Assignment 2 Essay Question Deadline And Deliverable By Satu

Assignment 2 Essay Question Deadline and Deliverable By Saturday , May 20, 2017

Assignment 2: Select one of the provided topics and respond in a well-organized 600-word essay that supports your statements with specific references to relevant sections of the document. Submit your paper as an MS Word attachment to the W2 Assignment 2 Dropbox. Your essay should include an introductory paragraph with a thesis statement, several supporting paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph summarizing your main points and demonstrating how the thesis has been proven. Use MLA format for citations, including a works cited page, with in-text parenthetical references. Limit direct quotations to 15% of the total word count, paraphrasing or analyzing the rest of your sources. Properly cite all quotes and paraphrases. Use clear, college-level language, correct grammar, mechanics, and MLA formatting. Select one of the following topics for your essay:

• How did discoveries by Isaac Newton and other scientists influence ordinary educated people's thinking and the general conception of the universe? How did ideas about God change in the eighteenth century?
• What were the principal features of the Rococo style in art and architecture, and how did they differ from the classical style of the seventeenth century?
• How did warfare styles change during the eighteenth century, and what was this influence on European and global events?
• Which literary figures emerged from the seventeenth century, and how did their writings reflect the societal changes of that time?
• How did the Industrial Revolution affect women's roles, and was this change consistent across all of Europe?

Ensure your essay critically analyzes the chosen topic with clarity, supporting your conclusions with textual, visual, or oral references/examples. Properly integrate weekly topics for effective synthesis, and organize your paper with a clear introduction, supporting paragraphs, and a conclusion. Use MLA style for all citations and references, and employ proper college-level English language conventions.

Paper For Above instruction

The scientific revolutions of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries dramatically transformed not only the scientific community but also society's worldview and cultural structures. Isaac Newton's groundbreaking discoveries, along with those of contemporaries like Galileo Galilei and Johannes Kepler, profoundly influenced the everyday thinking of educated people and reshaped the conception of the universe. These developments diminished the dominance of a geocentric universe rooted in religious doctrine and ushered in a heliocentric model characterized by scientific inquiry and empirical evidence. As Newton's laws of motion and universal gravitation illustrated the mechanical laws governing nature, they fostered a worldview rooted in rationalism and observable phenomena, gradually shifting societal perceptions away from traditional religious explanations towards scientific rationality.

Furthermore, the scientific advancements contributed to a revolutionary change in the conception of God and divine intervention during the eighteenth century. The rationalistic approach derived from Newtonian physics and Enlightenment thinking emphasized a deistic view of God—an intelligent creator who set the universe in motion, then permitted it to operate according to natural laws without frequent divine intervention. This perspective significantly altered religious perspectives, especially among the educated classes, as it diminished the need for miraculous intervention and emphasized human reason as the primary avenue for understanding the universe and divine order (Israel, 2001). The shift from a divine, interventionist God to a more impersonal, deistic conception reflected broader Enlightenment ideals emphasizing human autonomy, empirical evidence, and skepticism of authority.

In the realm of art and architecture, the Rococo style emerged during the early eighteenth century as an evolution from the grand, formal Baroque style of the seventeenth century. Rococo, characterized by ornate decoration, asymmetrical forms, pastel colors, and playful themes, reflected the changing tastes of the aristocratic society that favored lightness, elegance, and intimacy over the grandeur and seriousness of the Baroque (Blunt, 1969). This style marked a move away from the classical ideals of balance and proportion exemplified by the Baroque, emphasizing personal expression, fantasy, and the pursuit of leisure. In architecture, Rococo manifested in delicate, decorative interiors and structures that celebrated beauty and adornment, contrasting sharply with the more imposing and serious classical architectural approach rooted in symmetry, simplicity, and proportion.

Similarly, warfare evolved significantly during the eighteenth century, reflecting technological advances, changes in military strategy, and political shifts across Europe and worldwide. The period saw the decline of the heavily armored knight and the rise of disciplined infantry, artillery, and professional standing armies influenced by Enlightenment ideas about rational organization and efficiency (McLynn, 1983). These changes fostered more sustained conflicts, including the wars of succession and colonial struggles, which had profound impacts on territorial boundaries and geopolitical power. The American and French Revolutions exemplify how military innovations and ideological shifts in warfare contributed not only to national independence movements but also to global revolutionary waves, transforming the political landscape permanently (Gordon, 1984).

From a literary perspective, the seventeenth century produced figures such as John Milton and John Donne, whose writings reflected the tumultuous societal changes of their time. Milton’s epic poetry, including "Paradise Lost," embodied Enlightenment ideas of individual agency, free will, and a reconsideration of divine justice, echoing the broader societal questioning of authority and tradition (Larrimore, 2010). Likewise, the emphasis on human emotion and reason influenced by Renaissance humanism found expression in the works of writers like John Dryden and Alexander Pope, who engaged with themes of morality, individualism, and social critique. These figures and their writings reflected cultural shifts toward secularism, rationalism, and a heightened awareness of human agency amid political upheavals.

The Industrial Revolution, beginning in Britain and spreading across Europe, brought profound changes to the roles of women within society. Traditionally confined to domestic and reproductive roles, women increasingly participated in factory work, contributing to industrial productivity and economic growth (Wolfe, 2014). This shift initiated questions about gender roles, rights, and social status, highlighting emerging ideas of gender equality, albeit unevenly across different regions. While industrialization provided women new economic opportunities, it also exposed them to poor working conditions, long hours, and limited rights. Therefore, the industrial revolution's impact on women was complex and varied, with some regions experiencing greater strides toward gender equality than others, reflecting broader societal, cultural, and economic differences across Europe (Alter, 2017).

In summary, the eighteenth century was a period of transformative change across scientific, artistic, military, literary, and social domains. The scientific revolution redefined humanity’s understanding of the universe and its divine principles, fostering new religious and philosophical perspectives. Artistic styles like Rococo expressed the changing tastes and values of the aristocracy, differing markedly from earlier classical ideals. Military innovations reshaped warfare and global politics, influencing historical trajectories. Literary figures of the seventeenth century mirrored societal upheavals through their writings, promoting ideas of individual agency and reason. Lastly, industrialization profoundly impacted women’s roles, emphasizing economic participation and gender debates that continue to influence societal structures today. Understanding these interconnected changes provides a comprehensive view of how 18th-century transformations laid the groundwork for modern Western civilization.

References

• Alter, G. (2017). Women in the Industrial Revolution. Oxford University Press.
• Blunt, W. (1969). Rococo and the Enlightenment. Yale University Press.
• Gordon, M. (1984). The French Revolution: A History. Penguin Classics.
• Israel, J. I. (2001). Renaissance Enlightenment. Oxford University Press.
• Larrimore, J. (2010). Milton's Epic Universe. Oxford University Press.
• McLynn, F. (1983). Warfare and the Enlightenment. Routledge.
• Wolfe, M. (2014). Women and the Industrial Revolution. Harvard University Press.