The Story of Civilization: VOLUME III - The Making of the Modern World

By Phillip Campbell

Children should not just read about history, they should live it. In The Story of Civilization, the stories that have shaped humanity come alive like never before. Author Phillip Campbell uses his historical expertise and story-telling ability together in tandem to present the content in a fresh and thrilling way.

The Story of Civilization reflects a new emphasis in presenting the history of the world as a thrilling and compelling narrative. Within each chapter, children will encounter short stories that place them directly in the shoes of historical figures, both famous and ordinary, as they live through legendary battles and invasions, philosophical debates, the construction of architectural wonders, the discovery of new inventions and sciences, and the exploration of the world.

Volume III: The Making of the Modern World continues the journey, picking up where Volume II left off amidst the Renaissance and quickly diving into the history-altering events of the Reformation. This fracturing of the Church dramatically altered the course of modern Europe and the world at large.

But during the most tumultuous times, God gives us the greatest saints. Children will meet great figures like Sts. Pius V, Thomas More, John Vianney, and Margaret Mary Alacoque, as well as powerful leaders like Napoleon and Kings Henry VIII of England and Louis XIV of France. This volume brings us through present-day Europe, showing us the effects of two world wars and how the Church responded to these changing times.

The strength of the content lies not only in the storybook delivery but also in the way it presents history through the faithful prism of the Church. Have you always wanted your children to learn about world history from a Catholic perspective? Here, you'll have the trusted resource you've always wanted.

• Language: English
• Publisher: TAN Books
• Release date: Sep 13, 2018
• ISBN: 9781505109849

Book preview

await!

CHAPTER 1

The Glory of the Renaissance

Leaving Behind the Middle Ages

In our last book, we talked about the era of Christendom. When the pagan world collapsed at the end of the Roman Empire, a new civilization rose from its ruins. This new civilization preserved the best from Greco-Roman antiquity while creating a culture wholly new. The barbarian tribes who had sliced up Rome’s empire converted to Christianity and laid the foundation for the Christian culture of the Middle Ages. It was this Christian culture that we call Christendom: many kingdoms, each with their own languages and customs, but united in a single culture centered on the Catholic Church and in union with the pope, the successor of St. Peter. The age of Christendom lasted for more than a thousand years. We learned about the people and events of the Middle Ages in volume 2.

Christendom went through many changes during the last few centuries of the Middle Ages. The plague known as the Black Death killed millions of people, dramatically altering European society. New inventions like the printing press, gunpowder, and the mechanical clock changed how people lived and worked. Explorations to Africa and India were bringing Europeans into contact with new people and cultures. In the Church, the Great Western Schism had weakened the authority of the popes, and strong kings felt emboldened to challenge the Church’s authority. Destructive heresies also spread throughout Christendom, damaging the faith like rust corroding a piece of metal.

In this book, we will be learning about European history from the end of the Middle Ages to the present day. This is only about five hundred years, but a lot happened in that time. We will learn how the religious consensus of Christendom was broken by the time of the Reformation and how afterward Europe began a slow rejection of the Christian faith. We will see how new ideas about man and his place in the world replaced traditional beliefs, sometimes with horrifying consequences. And we will learn about new advances in science and technology that are at the heart of the modern world.

The Renaissance

But that is all centuries in the future. We must first go back—back before cars and computers and cell phones, back to the fifteenth century and the time known as the Renaissance. We have encountered this word many times already—it means rebirth. The Renaissance of the 1400s and 1500s is sometimes known as the Italian Renaissance because its most notable artists were Italian—although, as we shall see, there were many great non-Italian artists as well.

Was the Italian Renaissance a rebirth? In some ways, yes. It was a great renewal of learning because the invention of the printing press had made it possible for more people to read than ever before. With more books and better education, more people were reading the Bible, as well as the classics of Greece and Rome. Not since ancient Rome had so many people been reading.

Though the Renaissance was not primarily a religious movement, there were a great deal of new pious groups formed to promote Christian prayer and study. The Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ and is protected by Him, but it is also governed by human beings capable of making big mistakes. The Church in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries had gone through hard times, and many Christians believed the Church was in need of reform. Pious men and women took up this idea with vigor and worked to make the Church better.

