Feudalism, Scientific Revolution & Enlightenment in Western Civilization
This paper surveys major transformations in Western civilization from the 12th through the 18th centuries. It examines how feudal power struggles in medieval England led Edward I to create Parliament as a mechanism for monarchical control over taxation and law. The paper then traces the shift from medieval theism to rational empiricism through the Scientific Revolution, highlighting contributions by Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, and Newton. It further explores how Enlightenment philosophers—Hobbes, Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau—developed social contract theory, and how Enlightenment ideals ultimately fueled the American and French Revolutions, reshaping political authority and individual rights across the Western world.
- Medieval Feudalism and the Rise of Parliament in England: Barons, Henry III, Edward I, and Parliament's formation
- The Medieval Worldview Versus the Scientific Revolution: Shift from theism to empiricism and rationalism
- Key Figures and Discoveries of the Scientific Revolution: Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, Newton, and heliocentrism
- The Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment: Reason and sensory experience replace religious faith
- Social Contract Theory and Enlightenment Philosophy: Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Montesquieu on human freedom
- The American and French Revolutions: Enlightenment ideals spark political revolution
- The Legacy of the Enlightenment: Representation evolves from humanism to abusive authority
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What makes this paper effective
- The paper traces a clear historical arc, connecting feudal power struggles to parliamentary formation, then linking the Scientific Revolution to Enlightenment philosophy and finally to political revolution.
- It uses specific historical figures (Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, Newton, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Montesquieu) to ground abstract conceptual claims in concrete examples.
- The paper maintains a consistent analytical theme — the evolution of power and knowledge from theism and feudalism toward rationalism and individual rights — which gives coherence to its broad chronological scope.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper employs thematic synthesis across long historical periods, showing how intellectual and political developments are causally linked. Rather than narrating isolated events, it draws causal chains — for example, demonstrating how the Scientific Revolution created the intellectual conditions for Enlightenment social contract theory, which in turn enabled the American and French Revolutions.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with medieval England's feudal economy and the formation of Parliament under Edward I. It then pivots to the contrast between medieval and scientific worldviews, surveys the key scientists of the Scientific Revolution, and explains the transition to Enlightenment philosophy. The final sections address how Enlightenment ideals manifested in the American and French Revolutions and reflect briefly on the ambiguous legacy of representative government.
Medieval Feudalism and the Rise of Parliament in England
Prosperity in England during the 12th and 13th centuries was illustrated by the success of feudalism and the continuous proliferation of barons — members of the commercial bourgeoisie — who aspired to hold not only economic but political power as well. Under the leadership of Henry III, the barons achieved both economic and political privileges. However, the bourgeoisie's attempts to usurp power from the reigning king led to the development of measures designed to secure the king's leadership and limit the economic and political powers of the barons. Thus, when Edward I became king, he restored and strengthened monarchical power while simultaneously creating Parliament, giving the crown control over the country's taxation system and the formulation of laws.
Under Edward I's leadership, Parliament was created in order to give monarchical control over taxation and the formulation of statutes. The formation of Parliament was largely a measure taken by the monarchy to ensure that the civil war of 1264 — in which the bourgeoisie class attempted to usurp power from the king — would not happen again. With these lessons in hand, Edward I secured his control over England by creating Parliament, which served as a legal and more organized system that monitored the country's taxation process and oversaw the conduct of its feudal economy, the main source of government finance. Because of these interrelated events, Parliament was formed to guard the course of the country's economic prosperity and to strengthen the power of kingship and the monarchy.
Bibliography
Preston, P. W. (1996). Development Theory: An Introduction. Blackwell.
Westby, D. (1991). The Growth of Sociological Theory. New York: Prentice-Hall.
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