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HIST215: Modern European History
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The Scientific Revolution: Sprat's The History of the Royal-Society of London, For the Improving of Natural Knowledge
The Royal Society was founded in 1660 and soon received patronage of King Charles II in 1661. Thomas Spratt was chosen to write this work, The History of the Royal-Society of London, For the Improving of Natural Knowledge. This was originally published in 1667, in English, in England, in order to inform as many people of their goals in the scientific and academic communities through observation and experimentation. -
Enlightened Thought: Voltaire's Letters Concerning the English Nation
After spending several years in England from 1726-1729, Voltaire wrote Letters Concerning the English Nation, which was published in England in 1733, then in France in 1734. In this series of essays, Voltaire evaluates many aspects of life in England, which is taken as a criticism towards France (and this work was suppressed in France). Voltaire encourages religious pluralism and enforces Enlightenment thought and ideas. His ideas as a whole are very influential, as was this publication. -
Industrial Revolution: Philipp Jakob de Loutherbourg's Coalbrookdale by Night
In this 1801 painting by Philipp Jakob de Loutherbourg, called "Coalbrookdale by Night", the beginning of the Industrial Revolution is depicted in the town of Coalbrookdale in England. It is important to note that instead of churches and cathedrals lining the landscape, it is now smokestacks and a steam engine which are visible. This symbolizes the importance that these technological advancements will play in society, peoples' lifestyle changes, and the rise of the importance of work. -
Napoleon's Civil Code
Representing the ideas of the French Revolution, Napoleon's Civil Code allows freedom of religion and denied privileges being given based on birth. Napoleon commissioned four jurists to write it, and it became enforced on March 21st, 1804. This was the first modern legal code, and many countries since then have adapted some form of the Napoleonic Code, with many countries' legal codes still bearing resemblance. It contributed to secularization by giving more power and freedoms to the people. -
Lenin's "What Is To Be Done?" Pamphlet is published
After three years in exile, a young revolutionary-minded Vladmir Ilyich Lenin (1870-1924) went to the west and began his own Russian, Marxist publication, the Iskra (The Spark, in English) in 1900. He wrote "What Is To Be Done?", a book-length pamphlet in 1901 and in 1902 advertised its publication in Iskra. In it is his personal outline of how he would envision a Marxist revolution. This gained him notoriety and caused him to flee throughout Europe before the separation of the Bolshevik party. -
France's Law on the Separation of the Church and the State, 1905
An outright statement and declaration that France is a secular state, this law is significant both in the century of events preceding it, but also all the way up to modern day politics between church and state relations. While the ideologies of people in France had been moving towards a secular society, this law was brought into effect on December 9th, 1905, and was a highly controversial, and far from unanimous law.