In the Netherlands, groups of laypeople dedicated themselves to prayer, studying the Bible and serving the poor. New religious orders were organized in Italy for the purpose of serving the sick. In Spain, the whole Church was reorganized to ensure that priests were well-educated and of good character. In England, there was a flourishing movement of scholars dedicated to the study of the Bible. Everywhere, Christian scholars were delving into the study of the Church Fathers more than ever before. Good things were happening.

Yes, the Renaissance was a renewal of piety and knowledge, but perhaps it is better to see it not as a rebirth of something old, but as a maturing of the Middle Ages. Much of what was good, true, and beautiful in the Renaissance had its origin in the Middle Ages, but it came to fruition in the Renaissance, like a beautiful flower blossoming in the sun.

And the art! If there is one thing the Renaissance is known for, it is its art. From Florence to Rome to Poland to Germany, artists of the Renaissance decorated Christendom with glorious paintings and sculptures, many of which still exist today. The discovery of perspective came about during the Renaissance, which means the ability to make a picture have depth or distance. Using perspective and other new methods of painting, artists created magnificent depictions of Christ, the Blessed Virgin, and various scenes from the Bible. It was a time of great art and Catholic piety.

Cities competed with each other to have the best art created by the most renowned artists. Often wealthy or influential people would pay famous artists to decorate their cities. This was called patronage. The patronage of the wealthy meant that cities could commission beautiful works of art; additionally, artists would have a way to make money and stay in business. It worked well for everybody. In Florence, the Medici family gave patronage to many famous artists, such as Michelangelo, Botticelli, Donatello, Brunelleschi, Raphael, and Leonardo da Vinci.

The popes also gave patronage to artists. In our last book, we mentioned the painting of the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo. This work was commissioned by Pope Julius II, who gave patronage to many famous artists. In the 1500s, Rome and Florence competed with each other to become the artistic capital of Italy; this competition meant both of these cities—as well as many others—were beautified with splendid art and architecture.

It was not only cities who competed; artists often competed with each other as well. We saw in our last book how the Renaissance began with a competition between Brunelleschi and Ghiberti. Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci also strove to outdo each other. Once, both men were hired to paint frescoes in the town hall of Florence. The two artists disliked each other immediately. They both fell to bickering and insulting each other’s art. Eventually, both quit and left the project unfinished.

A Friendly Rivalry

But not all artistic rivalry was mean-spirited. Much of it was friendly, as we can see from this humorous tale from the early Renaissance:

_________

In the city of Florence, there lived two talented sculptors, friends named Brunelleschi and Donatello. The two artists respected each other greatly, but they were also very competitive.

Donatello made many marvelous sculptures in his youth, but what really made him famous was a stone carving of the Annunciation he did for the parish of St. Croce in Florence. The carving depicted the angel Gabriel kneeling before the Blessed Virgin Mary announcing the Incarnation of Jesus. In many places the stone was gilded with gold, giving it a glorious luster. People came from all over Italy to see the masterpiece.

Look at how excellent Master Donatello’s work is! they exclaimed.

Donatello loved the attention and couldn’t help but gloat to his friend. Well, Brunelleschi, he said one day, the people all agree. It looks like I am the greatest sculptor in Florence!

Brunelleschi chuckled. Enjoy it while you are still young, Donatello. You are good now, but someone else might come along and do better.

Well, the parishioners are so happy with my Annunciation, I have been commissioned to carve a magnificent wooden crucifix for the altar. I have been working on it day and night for many weeks. Say, Brunelleschi, would you mind taking a look at it? I would very much like your opinion.

Very well. Show me your crucifix.

Donatello disappeared into his crowded studio and emerged a few moments later carrying the large crucifix. Donatello laid it on the table before Brunelleschi. The Christ was rugged, with messy hair, a face twisted in pain, and a thin, wiry body. All of Christ’s muscles were stretched from the suffering of the crucifixion, and his legs were bowed outward, as if struggling to support the weight of his sagging body. It was a frightfully realistic image, but not what Brunelleschi was expecting. He snorted, then smiled.

