Modern World

History of Modern World

Syllabus
History of the world will include
events from 18th century such as industrial
revolution,
world wars,
redrawal of national boundaries,
colonization, decolonization,
political philosophies like communism, capitalism,
socialism etc.- their forms and effect on the society
Decoding
the
Syllabus
 What to study?
All Revolutions;
American Revolution ;
French revolution and aftermath upto 1815;
19th Century European revolutions
American Civil War and the abolition of slavery;
English Industrial Revolution;
Industrialization in other countries: USA, Germany,
Russia, Japan
The Russian Revolution
Chinese Revolution of 1949
 All Isms..
Liberalism
Conservatism
Humanism
Utilitarianism
socialism
communism,
capitalism, etc.Fascism
 British Democratic Politics, 1815-1850;
Parliamentary Reformers, Free Traders, Chartists.
Rise of Nationalism in 19th century; state-
building in Germany and Italy
World Wars:
1st and 2nd World Wars ;
Causes and consequences;
Inter war period;
Great Depression etc.;
 Fascism ;
Italy and Germany.
Imperialism and Colonialism: Liberation from
Colonial Rule:
Decolonization and Underdevelopment:
Emergence of two power blocs
Disintegration of Soviet Union and the Rise of
the Unipolar World:
 Middle Ages- Meaning
European history has been divided into three
ages according to the traditional schematic
division,-
The classical civilization of antiquity;
The Middle Ages; and
Modern times.
Flavio Biondo, an Italian Renaissance historian
devised this periodisation.
 Middle Ages/ Dark age
The Middle Ages began approximately with
the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the
5th century 400476 AD (sacking of Rome by
the Visigoths to the deposition of Romulus
Augustus) to the Renaissance period.
Schlars viewed the Middle Ages as a dark
period of history in which man showed little
creativity, productivity, or civility.
 The Renaissance, as they saw it, was a new
period in history that appeared to be in stark
contrast to the Middle Ages.
the Early Modern Period in the 16th century
14531517 (from the fall of Constantinople to
the Protestant reformation that began with
Martin Luther's Ninety Five Thesis).
 Magna Carta-1215
Latin ; means Great Charter
Earlier concept- every authority flow from
king;
king was the supreme authority and
therefore above lawthis was challanged
It was issued by King John, the document was
prepared by English Barons, they forced King
John to declare the charter having 63 (61+2)
clauses, mainly limiting the power of the king.
 According to the charter, the king was as
much bound by the laws as the subjects & he
would not take any decision without the
consent of great council (future parliament).
 king not above the law
Although the charter was often violated by
medieval kings, it came to be seen as an
important document, defining English
constitution (king not above the law).
 Its attempt to impose the laws limitations on
a ruler is summarised in Chapter 39:
No free man shall be taken or imprisoned, or
dispossessed or outlawed or exiled or in any way
ruined, nor will we go or send against him except
by the lawful judgment of his peers or by the law
of the land.
 Refer to Next Slide Renaissance.