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The Birth of the Modern Lesson 1. Defining the Birth of the Modern Many people are confused as to how to read the 20th and 21st centuries. There are so many differences of opinion concerning some the most commonly known events and processes of the modern world. The Birth of the Modern is a course that begins by tracing the roots of the modern world. Without understanding the roots, events, and processes that arose since the time of the end of the Middle Ages, there will be a failure to grasp the monumental truth associated with the 20th and 21st centuries. This course will examine, not just the political events of the last five centuries, but the emphasis will be upon the social (including economic and religious) trends, movements, and events of the era. We begin here by examining the impact upon the world of the late Middle Ages, the shattering of fact and the impact of a “justifying faith in Jesus Christ.”Do you understand the enormous impact that single area of understanding from Scripture had upon the modern world (and still does!).  Furthermore, the enormous impact of the Word of God is also traced out as well
The Birth of the Modern Lesson 2. Birth of the Modern: Feudalism, Breeding Ground of Socialism from the Middle AgesSocialism is really nothing more than Monopolistic Capitalism. Many use the term capitalism thinking they are describing a biblical frame of political economy. Capitalism originally was a term invented by socialist theorists and the biblical Christian should understand, on the one hand, that well-intentioned individuals and even Christians will use the term, but on the other hand, realize it is perhaps better to refer to a free market economy when describing the Bible's approach to economics or political economy. Feudalism was the breeding ground of poverty and socialism all throughout the Middle Ages. The economic blight of slavery, which has plagued many Western nations including the United States, arose directly out of the thinking and theory of feudalistic Europe of the Middle Ages.
The Birth of the Modern Lesson 3 Birth of the Modern: The serf and the poverty of feudalism! Modern historians tend to gloss over the tragic impoverishment of Europe during the 1200 years of the Middle Ages. They tend even praised feudalism to some extent, which bears out the consistent observation that historians make the poorest economists. In this lesson, we will see why Europe is impoverished for 1200 years. We will see the ideas and ideals that tragically role in the lives of countless millions of people during that 1260 year era. The feudal serf was so heavily controlled by the monopolistic power of the nobility that ruled over him, being thoroughly controlled in the following manner: disallowed from travel,  migration to other opportunities,  selection of services outside the lord’s demesne selection of spouse including primae noctis legally disallowed from passing on an inheritance to his children heavily taxed, always in excess of 50% of income but usually much much more Medieval Chruch tithes liability to voluntary labor on behalf of those who rule the serf and a host of other regulations and encumbrances If you listen unfortunately is contributed mightily to the rise of many strands of modern thinking. Understanding this institution will help understand the rise of the modern era.
The Birth of the Modern Lesson 4 Birth of the Modern: Guild Socialism Of utmost importance to understanding the modern world was a carryover effect of Guild Socialism. Gil Socialism controlled towns and cities commerce, prices, police, roads and highways, harbors... and therefore the politics of the towns and cities. Guild Socialism has influenced all aspects of our modern society. The concept of the "just price", taken from the Roman Medieval Church and embedded in modern economic thinking, has been ruinous to the rise of progress and trade. Guild Socialism is influenced many of the following categories of society: • Price theory and price controls by the state • Wages and salary • Theory of labor (the toward socialistic views such as Marxism) • Classical economics • Theory of value • Structure of society • Political economy … and many other areas.   This lesson introduces us to the subject so vital to understanding the modern world.
The Birth of the Modern Lesson 5 Birth of the Modern: the Witness of the Middle Ages All throughout the Middle Ages God did keep a witness for the sake of the truth. Ambrose of Milan was one most powerful preachers and teachers of the Nicene Age. Because of the powerful impact of his life, the truth concerning… • a justifying faith in Jesus Christ • the supremacy of the Word of God • Independence of the churches • the rejection of the Roman claimed to headship of the churches • a proper view of the sacraments (they rejected the presence of God in the sacraments as opposed to God's representation in the sacraments). There were many groups who remained aloof from the Roman dominion. Such groups as the Waldenses and the Albigenses maintained a witness for the truth over and against the utter darkness of the Middle Ages. There were quite a few others who maintained a testimony to the truth and this lesson examines their testimony.
