The start of the Modern Age. The Great Geographical Discoveries
Lessons 1–2 · 2 lessons · R. Farmonov, U. Jo‘rayev, Sh. Ergashev. Jahon tarixi (XVI–XIX asrning 60-yillari) (World history, 16th century – 1860s), Grade 8. Cho‘lpon Publishing House, Tashkent, 2019 (revised and expanded 4th edition)
1
Introduction. The beginning of the Modern Age
Textbook: pp. 3–6
GoalExplain the periodization of Modern history and the ideas of agrarian and industrial civilization.
Modern history is the stage of world history from the late 15th – early 16th century to 1918. It has two parts: the first runs from the Great Geographical Discoveries to the Great French Revolution at the end of the 18th century, the second from the start of the 19th century to 1918. Before that, for thousands of years, society rested mainly on land and farming; such a society is called an agrarian (traditional) civilization. In the Modern Age private property, free enterprise and capital (property and money that bring income) moved to the front, and on this basis capitalist society took shape. From the end of the 18th century machines pushed out hand labour — the Industrial Revolution — opening the way to industrial civilization. But these changes first happened only in Europe and North America; many countries of Asia and Africa were still agrarian societies at the start of the 19th century.
Worked examples
George Stephenson built a steam locomotive in 1814; railway transport began to spread thanks to this invention.
Volta, Davy, Faraday and Ampère laid the foundations of knowledge about electricity, which opened the way to new branches of industry.
Class activity
“Timeline”: pupils mark 1492, 1789 and 1918 on the board and separate the two stages of Modern history in two colours.
Practice
1
With which event does Modern history begin and until what year does it last (according to the textbook)?
From the Great Geographical Discoveries (late 15th – early 16th century) to 1918.
2
Name the two stages of Modern history.
1) From the discoveries to the French Revolution of the late 18th century; 2) from the start of the 19th century to 1918.
3
Which of these counts as capital: a factory, a bank, or a mountain peak? Explain.
A factory and a bank: they bring their owner income. A mountain peak brings none.
4
Why did industrial civilization first form only in Europe? Explain using the textbook’s view.
Only in Europe had the necessary conditions (enterprise, markets, advances in science and technology) matured; elsewhere agrarian society remained.