History of the Modern World. From AD 1500 to AD 2013

647 Pages·2015·7.7 MB·English

by  B.V. Rao

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History of the Modern World
© 2014, B V Rao
ISBN 978 81 207 7776 7
First Edition 2013
Reprint 2014
Revised Edition October 2014
All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or
transmitted, in any form or by any means, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior
written permission of the original publisher.
T
Preface to the First Revised Edition he
purpose of revising this book History of
the Modern World is twofold. The first involved
in going through the contents of all the chapters
in a meticulous manner, and correcting mistakes,
if any.
The second is far more important in the sense that more information has
been added to make some chapters comprehensive. Some of the other chapters
have been revised to include events up to 2013. To be specific, discerning
students may find these in chapters on The American Revolution and the
Constitution (Chapter 6), The French Revolution of 1789 and the Aftermath,
1789-1815 (Chapter 7), The Russian Revolution of 1917-1921 (Chapter 21),
UNO and Global Disputes (Chapter 29), The European Union (Chapter 36) and
Post Cold War Era: The Dawning of ‘New Europe’ (Chapter 44).
Hope the candidates and students find the contents of this book more useful
and interesting.
Bengaluru B.V.Rao
3/10/2014 email: [email protected]
T
Preface his book covers the syllabus of
History Main (World History of UPSC
Civil Services Exam). It includes all the topics
from the Period of Renaissance to Modern
Globalisation, and also incorporates Current
History. Candidates appearing for the Civil
Services Exam will find it useful and interesting.
They should not only master the subject and
update their knowledge, but also develop ability
to analyse questions raised in the competitive
exam.
The students studying Contemporary World may also find it helpful in
preparing for the exam. Those reading this book may send their feedback to the
author.
B V Rao
Bengaluru [email protected]
Contents
Part I: Enlightenment and Modern Ideas
1. Renaissance as Historical Background
Characteristics of the Renaissance • Factors aiding the flowering of Renaissance
• Florence: the first home of Renaissance • High Renaissance paintings •
Venetian school of painting • Architecture and sculpture • Renaissance literature
• The spread of Renaissance • Renaissance paintings in Europe • Modern Music
• Renaissance in Science • Scientific Inventions • Philosophy • Geography •
Social sciences
2. Major Ideas of Enlightenment: Kant and Rousseau
Impact on Science and Religion • Leibniz • Deism • Pietism • Quakers •
Jansenist Movement • Atheism • Religious Tolerance • Emancipation of Jews •
Impact of Social Science • History: Giovanni-Battista Vico (1668-1744) •
Helvetius (1715-71) • Marquis de Condorcet (1743-94) • Scientific Materialism •
Sovereignty and Social Contract • Legal and Constitutional Studies • Joseph II of
Austria, the Last Enlightened Despot (1765-90) • Enlightened Monarchy in
France Declines • Petticoat Government • Arbitrary Nature of Bourbon
Monarchy • Age of Enlightenment: Supplementary notes • Influence of
Enlightenment
3. Enlightenment in the Colonies
The United States • India • China • Japan
4. Rise of Socialist Ideas
Historical Background • Henri de Saint-Simon (1760-1825) • Francois Marie
Charles Fourier (1772-1837) • Pierre-Joseph Proudhon (1809-1865) • Robert
Owen (1771-1858) • Louis Blanc (1811-1882) • Karl Marx (1818-1883) •
Marxism • Criticism of Marx’s theories • Spread of Marxian Socialism • The
Second International (1889) • Socialism in Germany • Marxism-Leninism