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500 BCE
Classical Worldview
The Classical Worldview lasted from 500 BC to 500 AD, approximately, and was the worldview of Greece and Rome. It focused on 4 energies, mental, spiritual, physical, and emotional. This sculpture reflects a major part of the Classical Worldview: physical health. -
500
Medieval Worldview
The Classical Worldview ended with the Fall of Rome, and the rise of Germanic Barbarians called Visigoths, who took over Europe and established Kingdoms and a rigid caste system known as Feudalism, creating a new worldview which lasted from 500 AD to 1500 AD. This painting reflects the largely spiritual Medieval worldview, and it shows Jesus as both a kind man and a fearful judge. -
Jan 1, 1300
Renaissance Worldview
By 1300 AD, the common worldview had drastically changed. Both the Classical and Medieval Worldviews influenced this Renaissance period, and although God was still the most important, art and philosophy were also core values. This is the most famous painting of the Renaissance Period, and arguably the world's most prominent painting. It is called the Mona Lisa, and it was painted by Leonardo da Vinci. The worldview lasted from 1300-1700, approximately. -
Enlightenment Worldview
The Enlightenment Worldview saw philosophy flourish, and old ideas be put to the test and revised. Unlike its predecessor, which valued art over reason, the people in this era valued philosophy, reason, and logic over art. The worldview lasted from 1650 to 1800. The portrait shown here is of John Locke, one of the most influential philosophers at the time. -
Romantic Worldview
The Romantic Worldview lasted approximately from 1780-1850. It was a time when people craved exotic and adventurous lives, and sought to be closer to God. This picture, "Wanderer Over A Sea Of Mist" by David Caspar Friedrich, reflects this dramatic, wondrous worldview. -
Victorian Worldview
The Victorian Worldview was named after Britain's ruler, Queen Victoria. It valued manners, reason, and most of all, God. It saw a rise in industrialism, and acted as a counterweight to the Romantic worldview, bringing people back into reality. However, dramatic novels of exploration and discovery were written at that time, and authors like Jules Verne and H.G Wells became famous. It lasted from 1830 to 1900. -
Modern Worldview
The Modern Worldview accompanied a vastly secular society. Industrialism was still strong, progress was the big value, and art consisted mostly of Realism, Abstract, and Impressionist styles. This worldview lasted from 1900 to 1970, and spanned two world wars. This painting is an abstract painting from 1923, titled "On White 2" and created by Wassily Kandinsky. One of the most important breakthroughs was film. Films about technology, like "2001: A Space Odyssey" envisioned the future of mankind. -
Postmodern Worldview
The Postmodern Worldview (1970-2000) was a counterforce to the Modern Worldview. Instead of forcing religion out of the picture, it allowed everyone to believe what they want. Scientific breakthroughs were much more common now. Movies warned that if we put too much trust in computers, everything would go wrong, like the 1984 movie "Terminator". Lots of elements from the romantic worldview returned, and the 1977 film "Star Wars: A New Hope" is evidence that the adventurous worldview was not over. -
Postpostmodern Worldview
Postpostmodernism is our current worldview. Although we do not know much about our worldview yet, one dominant theme is Transcendence. This National Geographic magazine cover predicts the "Next Human", and our society believes that with the help of technology, we will be more than human.
