Turning points a

Neolithic Revolution: 8,000 B.C.E.
Life Before the Turning Point
Paleolithic age: Hunters and gatherers, nomads, clans of 20-
30 people, basic language, men and women were equal

Turning Point
The Neolithic Revolution: Development of
agriculture and the domestication of animals

Effects/Changes/Impact
People settled in villages and cities. Farmers
grew surplus of crops that led to rise in
population. Created permanent houses,
expanded language and religious beliefs.
Developed political systems, job specialization,
social classes, and new technology. Women lost
status. Led to civilization.

Fall of Roman Empire: 476 C.E.
Vast Empire under one law code. Led by an Emperor who had total
authority. Pax Romana – 200 years of peace in Rome. Great achievements
such as law, government, art and architecture (dome and arch), aqueducts,
roads, etc. Increase in trade and security throughout empire.

Turning Point
Poor leadership, lack of method of succession,
struggling economy, weakening military, and peasant
and slave revolts led to the split of the Empire. Fell in
476 CE when Visigoths sacked Rome!

Led to Dark Ages! Lack of centralized government
caused feudal society to emerge. Peasants looked
toward local nobles for protection and worked the land
for them. Manorialism developed – self sufficient
economic system with limited trade. Most people
lacked education and the Catholic Church dominated
society. Gothic Architecture.

The Crusades: 1095-1272
Europe was in the Dark Ages. There was little
trade and lack of education. Serfs worked the land
and did not leave their manor. The Church
dominated socially and politically.

Turning Point
Pope Urban II called for all Christians
to unite and fight the Muslims to
regain control of the Holy lands.

After four Crusades, the Muslims won control of the Holy
lands. However, the crusades resulted in increased trade in
Europe and the development of towns. Trade routes
needed to be protected, which led to the rise of power of
Kings and the decrease of power of the nobles.

The Printing Press: 1436
Many people were illiterate and ideas traveled slowly through
trade. Most books were based on ideas of the church (Bibles)
and were hand written. Most books were written in Latin.

Turning Point
Johann Gutenberg invented the Printing Press, a hand
press, in which ink was rolled over the raised surfaces
of moveable hand-set block letters held within a
wooden form and the form was then pressed against a
sheet of paper.

Created a revolution in the production of books. Led to the
rapid exchange of ideas throughout Europe and an increase
in literacy. Fostered the rapid development in science, arts
and religion.

The Renaissance: 1400s
Roman Catholic Church dominated social and cultural aspects of society.
Art and architecture were influenced by religious ideals. Gothic
Architecture was designed to show the power of God. Most people
believed that they were meant to suffer on Earth in order to get to Heaven
in the afterlife.

Turning Point
A renewal in Greco-Roman ideals led to belief in Humanism – humans
are special and individuals can achieve great things. Popes, Kings,
and wealthy merchants became patrons of the arts and hired artists
to create paintings, sculptures, buildings, etc.

Artists such as Michelangelo and Leonardo Da
Vinci as well as writers such as Petrarch,
Machiavelli, and Shakespeare would influence
western culture. Ideals of humanism and
questioning spirit would lead to the
Reformation, Age of Exploration, Scientific
Revolution, and the Enlightenment.

The Protestant Reformation: 1517
The Roman Catholic Church dominated Europe. The Pope had
power over Monarchs and could excommunicate anyone from the
church. They also collected a tithe, a 10% tax that all land holders
had to pay. The Church was also offering indulgences, where
people could pay for the forgiveness of their sins.

Turning Point
Martin Luther, a German monk, posted his 95 Theses on the door
of a Church in Wittenberg, Germany. He protested the corruption
of the Roman Catholic Church and was excommunicated when
he refused to recant.

Europe was split religiously for the first time (North: Protestant,
South: Roman Catholic.) Other Protestant groups developed
such as Calvinism and the Anglican Church in England. Led to
the Catholic Counter-Reformation, the Inquisition, religious wars,
and aggressive missionary work.

Age of Exploration: 1450-1600s
Europeans were living in the High Middle ages
where trade was increasing but not very favorable.
They were forced to trade with the Muslims who
controlled the land routes from China.

Turning Point
New technology and a desire to find water routes to the East
led to the Portuguese discovery of a water route to India
(DaGama) and the Spanish discovery of the Americas
(Columbus.)

Discovery of Americas led to global trade. The Columbian Exchange,
or Triangle trade, developed which led to the Commercial Revolution.
Animals, products, ideas and disease traveled between Old and New
World. Led to the conquest of Aztecs, Incas, and other Native
American Indians and the colonization of the New World by
Europeans.

