catastrophe

Aren't most significant historical events marked by catastrophes? It seems that wars, epidemics, natural disasters, etc. have always defined the study of the past. Every front page of a newspaper will mention a misfortune, be it large or small. When Zophy marks the Renaissance as, "the most catastrophic period in all of human history," he is making quite a statement. The Industrial Revolution, or the move from subsistence farming to industry could be the most catastrophic period in all of human history, no? Or the invention of the internet!? I guess we’ll have to wait and see about that one…

Zophy is correct in his statement, though. The Renaissance has certainly influenced modern life in countless ways. Mormonism, globalization, and the Americas are few among the many things that would not have been possible if history’s course would have continued without incidence, as it had previously during the ‘middle ages’. (It’s really unfair to call the times before the Renaissance the ‘middle ages’. Thomas Aquinas was writing in the 13th century, and creating wonderful arguments against doubt. Why then, do so many amateur philosophers bring up Descartes but not Aquinas...?)

To me, the most important event that would change European society was the Black Death. Every aspect of life in Europe was affected after nearly 1/3 of the population died, which led to both economic and mental turmoil for the survivors. Peasants angry of wage freezes (due to the economic devastation) began to revolt, which lead to organization and discussion. Religious people began to question their faith as loved ones were stolen away. As the snowball effect goes, people rallying together and questioning faith produced Martin Luther. The rest of history follows accordingly, factions within the church cause the formation of new religions. New religions cause wars, which causes the formation of ‘states’, the economy changes, so on and so forth. Appreciation for classical education eventually brought about the Enlightenment, which started wars, spurred discussion, and made it able for me to write this blog! (Blah blah blah, I’m becoming a positivist…).

The Black Plague influenced every aspect of society, and because it was such a devastating event change was inevitable. No longer could society progress slowly; something had to happen quick and dramatically.