There are several ways through which the revolution of the 18th century challenged the traditional ideas on politics and society. The three most significant of them include the new scientific approaches of doing things for instance the earth being the center of the universe was replaced by what is referred to as heliocentric. There was the replacement of the eminent Aristotle idea of heavy bodies by their nature automatically moved down toward their place of origin, in addition the force of inertia did replace the medieval impetus theory. Related to the above after the 18th century revolution there was also a new discovery of laws pertaining human society as well as those that are related to the nature. This came into existence after the scientific laws and the existence of a long religious war.
During this period of religious war different religions had believe that theirs was the best. This war led to the quest of religious truth and unification. The Catholics together with fellow Christians known as Protestants did have the view in their minds that they were right and others were wrong. With this in mind, all the participants were more than willing to die in an attempt to prove that they were the right ones, no follower really could mind of the consequences of these processes. In relation to the above another factor that challenged the traditional ideas on politics and society was the travel of European all over the world and the exposure of the cultures of the natives they came across for example the Africans, Indians among others all did have cultures that distinctively deferred from those of the European. With this it was at least possible for human beings to come up with some much better laws of the society at large not forgetting that of the nature.
How the growth of European imperialism affected Asian and African societies
The growth of European imperialism had a very huge impact economically on the Asian and the African continents. The imperialists had their own economic interest in both the two continents. The need for market for their processed products, from their home countries for example guns and other weaponry, clothes, wool. In Africa the imperialists had an eye on the presence of crude unexploited materials. The imperialists did exchange these raw finished products materials with finished products from their home countries, for example they could exchange gold, ivory, diamond, cotton from Africa for gun, glassware and wool. They also wanted to colonize Africa in order to prove their military might and superiority, and also wanted to take advantage of the weak and less organized African armies.
The imperialists targeted Asian continent for its goods such as porcelain, Asian spices, tea, and also silk that was present in Asia in abundance. These imperialists took control of the strategic point of trade before shifting their attention to homeland rule to these new colonies. Having said the above the imperialists also wanted to have some social effect on the two continents. The imperialists wanted to spread their own religion all over Africa and Asia. Since they had a believe that their own religion which is Christianity was the best and did view the traditional African religion for example the worship of the sun by some Africans and many other Asian religion as backward and pagan. Therefore, with this end in mind the imperialist took it their obligation to convert this African and the Asians into Christianity. Coupled to the above the imperialist wanted to impose their rule in Africa and Asia. They removed the African and the Asian leadership and imposed their own style and kind of leadership to these people.
What role has forced labor played in the development of the modern world?
Evaluate the statement: Before the 1700, European states were no more powerful than their counterparts in Asia. It only changed with the Industrial Revolution
The European states were no more powerful as compared to their counterparts in Asia. This is due to the fact that during this period, the Asian countries had a very successful piracy that was being carried along the strategic Caribbean trade sea routes. The Asians used to carry piracy on Europeans who used to sail all over the world for example the English, the Dutch and also the French people who used to face challenges in the Caribbean waters when their ship wrecked. At such times the Asians used to take advantage of their vulnerability by seizing their ship and also their valuables before dragging them to the island.
This can as well be elucidated that the only period that the sailors had humble time crossing the Caribbean was the period that the Mongolian had peace. The cruelty that was experienced would not allow any trade or passage to take place. However this trend came to an end when industrial revolution arrived. This was the period when European diseases arrived. These diseases claimed a very big population of those who used to practice piracy in the Caribbean. During this disastrous period the powerful laws of Spain regarding to trade were also terribly violated by the dealers. With this disaster having struck, those colonies were much weakened economically. In addition, it is also during this period of time when the navies of Europe and North America that had colonies in the Caribbean started the practice of combating piracy along Caribbean. With all this problems therefore the Asian counterparts had no otherwise but a subsequent decrease if its influence in the Caribbean hence its downfall.
Evaluate the statement: although religion played a big role in global interactions before 1700, commerce and industry were more important by 1800s
Religion did play a very crucial role in the 17th century for it is at this period the European missionaries started travelling world over to spread their faith and believe. These missionaries often used persuasion method to convince new converts to join their religion. However, these missionaries at times resorted to other means like force to convert people. These converts could be threatened with very harsh punishment or even those who resisted ended up being killed at the presence of other converts in order to threaten those who have the same intention. Through any of the above means the people managed to did play a very big role in global interaction. However, commerce was much more important in the roles it played in global interaction by 18th century. This is true because people used to travel all over the world to practice commerce, European used to travel over the world in search of market for their manufactured products.
At the same time they were also looking for raw material for their home industries for example the could move to Africa in search for market for wool, glassware among other goods while in search for raw materials like ivory, diamond, iron and also in search for slaves to be traded in their slave marked and also to be used in in their mining, fishing, manufacturing and also farming industries for example the sugar plantations in south America. The commercialists could also travel to Asian countries to trade for Indian porcelain and spices, at some point the European needed to take control of all the spice market. Therefore it is justifiable that though religion could have played an important role in global interaction, it will also be very much important to note that the role played by commerce played a bigger role in global interaction than any other aspect.