The Asian Continent

444 Words2 Pages
Prompt: Analyzes the changes European society underwent between 1500 and 1900. European society saw fanastic changes during the period from 1500 to 1900. Almost all the features of European society including culture, philosophy, literature, government, technology and a dizzying array of other aspects changed. Divine right and absolute monarchies were increasing challenged in the name of liberty, equality and happiness. Improvements in technology, ship design and weaponry catapulted Europe to a world power. Western Europe in the year 1500 was in the midst of the Renaissance. Paintings and literature began to emphasize more secular themes rather than religious topics. Literacy started to spread thanks to the movable type, which allowed ideas to spread. A European-style family pattern stressing later marriage age and a nuclear family appeared. Husband-wife relations were deemed more important while children were more loved and valued. The 16th century also marked the Protestant and Catholic Reformations and the end of Christian unity in the West. Major cultural changes began occurring again in the middle of the 18th century as industrialization and urbanization increased. Material conditions improved for two-thirds of Westerners by 1900, allowing the rise of popular entertainment such as team sports and newspapers. Death rates dropped during this time thanks to the discovery of germs by Louis Pasteur. In the arts, romanticism began replacing rationalism as the dominant theme by the 19th century. Romanticism stressed that the key to human nature and expression were emotion and impression. In the year 1500 almost all of Europe consisted of monarchies, but by the year 1900 many of Europe’s monarchies were overthrown or shared power with increasingly powerful parliaments. By the 17th century, the power of the monarchs increased as military power and government
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