18th, 19th and 20th centuries are periods of sweeping changes not because they are close to us in history but because it brought about dramatic, fundamental changes to mode of governance and brought paradigm-shift in models of running a state. Year 1776 was known for 13 colonies in North America beginning their fight against the British Empire, in its quest for independence, what is later termed as “American Revolution”. Forty years before this event, the religious ‘great awakening’ occurred which continued in next centuries as great awakening II, III and IV. These were considered as the continuation of Protestant reformation.
It all started in America and the French, meanwhile was hit by a financial crisis due to its involvement in American Revolution and decided to embrace ‘constitutional monarchy’ in 1791 through “French revolution”. Although the constitution did not last long, the king and legislative assembly shared power, which was the first taste of success for things to follow (Democracy). This was later restored in ‘Second republic’ of 1848, which provided universal suffrage and relief from unemployment.
The third revolution, the “Industrial revolution” can be pin pointed as the single most factor that completely changed the lifestyle of European people and in a way redefined the modern society. The extensive mechanization brought about steam engines to machine tools to IC engines. The science and technology were the focal points around which the rapid growth powered during 19th to 20th century. One of the reasons cited for such a rapid growth of scientific technology is abolishment of feudalism by British in 17th century and wide scale availability of resources like coal. Suddenly there were too many different types of industries to employ the entire masses, with each industry supplementing each other’s productivity. This created huge wealth and accumulation of which lead to creation of financial markets. In all, we could say it was capitalism that was in its neonatal stage.
By early 18th century, trade and commerce flourished great extent between Europe, American, Asian and East Asian countries. The lower overhead costs and huge profits experienced by the British East India Company in India drew many companies to the country. Today’s stock market bubbles were seen as early as 1720 in what is called as “The south sea bubble” crisis. It was also the same century in which NYSE was established.
The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Engels and the revolutions of 1848 brought about a sea change to common mans thinking. “Workers of world unite” resonated well with the worker class who were perturbed with the new age unknown phenomena called industrial revolution, which mechanized all work. There was huge unemployment across Germany and France with widespread starvation among worker class. The natural outcome for all of this was the then set equation of Capitalism = antonym of Communism.
“The Russian revolution” in 1917 echoed Karl Marx’s Communist Manifesto in Russia against the Tsar autocracy. The October revolution finally led to formation of “Union of Soviet Socialistic Republics –USSR”. It was the latest largest victory against a monarchist rule. The First World War gave the death knell for monarchy and establishment of republics across the globe including the German Empire and Austro-Hungarian Empire. The great aspirations for land and market among land-starved European nations caused the gigantic world wars in 20th century, with the treaty of Versailles and League of Nations as their by-product. The political borders were rearranged.
The last and recent revolution
Feudalistic, colonist germs have just been tranquilized in 1947 in the country of masses; India, which has seen the largest shrinkage of GDP over centuries. As they say it, few centuries ago, even before the modern economic concepts evolved, it was a booming economy with a thriving local handicraft industry, thereby making India’s contribution to the world GDP as high as 30%. It was with the advent of colonialism that the handicraft industry and Indian production suffered to the levels of Hindu rate of growth.
India hit a rock bottom in 1942, when the great Bengal Famine occurred and over 30 lakh people starved to death. Shortage of food supplies due to world war and shortfall in grain production were cited the grave reasons. This haunted Indian governance and it proclaimed to reach self sufficiency in food through rapid expansion of farming areas and double cropping. India, with its help from Mexico, maximized production with a high yield during the period between 1967 and 1978, which is popularly termed as “Green revolution of India”. This rapid expansion brought about the advent of new farm-related industries, which further created more jobs and helped in the expansion of GDP.
These five great revolutions brought about path breaking concepts and innovations which defined the course of human life at critical junctures; the concept of democracy with the abolishment of monarchy, feudalism, slave trade; the innovation of a capitalistic state leading to upliftment of social and economic status of people; the concept of communism based on common ownership; the innovation of agricultural methods in sustenance of human life. Although there are many significant events in this time period, these five defined the dynamics of the society
It all started in America and the French, meanwhile was hit by a financial crisis due to its involvement in American Revolution and decided to embrace ‘constitutional monarchy’ in 1791 through “French revolution”. Although the constitution did not last long, the king and legislative assembly shared power, which was the first taste of success for things to follow (Democracy). This was later restored in ‘Second republic’ of 1848, which provided universal suffrage and relief from unemployment.
The third revolution, the “Industrial revolution” can be pin pointed as the single most factor that completely changed the lifestyle of European people and in a way redefined the modern society. The extensive mechanization brought about steam engines to machine tools to IC engines. The science and technology were the focal points around which the rapid growth powered during 19th to 20th century. One of the reasons cited for such a rapid growth of scientific technology is abolishment of feudalism by British in 17th century and wide scale availability of resources like coal. Suddenly there were too many different types of industries to employ the entire masses, with each industry supplementing each other’s productivity. This created huge wealth and accumulation of which lead to creation of financial markets. In all, we could say it was capitalism that was in its neonatal stage.By early 18th century, trade and commerce flourished great extent between Europe, American, Asian and East Asian countries. The lower overhead costs and huge profits experienced by the British East India Company in India drew many companies to the country. Today’s stock market bubbles were seen as early as 1720 in what is called as “The south sea bubble” crisis. It was also the same century in which NYSE was established.
The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Engels and the revolutions of 1848 brought about a sea change to common mans thinking. “Workers of world unite” resonated well with the worker class who were perturbed with the new age unknown phenomena called industrial revolution, which mechanized all work. There was huge unemployment across Germany and France with widespread starvation among worker class. The natural outcome for all of this was the then set equation of Capitalism = antonym of Communism.
“The Russian revolution” in 1917 echoed Karl Marx’s Communist Manifesto in Russia against the Tsar autocracy. The October revolution finally led to formation of “Union of Soviet Socialistic Republics –USSR”. It was the latest largest victory against a monarchist rule. The First World War gave the death knell for monarchy and establishment of republics across the globe including the German Empire and Austro-Hungarian Empire. The great aspirations for land and market among land-starved European nations caused the gigantic world wars in 20th century, with the treaty of Versailles and League of Nations as their by-product. The political borders were rearranged.
The last and recent revolution
Feudalistic, colonist germs have just been tranquilized in 1947 in the country of masses; India, which has seen the largest shrinkage of GDP over centuries. As they say it, few centuries ago, even before the modern economic concepts evolved, it was a booming economy with a thriving local handicraft industry, thereby making India’s contribution to the world GDP as high as 30%. It was with the advent of colonialism that the handicraft industry and Indian production suffered to the levels of Hindu rate of growth.India hit a rock bottom in 1942, when the great Bengal Famine occurred and over 30 lakh people starved to death. Shortage of food supplies due to world war and shortfall in grain production were cited the grave reasons. This haunted Indian governance and it proclaimed to reach self sufficiency in food through rapid expansion of farming areas and double cropping. India, with its help from Mexico, maximized production with a high yield during the period between 1967 and 1978, which is popularly termed as “Green revolution of India”. This rapid expansion brought about the advent of new farm-related industries, which further created more jobs and helped in the expansion of GDP.
These five great revolutions brought about path breaking concepts and innovations which defined the course of human life at critical junctures; the concept of democracy with the abolishment of monarchy, feudalism, slave trade; the innovation of a capitalistic state leading to upliftment of social and economic status of people; the concept of communism based on common ownership; the innovation of agricultural methods in sustenance of human life. Although there are many significant events in this time period, these five defined the dynamics of the society
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