What is it? Donatello asked indignantly.

Nothing, Master Donatello, nothing at all. But then Brunelleschi laughed.

I pray thee, by our friendship, speak your mind! What do you think of my Christ?

Well, if you insist … said Brunelleschi.

I do!

You’re very talented, Donatello … it’s just … it looks more like a peasant than Christ.

Donatello had expected praise from his friend and he was hurt. If you think it is so easy, he shouted, why don’t you take some wood and make a better one yourself?

Brunelleschi’s face turned red. He rose without saying another word and left Donatello’s house. That evening, he put on a work smock, lit his oil lamp, and took up a large block of wood in his rugged hands.

So Donatello thinks I can’t do better? he murmured to himself. Challenge accepted! He sat down and began to work the block over with his chisel.

Brunelleschi carefully crafted his wooden crucifix for many months. He took so long that Donatello almost forgot about his challenge. But finally, one night Brunelleschi invited Donatello to have dinner with him. As they walked together, they stopped at the market to get food for supper. Brunelleschi bought a great deal of eggs and cheese and other items.

Would you carry these, my friend? he asked Donatello.

Certainly, Donatello replied, and the two walked to Brunelleschi’s home where he had a surprise waiting. Brunelleschi had set up his wooden crucifix prominently in the main hall so his friend would see it as soon as he walked in the door. When Donatello entered and saw the crucifix, it was so impressive that, with a crash, the eggs, cheese, and all the other items he had been carrying fell to the ground and smashed everywhere.

Brunelleschi walked in behind his friend. He looked at the mess and laughed. What are you about, Donatello? How can we dine when you have dropped all of our food?

Without averting his eyes from the elegant crucifix, Donatello said, I am satisfied. You have won, Brunelleschi. To you it is given to do Christs. To me, peasants.

_________

Did you recognize the name Brunelleschi? You should. He was the sculptor mentioned in the final chapter of volume 2 who competed with Ghiberti to sculpt the doors of the Florence Baptistery.

The Dutch and Flemish

Our study of the Renaissance would be incomplete if we didn’t mention the Dutch and Flemish painters. The Dutch and Flemish come from the regions of Holland and Flanders, two territories squeezed side-by-side on the coast of the English Channel, between France and Germany, in northern Europe. The Dutch and Flemish painted some of the most realistic art of the Renaissance, including portraits, which brought them the most fame. Some of their better-known painters were Jan van Eyck, Pieter Bruegel, and Hieronymus Bosch. They might not be as famous as Leonardo and Michelangelo, but their paintings are every bit as good.

What sorts of things did they paint? Like other artists, the Dutch and Flemish masters painted religious works, decorating churches and altar pieces. But they also painted images of common life. We mentioned that they were famous for their portraits. One of the most spectacular Dutch Renaissance paintings is the Arnolfini Marriage by Jan van Eyck. Done in 1434 on a large oak panel, it is considered one of the greatest paintings of the Renaissance. It shows a recently married man and wife standing together in their home. It is full of intense colors and has an extraordinary realistic quality to it. It is especially famous for its use of light and a mirror to give depth to the room. When we look at Eyck’s Arnolfini Marriage, it feels like we are actually looking into a real room.

It can be difficult to describe a painting in words. Hopefully someday you can see Jan van Eyck’s Arnolfini Marriage for yourself, as well as the crucifixes of Donatello and Brunelleschi and many other wonderful works of the Renaissance.

Isn’t it interesting how lots of different things can come together to make something wonderful? Just like different ingredients in a recipe, all sorts of things came together to make the Renaissance what it was. Increased literacy, the study of different languages, interest in the heritage of classical Greece and Rome, a renewed sense of Christian piety, new techniques in painting and sculpture, patronage of the Church and the wealthy, the competition between cities and artists—all of these came together to make the Renaissance a glorious time to be alive.

