Fruit of the Renaissance

Imagine living a couple centuries ago, looking at the stars, planets, and the sun from our beautiful planet. You observe that the planets follow different patterns, challenging the idea of the geocentric model, which has been the accepted model for more than 1500 years. This "complex interaction of circles" was challenged by various philosophers and astronomers, however, because of their lack of authority, the ideas of a heliocentric system never really caught on until the 16th century with Copernicus. 

Now imagine the great religious prominence of the Catholic Church in the 1500's. Controlling a lot of the political and social power, the church stood as a symbol of authority and power. The people in high positions of the church, namely the priests, were involved in all aspects of life, from baptism to burial to marriage to forgiveness. Some of these practices were questionable, but who dared voice an opinion without the risk of losing life? 

In 1517, Martin Luther posted 95 Theses on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences,  which catalyzed the protestant reformation.

These examples, and many more, are points of the renaissance, a rebirth and a cultural movement. There began a great flow of creative thinking, realism, and humanism. Great theories of individualism, capitalism, and other new theories spread, shaping our world today.

One interesting point is the French Revolution, a period of radical social and political upheaval. The authority in France, Louis XV, fought many expensive wars. As a result, a lot of financial strain was put on the citizens, resulting in starvation, likelihood of disease, and poor trade. An assembly was formed to discuss issues at hand, and it turned sour, resulting in a stormage of the assembly by mobbers against the king. The people were not afraid of voicing their ideas. The renaissance period left man uplifted and protective of rights. The people of France wanted popular sovereignty, and dethroned the king.

The rights of the people is very important, and the French Revolution may seem well justified. However, Edmund Burke shared some thoughts about the revolution that question the reasoning and impulsiveness of man. Speaking of the French revolutionists, he wrote, 

"You might have repaired those walls; you might have built on those old foundations. Your constitution was suspended before it was perfected' but you had the elements of a constitution very nearly as good as could be wished. You had all that combination, and all that opposition of interests, you had that action and counteraction which, in the natural and in the political world, from the reciprocal struggle of discordant powers, draws our the harmony of the universe...You had all these advantages in your ancient States; but you chose to act as if you had never been moulded into civil society, and had everything to begin anew." (Edmund Burke. Reflections on the Revolution in France. pg 205)

So where is the line between complete revolution compared to modification? The French Revolution ended with a blood bath. 

On the other hand, the American Revolution resulted in the beginning of a great nation. What was the difference? We still feel the effects of the renaissance today.