A Brief History of the West

The West has shaped world culture in many ways. From its founding of Catholicism to industrialization, it was a crucible of Christianity, and it was the first major civilisation to abolish slavery and enfranchise women in Australasia. It also pioneered the development of the personal computer and the internet. Its rulers have made significant contributions to art and science. The West has also shaped sports and astronomy, having made the moon landing possible in 1969.

During the early modern period, the West witnessed many revolutionary events. New ideologies, new laws, and changes to society led to a number of revolutions. The first was the American Revolution, which began in 1601. While most of the people in the Thirteen Colonies of British North America were of English descent, they were joined by immigrants from Scotland, Wales, Germany, and the New World. Native Americans and people of Spanish and German descent were swept up into the newfound American nation. Some of these new immigrants converted to Catholicism and adopted the language of the rulers. The new immigrants began a mestizo population, which later became the majority of Spanish and Portuguese empires.

Despite being a relatively recent phenomenon, Christianity was a major force in the medieval world. After the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century, Christianity gradually returned to the western world. By the sixth century, the Catholic Church had consolidated its influence throughout Western Europe. During the Viking Age, Norsemen invaded and conquered large areas of Europe, including modern-day Switzerland and northern Italy. The Reformation of the sixteenth century broke up the Christian unity, leading to the rise of new governments and cultures in Europe.

After the Napoleonic Wars, Britain rebuilt the British Empire. After the war, the colonies flourished. After the Seven Years’ War, the British needed new immigrants to boost their tax revenues. But the colonists resented the new taxes and protested their lack of representation in the government. Ultimately, they achieved their goals. These were great times for the Western world. But as we know, history has a dark side.

The development of the printing press made the Western world more modern. This period saw the emergence of important intellectuals such as Erasmus and Thomas Paine. These writers helped shape Western culture and revolutionized it. In this period, petroleum became a valuable commodity, and Henry Bessemer invented steel, paving the way for tall buildings. Meanwhile, Guglielmo Marconi invented radio and Alexander Graham Bell developed the telephone. With the development of these technologies, the Western world began to become a global player in the field of science.

Christianity is another important topic in western history. Christianity emerged in Europe about two thousand years ago. It was originally a sect of Judaism, but Christianity soon spread throughout Europe. Later, it became the official religion of the Roman Empire. In the Middle Ages, Christianity spread to other parts of the world, including North Africa and India. The Christian presence in the West led to a liberal democracy and the development of capitalism and democracy.