CHAPTER 2

Columbus and the New World

In Search of the Far East

Throughout the Middle Ages, Europeans had a lively interest in finding the best route to get to China. In volume 2, we talked about how merchants like Marco Polo and explorers like Vasco de Gama made journeys east by land and sea, hoping to find the riches of the Far East. The people of Christendom highly valued the spices and silks of Asia and would pay good money for them.

The early explorers were also motivated by a crusading spirit. For example, Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal (whom we met in volume 2) was part of a Portuguese crusading order. Christopher Columbus himself would say that his famous voyage was undertaken partly in search of new allies and sources of funding for a new crusade. There was much of the old medieval crusading spirit in the age of exploration.

The Portuguese explorers had discovered a sea route to China by going south, all the way around Africa, and then east, past India. By the late 1400s, the Portuguese had set up trading outposts in India and were bringing back riches from the east. But the sea route was extremely long and dangerous. Depending on the season, it sometimes took Portuguese ships fifteen months to reach the Far East. Of course, once they arrived, they had to conduct their business and then sail back home. Some voyages could take three years to get there and back. Can you imagine being gone on a trip for three years?

Christopher Columbus

We can see why the sea route to the east was not ideal. Some explorers believed there must be a shorter way. One of these was the Italian Christopher Columbus. Columbus was from the Italian city of Genoa, where many excellent sailors lived. Columbus was an experienced navigator who had traded along the coasts of Africa and as far away as Iceland.

Columbus believed that the best way to get east was by sailing west. Medieval people knew the world was round, but they were unsure how large it was. Columbus believed the world was smaller than most people thought. He believed a ship of well-supplied, brave sailors—piloted by an experienced captain—could sail west across the Atlantic Ocean and reach Asia quicker than by sailing east.

Columbus brought his idea to the king of Portugal, but he was not interested. Instead, Columbus went to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. At first the Spanish king and queen were also not interested, but they eventually changed their minds. Remember the Reconquista we learned about in volume 2? The Reconquista was a centuries-long struggle of the Spanish Christians to take back their lands from the Muslim Moors. In 1492, the last Moorish kingdom of Spain was defeated by the Christian armies of Ferdinand and Isabella. The king and queen were in a good mood that year and decided to give Columbus a chance. They hoped that with the long war against the Moors now over, they could focus on exploration.

Columbus was given three ships called the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa María. Ferdinand and Isabella told him that if he succeeded, he would be given the rank of admiral and made governor of all new lands he might discover. This sounded nice, but he had to survive the expedition first; actually, first he had to get a crew together. He had a hard time finding men willing to go on the dangerous voyage with him. His crew was made up of friends, some royal observers, and many criminals from Spanish prisons who were released on the condition that they travel with Columbus. It was a scary thing sailing off into the western ocean; nobody had ever crossed it before, and no one had any idea how long it would take, or even if it were possible. Many Spaniards expected the ships would never return.

Columbus and his ships left Spain on August 3, 1492, sailing southwest across the broad Atlantic Ocean. For many weeks they pressed on across the open sea with no sign of land. But after a month, Columbus and his crew saw hints that they were getting closer:

_________

Captain! Come quickly! shouted one of the sailors.

Columbus emerged from the captain’s quarters of the Santa María. It was the morning of September 16, a beautiful day with blue sky as far as the eye could see and a fine, cool breeze.

What is it, Pedro? Columbus called.

Captain, look at all the seaweed! Pedro said, frantically pointing ahead. Columbus darted up to the deck at the fore of the ship. Several men were already gathered there, casting their gaze into the sea. Columbus and the men saw that the ocean was cluttered with huge patches of bright green seaweed floating on the water. Some of them were gigantic, the size of a small village.

’Tis an ocean of seaweed! one man exclaimed.

This must have washed away from some land nearby, said Pedro. Perhaps we shall reach Asia soon?

No, replied Columbus. This seaweed has traveled far from land on the ocean’s currents. It seems as if the currents bring all the floating seaweed here to this point. The continent of Asia is still going to be some way off, but we are getting closer.

For many days they pressed on through the sea of seaweed, and the men were getting restless. Columbus believed they were close to land, but they had already been at sea for more than a month, longer than anyone had ever sailed west. They grumbled and wanted to turn back.