The Birth of the Modern Lesson 6 The Birth of the Modern: Very briefly, the concept of the Protestant Reformation is first introduced in this lesson. That concept of course involves the discussion about the impact of the Protestant Reformation.
The Birth of the Modern Lesson 7 The Birth of the Modern: even secular historians recognize the necessity to properly categorizing the eras involved in the progress of civilization since the Great Protestant Reformation. Even the Encyclopedia of World History, originally compiled by William Langer, now edited by Peter Stearns, classifies events of the era of 1500 – 1800 as the "The Early Modern Period". The same source goes on to classify the era, from 1789 -- 1914, as the first installment of the "The Modern Period”. This particular lesson highlights the massive changes to place since the Great Protestant Reformation. Unfortunately, many of those changes all but eclipsed Christian truths throughout Western civilization and beyond. Nonetheless, Western civilization is now in a death struggle between a rising Reformation of the Christian faith and deadening influence of Humanism, in all its forms. At the heart of the storm are ALL of the culture carriers. The overwhelming power of the conflict surrounding the culture carriers dwarfs all of the combined military might of the world by comparison. And even though military power is still relevant to the determination of events, it is nonetheless dwarfed in comparison to the impact of all the culture carriers and the struggle surrounding them. Christianity is a culture carrying religion, and forces its enemies to fight it in the culture, as they cannot be defeated by mere military might. Modern humanism recognizes this fact, and is seeking to destroy Christian worldview in every niche of every culture carrier throughout the world.
The Birth of the Modern The Birth of the Modern: The Age of Discovery  Lesson 8 It  is most unfortunate that modern humanists, classroom professors, historians, and other scholarship mix all forms of Christianity in the same pot, condemning Christianity for its “Inquisitions, Crusades, Persecutions and Massacres (St. Bartholomew's Day massacre, for example), and the Conquistadores who ravaged Central and South America and imposed servitude upon the Indian populations. This was perpetrated  and has continued for centuries, with the blessing of the Medieval Church as well as the cruel government of Spain, in particular. Five centuries of impoverishment, superstition and servitude has been the legacy passed on to the Indian populations of Central South America from both of the above mentioned sources. The Spanish Conquistadores were the first to bring such servitude from Europe and imposed upon those populations. A different worldview.of the landscape in North America developed among the New England Puritans, the middle colony Presbyterians, the Dutch Calvinists and others brought a worldview which is not given to plunder but rather was designed for development, missionary work, and trade. Unlike the conquistadores, the inhabitants of the colonies to the North brought their wives and children in emphasized farming, craftsmanship, commerce and trade. The issue of slavery was the major issue that damaged this worldview. However, at no time in the history of the colonial era, or of the American experience, have a majority of people ever believed in the bondage of slavery. Slavery was a direct result of an oligarchy of powerful capitalistic socialists who used Mercantilistic socialism to make enormous amounts of money, enabling them to defend and protect their interest in the slave trade to the political clout they secured. It is a terrible fact of life, including today in America, that majorities do not control the destiny of men and nations. It is most unfortunate that powerful and corrupt oligarchies achieve political empowerment and retain position and influence despite the will of a majority of people. That is precisely the way in which the American shame of slavery was perpetrated. True Christianity has never tolerated "people control", and is set against such servitude as is commonly practiced in the world.

Modern History Quiz for the first 8 lessons


1. For 1000 years an economic system kept a people impoverished. People were working the land. What was that system called?

2. Who rediscovered the New World?

3. North America became very prosperous. Central and South America have remained mostly impoverished? Name one reason WHY?

4. Which European Nation started the Age of Exploration?

5. What was the minister from Milan who confronted the Roman Emperor and changed due process in Roman society and whose disciples extended into the middle ages?

6. Name one group of people in the middle ages who learned from his writings?

7. Who nailed the 95 Thesis on the door of Wittenberg? You get a bonus for the year.

8 and 9 If you were to go to a secular college you would find professors claiming all Christians were responsible for brutalities and cruelties that only the Roman Catholic church was responsible. Name some.

10. Who developed the printing press?

Bonus: What year did Martin Luther post the 95 Theses?

Bonus 2: What Early American fore-father was an expert on Ancient People's who lived in America? He had ancient coins.He was a President.


Quiz Answers