History Essay

The world history can be thought of as an unfolding story whose plot is governed by processes that all too often are hidden from a superficial attention . Such hidden causes that direct the course of history may nevertheless be among the most powerful factors of change in human societies . In attempt to uncover some of these factors of influence one may turn to study of material manifestations of the historical process in form of concrete historical developments or particular events that actually constitute the chronology of human civilization . However , there is another

fruitful ground for study of history which lies in examination of , conditionally speaking , non-material aspects of human development , represented by such fundamental spheres of human involvement as religion and science . These latter spheres of human activity may well constitute those basic , and therefore not always visible amid their external manifestations , factors that shape the course of history of human societies in the most fundamental way (Harman , 1999 , pp .25-6

In this regard , if we want to investigate what impact religious and scientific beliefs can have on histories of different societies , the comparison between Europe and Asia in the period of the history between 1550-1750 provides a good opportunity for such a study . Indeed , for example in Europe during this time the Renaissance concluded , new forms of science and philosophy emerged and laid grounds for the Enlightenment and for the appearance of the modern scientific methods , an enormous technological leap occurred , and the great geographic discoveries opened up a multitude of new lands for exploration . All this combined justifies the reason for calling this historical period the early modern history However , it has somehow happened that many people today think that the fact that history of scientific and technological developments of recent centuries has been taking place mostly within the confines of the Western civilization justifies us in the thinking that this was always the case . Of course , the inventions that appeared in Europe in the period which preceded Industrial Revolution laid that necessary ground on which the further rapid technological advances were based . Moreover these inventions were needed for the very emergence of the modern world as we know it . For example , it is sometimes said that without the printing press , the Renaissance may never have concluded , so what Gutenberg 's invention meant for civilization can not be even evaluated Now weigh the effect that was produced by introduction of gunpowder into the military field of application - it was nothing short of a revolution , as gunpowder initiated a kind of a medieval arms race which changed the principles of warfare as such and almost completely transformed the methods of fighting . In practice , this and other related developments based on the growing scientific prowess of Europe promoted its military and expansionary successes , like for example in case with the powerful Ottoman Empire , which , lagging behind its European rivals technologically , in the end of the 17th century began to decline However , the printing press , gunpowder , cannons , and devices and concepts...