Introduction
This historical period has left an undeniable imprint on Western Europe due to the region’s cultural, economic, and political transformation. Similarly, at the same time that the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries occurred, technology saw completely new developments that changed the process of production and City urbanization dramatically. The essay will cover two interconnected themes – the European transformation and industrialization from chapters 22 and 29 of Bentley’s book Traditions and Encounters. From an analysis of historical events and processes, we understand the world’s path to reach its modern history.
European Transformation, 1450–1750
The1450 to 1750 period marks the emergence of Europe from what seemed like a Midi feast, with the changes during the period creating a force to consider. European discovery and settlement of foreign lands were among the main causes of the Age of Global Changes. Energized by the aspiration for wealth and honor and to spread Christianity, European states left behind revealing pathways and lands (Bentley 440). These fateful voyages eventually spelled the advent of large-scale colonial empires and European powers, grabbing lands in America, Africa, and Asia by the barrel of a gun.
The extension of European empires encompassed not only the expansion of trade routes and the geopolitical setup but also the final determination of the economic balance for the further development of the major world economies. European countries possessed more power than the others in maritime trade routes, and they could take full control over the movement of goods and resources out of emerging economies of European countries and to the east (Bentley 446). In addition, the monetary circulation that the European countries received from the colonies wrung economic boom and invention in Europe. Subsequently, the poverty and global market system arose. Besides territorial gains, the era also saw the authoritarianism of the absolute monarchs in Europe. In those days, monarchies such as France of Louis XIV achieved a previously unseen power level, thus centralizing it and better controlling their subjects (Bentley 440). Increasing interest in absolute monarchy brought profound political and social novelty because monarchs attempted to firm their grip and suppress dissent within their territories.
The Manufacture of The Industrial Society
By reading Chapter 29 of Bentley’s “Traditions and Encounters,” we can learn how the industrial society was created during the Industrial Revolution, characterized by radical technological progress and significant socioeconomic changes. The steam engine and the mechanization of production processes were the seeds of this revolution, which revolutionized manufacturing and produced more goods at an exceptional rate (Bentley 679). The Industrial Revolution changed the shape of civilization, especially in cities where industrial centers emerged. The tide of urbanization was more intense as the people from the countryside came into the cities searching for jobs in factories and mills. Demographic groups migrating in mass numbers recomposed society and enhanced the cities’ growth, sparking urban overcrowding, inadequate housing, and spreading urban slums (Bentley 697).
Moreover, industrialization has generated dramatic structural changes in our society and the economic system. With the emergence of industrial capitalism, we see the labor system transformed, with the factory owners and industrialists wielding a good deal of authority over the workforce. Workers who often had to endure very demanding working conditions and work for long hours broke through and started organizing labor movements and wanted to fight for their rights. As a result, they formed trade unions to speak on their behalf (Bentley 699). At the same time, industrialization was accompanied by environmental deterioration and pollution, as economic prosperity and technological progress were going to be the net results. During this period, factory expansion combined with excessive burning of fossil fuels produced greenhouse gasses and other wastes that polluted air and water, posing environmental and health factors (Bentley 697).
Broader Issues and Interwoven Themes
Interestingly, European transformation and industrialization are linked as an unbroken thread that has shaped modern history, and this period (1450-1750) created the preconditions for the Industrial Revolution since Europe set the stage for industrial expansion through exploration colonization and monarchies’ centralization of power. In Europe, through an imperial reign, materials and people were shipped for industrial output (Bentley 440). As a consequence, industrialization strongly emphasized Europe’s economic power, which supported it as the dominant player in the world and shaped international trade connections. Nevertheless, it is very important to point out that this economic progress could be achieved only through environmental degradation and growing social conflict, which clearly demonstrates the profound connections between historical events and some wider issues (such as imperialism, capitalism, and environmental sustainability) and their role in decisively shaping modern history.
Modern History Impact
A more adapted model of Europe, which includes transformation and industrialization, left traces in all historical spheres of later years. What looks like colonialism, which has led to Western European domination, is the spread of culture to the world. Nevertheless, it created the everlasting inequities and exploitations that the North-South divide still exists as a background. The European Empire and Industry heritage still underpin modern issues such as globalization, economic development, and environmental sustainability. These themes are the legacy that continues to be evident in the current challenges.
Conclusion
During the end of it all, European transformation and industrialization proved to be the most powerful window to the present-day modern world. As Bentley did in his well-known work, the revelation about the advances concerning colonialism, industrialization, and modernization comes true only after an individual looks through the historical bellows of the mentioned traditions and encounters. Such a combination of themes gives a wholesome understanding of how the historical past processes enhance the current global affairs where the roots of today’s problems and opportunities are occasionally hidden.
Works Cited
Bentley, Jerry H. Traditions & Encounters: A Global Perspective on the Past. 5th ed., Mcgraw-Hill, 2011.
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