Feudalism is arguably the most important and recognizable characteristic of Medieval life. Feudalism was a form of political and social organization which evolved from the dissolution of Charlemagne’s empire and the rise of absolute monarchies. Feudalism remains the common model of European society in the Middle Ages. Urban life for most citizens declined significantly after […]
The unique character of ancient Greek civilization can be attributed to several factors: synthesis, adaptation and constant improvement are recurrent themes in ancient Greek society. It was a fluid, constantly evolving yet relatively stable world. The Greeks created a distinctive culture which subsequent civilizations admired and copied: one based on logic, reason, and the exaltation […]
According to scholars, the key elements associated with a ‘civilization’ generally include the following requirements: cities and a system of government; creation of enforceable laws; formalized religion; social stratification; specialization of labor; writing and record keeping; comprehension of mathematical principles; engineering; metallurgy; and support for the arts. Each of these inter-related criteria is vital to […]
Hegemonic institutions pervade our culture, as diverse agendas are presented and reinforced by different cultural structures throughout society. It is important to recognize these power structures and the dominant ideals they represent in our everyday lives. James Lull’s famous essay Hegemony defines the subject as, “The power or dominance that one social group holds over […]
Much of Europe was devastated by the “Black Death” during the late Middle Ages: The Bubonic Plague wiped out approximately two-thirds of the population on the continent. Urban areas in Northern Europe were severely depopulated. However, some Italian city-states like Venice, Milan and Ferrara managed to survive the times virtually intact, due primarily to their relative […]
The USA is a dying imperial power: corrupt to the core, hollowed-out, lacking a soul and empty within. We are a brutal, overbearing nation filled with violent, desperate, shamelessly ignorant people. The Enlightenment (c.1680-1780) brought some hope of redemption to society following the Dark Ages. Applying the concept of humanism, philosophers recognized our innate capacity […]
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