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Period: 508 BCE to 404 BCE
Ancient Greek Democracy
Demokratia (meaning "rule by the people") was the earliest form of democracy known to man. This democratic system of governance was introduced in Athens via a series of political reforms drafted by Athenian leader Cleisthenes at the start of the fifth century BCE. What grew to become Ancient Greek democracy was carried out through assemblies, during which any citizen could speak to the assembly. All participants, speakers or otherwise, could vote on any movement by simply holding up their hands. -
Period: 1215 to
Magna Carta
Latin for 'The Great Charter', the Magna Carta was issued by King John of England in 1215 to ease the political unrest he was facing at the time. It established that everyone, even the King is subject to the law. The Magna Carta also guaranteed the rights of individuals, the right to justice and the right to a fair trial, and therefore is still considered to be one of the most important documents ever issued by a governing party. -
Period: 1300 to
Renaissance
Getting its start in Florence Italy, the Renaissance, or Rebirth, was the bridge between the Middle Ages and modern history. During this time ideas of Humanism, through art, literature and higher learning, spread like wildfire through Europe with the help of the printing press (invented by Johannes Gutenburg. This spread of ideas allowed Europeans to learn and through that, challenge their beliefs about the world. The Renaissance was a time of art and beauty, shaping the world as we know it. -
Period: 1400 to
Haudenosaunee Confederacy
Comprised of 5 Native American nations, the Mohawk, Onondaga, Oneida, Cayuga, Seneca and the Tuscarora, the Haudenosaunee or Iroquois Confederacy was a league of nations governed on multiple levels by a complex political system. At the peak of this system was a council composed of village and clan chiefs. Decisions of the council relied upon a unanimity of votes, of which each tribe had just one. The purpose, as seen by the Native people, was to formally stand together against invasion. -
Period: 1517 to
The Reformation
Beginning with Ninety-five Theses, written by Martin Luther in 1517, and ending with the Thirty Years' War, The Reformation was a religious movement that questioned the actions and teachings of the Catholic Church. With major aid from the printing press, the protestant ideas spread across Europe, effectively giving birth to Christianity as well as many other religious denominations. However, this religious shift caused great conflict between regions which ultimately led to the Thirty-Years' War. -
Period: to
The Enlightenment or Age of Reason
The Enlightenment was a vast spread of ideas that not only questioned traditional authority but gave rise to the idea that societies across Europe and its colonies could be improved by rational change. This shift in beliefs and ideas was responsible for numerous inventions, advancements in science, pieces of literature, political reforms, revolutions and conflicts. The Enlightenment was a direct catalyst to both the American and French Revolutions. -
Period: to
Industrial Revolution
Prior to the Industrial Revolution, Goods were produced in peoples homes, using hand tools or basic machinery. With coal and cotton fueling it, the Industrial revolution began in England with the mass production of textiles, aided by newly invented specialized machines that ran of coal power to produce cotton products at an astonishing rate. During this time there was a large population increase which served as a catalyst to a huge increase in air and water pollution in industrialized areas. -
Period: to
American Revolution
The American Revolution was a violent response to the unjust governance by British parliament. Citizens of the Thirteen Colonies were growing increasingly agitated by their lack of representation in parliamentary decisions. Of these decisions, the most infuriating were those that rose taxes to the British government beyond reason. The armed conflict between colonial militants and British troop in Lexington during 1775 marked the start of the revolutionary war. -
Period: to
French Revolution
By far the most brutal and bloody of revolutionary movements, the French Revolution was the only solution to the problems that peasants and the bourgeoisie faced in feudal France. During the years preceding the revolution, most of Europe had already gradually shifted out of a feudal society but France was behind the curve. With standards of living increasing, population and education followed in step, causing the bourgeoisie to seek political power and the peasants, an increase in their holdings -
Period: to
Changes to The Class System
During the 19th century England saw a massive shift in society as classical liberalism took over and began to crush the traditional social classes that had held power for so long. Classical liberalism encouraged an increase in economic opportunities for all people, allowing many to become much wealthier and opening up the possibilities of joining a higher economic class and garnering power with it. Families that may have historically been stuck as peasants could now become immensely wealthy.