Europe and its struggle 3

With monarchy and aristocracy getting rich, European nations had surplus wealth for patronizing art, culture, new explorations and sea voyages. This was one of the contributing factors behind the Renaissance. The great leaps made in art and literature were matched by the progress in science and philosophy. However Western philosophy and science were influenced by Helenic thoughts and Eastern ideas were not seriously considered or were not known at that time. The great strides made in Science were viewed with alarm by Church which saw its domination getting slackened with more liberal thoughts pervading the minds of educated and learned folks who were often the torch bearers of the society. At first the Church, with the help of the rulers, responded with brutal repression. Heretics and men (and women) of scientific temperaments were burnt alive, which resulted in a permanent rift between religion and science and in effect between spirituality and science. It is to be noted that in case of eastern thoughts, esp. in India the two were closely related. Early science in India owes its origin to the Vedas and the leading scientists and philosophers in ancient India were often of spiritual bend of mind. 

But in the later half of sixteenth century and early seventeenth century, Europe was already on a growth path and much of these growth was fueled by the colonies in the new world.

The industrious Europeans worked very hard and also realized the fruit of the work, but the local colonies would have to pay a very heavy price for their gains. Moreover Europeans were sometimes outright racist, and many of them saw the local cultures as abominations. Wherever there was a conflict of interest, waging of wars or brutal oppression were common. Missionaries in their zeal to enlighten the natives often dismissed the local culture as barbaric and portrayed the local religions and customs as hideous, without ever trying to understand them earnestly. In Americas the natives were driven out of their homes, killed or forced to migrate. In India, there were widespread famines on account of forceful taxation and the planting of indigo which destroyed food crops. The mutiny in India was put down in the most ruthless manner, often by exterminating an entire village, a heinous crime which has gone unrecorded by European historians. Millions, often surpassing the numbers killed in holocaust, perished in famines during the colonial rule.  In the name of rule of law and education, European ideas, religion and culture were forcefully thrust upon the natives. A certain brain wash process through modern education held the natives to the belief that everything was wrong with their indigenous culture and religion and that the European lifestyle and culture were the model for the world. However it was also made apparent to the natives that even though they were encouraged to “be European” they were not welcome in European circle. The class distinction was very clear, like another form of “caste system”.

This class distinction and unequal distribution of wealth were major contributing factors behind French revolution which contributed a lot in terms of changing of social and political structures in Europe and in opening up of new schools of thoughts, esp. Socialism and Communism. The deplorable condition of the workers who were cogs in the great wheel of the industrial revolution and the increasing gap between rich and poor also led to the popularity of Communist and socialistic ideas, esp. among students and idealistic younger generations.