Saturday, September 7, 2019
Three Events That Have Changed World History Essay Example for Free
Three Events That Have Changed World History Essay What three events, between 1500 and 1800, have changed the face of world history? Whenever we ask about historical change it is of primary importance that we first ask about the nature of history. What exactly do we mean by history? The preferred definition for the purpose of this essay comes from 20th century renowned historian, Marc Bloch; that is, that history essentially is the study of men in the past.[1]  Furthermore, that history is essentially a science of men and how their thoughts and actions affected the world around them. [2] Thus, when we address events that changed world history, we are not dealing with events per se, but the people behind the events. It is people who have changed history, and people who continue to do so this very day.            I propose that two individuals and one body of people could be argued to have changed the world within this three-hundred year span. I propose that Martin Luther, John Calvin, and the Founding Fathers of the New World could be argued as having such significance by their respective actions. Their actions should not be seen as instantaneous or immediate. Rather, they should be viewed organically. The actions such individuals took did not change the whole world all at once, but were, in their magnitude, significant enough to affect subsequent generations in nearly all aspects of life- religious, political, social and philosophical. Martin Luther            Martin Luther was born in Eisleben, Germany in 1483 and died in the same town in 1546. The son of a hard-working coal-miner, Luther grew up in a world of uncertainty. Late medieval Europe consisted of corruption, disease, pestilence, and tyranny. The life-expectancy for the average male was about 50 years-old and the black-death claimed hundreds of lives across the continent. Meanwhile, the Church, a place often sought for refuge, only showed itself to be abusive. Clergy-men were often guilty of cheating others for land-rights. Bishops and monks were often found to be in adulterous affairs. From Luther’s own account, he mentions: â€Å"So too the bishops, priests, and monks are not holy, Christian people, for they do not believe in Christ, nor do they lead a holy life, but are rather the wicked and shameful people of the devil.†[3] And, arguably one of the worst forms of abuse came in the form of indulgences- promises offered by the Pope for a certain fee to relinquish the sins of the buyer or upon another by request to escape divine punishment.            The abuse of indulgences would motivate Luther’s act of nailing 95 theses, or â€Å"arguments†upon the Castle Church door in Wittenberg. Roman clergy would travel throughout townships in Germany selling contracts to citizens known as â€Å"indulgences†. John Tetzel serves as one of the more well-known clergymen offering indulgences to people through charismatic and emotionally-driven speeches. When Luther learned that the Church was offering the forgiveness of sins at a price, regardless of how small or high, he was furious. He was prompted to act. It was the proper form of his day to bring ethical matters to public debate, hence the posting of the theses. But Luther had no expectation of the consequences that ensued from his posting of the theses. When the other people of Wittenberg became aware of Luther’s arguments they took it to the local print shop to make copies. Copies began to be distributed in droves and eventually Luther was esteemed as a sort of heroic rebel who challenged the Church’s authority.            In actuality, Luther’s 95 theses were not a challenge to the Roman Church, itself. Luther challenged the abuses of indulgences while claiming that forgiveness of sins and salvation should only be sought by sincere faith and repentance. But the popular-audience at the time saw Luther’s theses as a symbol of someone willing to stand-up to the tyrannical hierarchy of the Roman Church. The 95 theses would turn out to be a pulling of a thread later unraveling into the Reformation. And, this second Great Schism (the first being in 1054) would prove to change the face of civilization because the world would no longer be under the Church’s authority both in religious and secular life. [1] Marc Bloch, The Historian’s Craft. (New York: Vintage Books, 1953) pp.25-26 [2] Ibid. [3] Timothy Lull, ed., Martin Luther’s Basic Theological Writings. (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1989) p. 541
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