Scientific Revolution: 1400s-1600s
Europeans depended on the Church to answer most
questions. Many people believed in superstitions, old
traditions and customs. People lacked knowledge
about medicine, astronomy, anatomy, math, etc.

Turning Point
Thinkers and scientists such as Copernicus, Galileo,
and Newton began to experiment the world around
them in search for their own answers.

New discoveries in astronomy (Heliocentric
theory), physics (Law of Gravity), and
Medicine (Microscope) created a questioning
spirit in Europe that led to better
understanding of the world. Challenged the
power of the church.

Age of Enlightenment: 1600s-1800s
Europe was led by Absolute Monarchs such as King Louis XIV
of France, Phillip II of Spain, Czar Peter the Great of Russia,
Empress Maria Teresa of Holy Roman Empire. The justified
their rule by claiming Divine Right, power to rule from God.

Turning Point
Inspired by the scientific revolution, many scholars began to use
reason and logic to question the rule of Absolute Monarchs. They
believed in natural laws and rights that existed in politics and
government.

John Locke, Jean Rousseau, and Voltaire became
the major Enlightenment thinkers of the time
believing in Natural Rights of “Life, Liberty, and
Property,” the common good, and freedom of
speech. Their ideas led people to question Divine
Right rule and resulted in Revolutions in North
America, France, and Latin America.

French Revolution: 1789-1799
France was led by an Absolute Monarch (King Louis XVI) and
was divided into three estates (First, second and third.) The
third estate had very little rights and were over taxed. Famine
and war swept the land and the French economy was suffering.

Turning Point
Third Estate left the Estates General and protested in the
King’s Tennis Court (Tennis Court Oath.) They created
the National Assembly and wrote a Constitution to limit
the power of the King. The Spark of the Revolution was
July 14th 1789 when the people Stormed the Bastille!

Set the Stage for Revolutions in Europe and Latin America.
Utilized Enlightenment ideas and challenged Divine Right rule.
Radical Revolution led to Reign of Terror (Robespierre) and
use of guillotine. Ended special privileges of nobles and
increased power of middle class (bourgeoisie.)

Industrial Revolution: 1750-1850
Most people were farmers or small merchants. Made
goods with hand and animal power and lived in small
villages (Rural.) Used Water and wind as energy source.

Turning Point
The Agricultural Revolution in England led to new techniques in
farming that increased production of food. Led to new inventions
(Steam Engine) in transportation, communication, and production
of goods. Enclosure Movement led to many unemployed farmers
who went to cities searching for work.

Production goes form Cottage industry to Factories. Use of
Machine power and the growth of cities (Urbanization.)
Great Britain becomes an Imperial power (need for
resources.) Conditions in the factory are hard as Capitalists
make money, the workers (Proletariat) struggle in poverty.
Led to challenges to capitalism (Socialism, communism,
utilitarianism.)

The Meiji Restoration: 1867-1910
Japan was ruled by the Tokugawa Shogunate who ruled
through a centralized Feudal system. The Shogun had
isolated Japan from trade with other nations except China,
Korea, and the Dutch. Japanese society was controlled by
the government, which banned Christianity.

Turning Point
U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry made a trip
to Japan in an attempt to become trading
partners with them. The Japanese and U.S.
signed the Treaty of Kanagawa which ended
250 years of isolation.

Led to the fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate and the beginning of
the Meiji Restoration, where the Emperor took over as leader of
Japan. Japan began to rapidly modernize and westernize its
military, industry, and social customs. This led to the need for
Japan to imperialize other lands for resources. (annexation of
Korea, Sphere of Influence in China, Russo-Japanese War)

World War I: 1914-1919
European nations were competing with one another
for military and economic superiority. Militarism,
Alliances, Imperialism, and Nationalism were
increasing.

Turning Point
The Assassination of the Archduke Ferdinand in Sarajevo, Bosnia
was the spark that started the War. When Austria-Hungary
blamed Serbia, Germany declared war on Russia and France and
WWI was on!

Mass production of weapons and new technology such as the
Machine gun, airplane, tank, poison gas, and submarine caused
enormous casualties and damage. Britain, France, U.S. and Italy
won the war and forced Germany to sign the Treaty of Versailles.
Economic problems after the war would lead to the rise of
Totalitarian leaders like Hitler and Mussolini. Also, during the
war, Russia had a revolution- resulted in the first communist
nation, the USSR.

Turning points a

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