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  • Essay / History and Characteristics of Western Civilization

    Western civilization is a period in which Europe experienced enormous changes in various aspects of life such as philosophy, individualism, capitalism, equality, appreciation of art and scientific knowledge. Western civilization has evolved over several centuries to become what it is today. Primarily, it forms the basis of much of our modern culture (Assmann, 2011). Today's society is based on a history that dates back to the period of ancient Roman civilization. The Greeks and Romans are credited with making an immense contribution to Roman civilization. Roman civilization developed from a series of events, the Protestant Reformation, the Enlightenment and the Scientific Revolution, the Renaissance and the first industrialization constitute some of the major incidences of Roman civilization. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The Protestant Reformation took place in 1517, when Martin Luther King wrote ninety-five complaints to a church in Wattenberg, Germany. His move resulted in a Protestant reformation; it was an anti-Catholic revolution and one of the largest religious reform movements to take place in Europe (Assmann, 2011). The movement disrespected the authority of the Catholic Church and resulted in the formation of new sects protesting Christianity. Nevertheless, the movement also resulted in social, political, and intellectual reforms. For example, the themes of democracy and individualism have become more important in Europe. The reform involved all levels of society, the poor, the rich, the clergy and the peasants, among others. This was the first time in Europe that the Church was separated to accommodate divergent views and ideas (Hayes, 2012). The Protestant Reformation was brought about by activities earlier in medieval Europe, such as the Black Death, which caused people to question the authority of the Church to solve society's problems. Protestantism, which is one of the main brunches of Christianity, is a consequence of the Protestant Reformation. The Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment followed after the Protestant Reformation. It is an intellectual reform that took place between the 17th and 18th centuries. It was during this time that ideas regarding God, nature, humanity and science were synthesized. It was characterized by the emergence of science and the use of scientific inventions to solve various challenges in society. Human beings developed an understanding of the universe and used this knowledge to improve their condition (Hayes, 2012). The goals of rational humanity were considered to be happiness, freedom and knowledge. For example, Isaac Newton, a scientist who existed during this era, was credited with discovering the laws of motion and universal gravitation. The first secularized psychological ideas were developed during the Enlightenment period. For example, John Lock argued that the human mind is a blank slate at birth. He said that the character of the individual arises from the experience he has in the environment. On the other hand, Thomas Hobbes considered humans to be motivated by their own pleasure and pain. The ideas of Lock, Jeremy Bentham and other social psychologists challenged the existing authoritarian state and outlined the existence of a high-level political organization based on human rights and democracy. The reasoning, 142(1), 40-58.