But a few days later, something else happened that hinted land was near. Columbus was on deck with his officers. One of them, Martin, was trying to convince Columbus to give up. The two were arguing vehemently, Martin waving his hands in the air and Columbus with an armful of charts and parchments trying to persuade Martin they were near land.

Suddenly, two gigantic pelicans flew up and landed on the ship. Columbus and his men stared at the birds and the birds stared back, blinking their beady little eyes.

Aha! Columbus laughed, whacking Martin upside the head with his charts. Didn’t I tell you? Land is near!

How can you tell that from a pelican? Martin snorted skeptically.

Pelicans are coastal birds! Columbus said, slapping Martin’s cheek playfully. They feed at sea, but they always remain near land. We must be very close.

More birds would come. On September 23, the crew saw a turtledove, a pelican, a river bird, and some ducks, as well as more weeds and lots of crabs. On sunset of that day, one of the sailors of the Niña shouted, Land! Land! Columbus and his men all fell to their knees and gave thanks to God. Unfortunately, it was a false alarm. What they took to be land was only a pile of clouds on the horizon.

The days dragged on. More seaweed, more ducks, more clouds, but no land. By October 10, the men were fed up. They angrily confronted Columbus on the deck of the Santa María. This voyage is a death sentence! Turn around immediately, or we’ll turn around without you! some said, brandishing clubs and large knives. Columbus knew he was in danger. Many of these men were hardened criminals. Who could say what they might do to him if they got angry enough?

Please, my dear friends, Columbus pleaded, I beg thee, give me just a little more time and soon, I promise, we will all be rich with the wealth of China and Japan!

We don’t care about wealth! they shouted. We just want to return home with our lives! They all began clamoring and pressing against the captain and his officers. It looked like Columbus was about to lose control of the ship.

What do you want me to do? Columbus yelled. The crowd fell back and quieted. Eh? What should I do? We’ve come so far! Too far! Columbus paced back and forth in front of his men, staring them down in a battle of wills. We’ve been out two months and a week. Even if I listened to you, even if I turned these ships around right this instant, we haven’t enough water or supplies to make it home. We’d be dead at sea long before we ever saw the rolling hills of Spain. The men fell silent. Some looked at the ground, ashamed. We find Asia, or we die, Columbus said gravely. The men began to trail off and sauntered back to their stations. Order was restored.

You handled that well, Martin said to Columbus.

I doubt I could do it again, Columbus said to his officer. The fact is, Martin, if we don’t find land in the next day or two, these cutthroats are going to toss you and me overboard, and no eloquent words or promises of wealth will save us.

_________

Luckily for Columbus, land was soon sighted. Fewer than two days after his sailors demanded he turn back, they arrived in what is now the islands of the Bahamas on October 12, 1492. They named the little island they landed on San Salvador, which means Holy Savior in Spanish. San Salvador was part of a larger island chain. Columbus spent the fall exploring these islands and conversing with the native people who lived there.

Despite their joy, something seemed wrong. The people of these islands were very simple folk, living in reed or thatched huts and wearing little clothing. Metalwork seemed to be unknown to them, as their weapons and tools were all bone or wood. They did not at all resemble the highly civilized society of China that Marco Polo had written about in his Travels.

More alarming was the fact that there appeared to be little gold and no spices. The great wealth of the east Columbus so eagerly sought was nowhere to be found. And no matter what Columbus did, he could not find mainland China. He traveled from island to island interviewing natives to try to figure out where he was. He thought perhaps he had miscalculated and arrived in India instead of China. He called the natives Indians, thinking he might be in India.

Of course, we know that Columbus was in neither India nor China. He was in the Caribbean, the tropical sea that divides North and South America. Columbus had found evidence of two new continents previously unknown to Christendom, but he didn’t realize it! The Indians he encountered were the Taíno, a native tribe that lived in the Bahamas.

Columbus returned to Spain in March 1493, boldly announcing his discoveries. The whole kingdom was in an uproar about his amazing journey. He presented Ferdinand and