourth Fundamental is Nationalism and Democracy. We have to give all the credits of the fundamental to one man, Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon changed our lives introducing a new “religion” called Nationalism. Nationalism can have a lot of meanings but the two that are commonly used are: 1: love of country and willingness to sacrifice for it and 2: the conviction that the culture and interests of your nation are superior to those of any other nation. Since Nationalism was introduced it took over people’s lives until our days. Some could say that nationalism is a way of thinking; however, in my opinion I think that it is a way feeling. Hitler was a radical nationalist, which is really ironic because he wasn’t even from Germany. He really believed in the second definition of nationalism and wanted the entire world to know about it. In the other hand, Napoleon was a smarter guy. He also introduced a political system called Democracy. Democracy means the principles of social equality and respect for the individual within a community. This shows that Napoleon really cared about the right of his people. Hitler only cared about himself and played with his people. Nationalism brought Napoleon and Hitler to the power and Nationalism kicked them off the game. Since Nationalism is all over, every country is defending their flags against any attack. I think that proper nationalism is a good thing, I’m proud of my country and that makes me a nationalist. However, I think that being a radical nationalist that skips words from its definition is really incorrect and improper. The last foundation is Mass Transportation & Communication. This is the most recent trend that is still today. One of the greatest invents ever was the telephone in 1876. A Scottish-born American called Alexander Graham Bell was its inventor. With the telephone the life opened to the world of telecommunications. Mass transportation in the other hand was a big important fact too. Railroads were built all over the place and movement of products and people was fast and more effective. Planes were introduced in the 20th Century, which improve and speed up the overseas transportation. Year after year transportation and telecommunications were and still are improving and giving us a lot of facilities to live our lives. One of the inventions that I think that it really changed our lives was the computer. The computer is a great machine that stores data. When the Ethernet was invented in the 60’s it make it possible data could sent to any computer that was part of that little network called Ethernet. Now with the improvement of the telecommunications, the Ethernet became what we know today as Internet. I don’t think that mass transportation is going to change that much, its going to change but not as fast as telecommunications and technology. I think that telecommunications and technology are the key of the door called future. These five foundations are the reasons why our world is called The Modern World. It helps to understand why we think like we do. Since history has to be taken as one whole piece they all are part of each other and they all have to be read from the first one to the last one. As I write this paper history is passing and these fundamental are taking place somewhere in this world. Bibliography: Word Count: 1388
Copyright © 2005 College Term Papers, INC All Rights Reserved.