Thoughts?
I'll propose my answer: the French Revolution.
1. It overthrew the notion of a "natural order" of things, and resulted in the notion that it's up for debate, something we can decide on, something we can work towards, or change.
2. It began the ideological approach to politics, generating liberalism, conservativism, nationalism, and socialism. Literally generating the terms "left" and "right" wing. After the revolution you had to have reasons for your political views based on reasons, embodied in a platform and a program.
3. The abolition of feudalism and the beginning of modern democracy, not only as a fact, but as an objective, and the establishment of a national assembly as the ultimate political authority, with the first universal suffrage in the history of the world.
4. The declaration of the human rights, and the notion that everybody everywhere is created equal, as a radical, universal, and inalienable principle, and the extension of human rights to all citizens, of all religions, and all colours, for the first time anywhere, ever.
5. The creation of a modern, democratic, merit based military force, with conscription, and officers who rise from the ranks based on their achievement.
Plainly the french revolution spiraled into radical violence as well, but the implications of the revolution created the modern state, created modern democracy, established human rights, and essentially created the modern political system.
I'll propose my answer: the French Revolution.
1. It overthrew the notion of a "natural order" of things, and resulted in the notion that it's up for debate, something we can decide on, something we can work towards, or change.
2. It began the ideological approach to politics, generating liberalism, conservativism, nationalism, and socialism. Literally generating the terms "left" and "right" wing. After the revolution you had to have reasons for your political views based on reasons, embodied in a platform and a program.
3. The abolition of feudalism and the beginning of modern democracy, not only as a fact, but as an objective, and the establishment of a national assembly as the ultimate political authority, with the first universal suffrage in the history of the world.
4. The declaration of the human rights, and the notion that everybody everywhere is created equal, as a radical, universal, and inalienable principle, and the extension of human rights to all citizens, of all religions, and all colours, for the first time anywhere, ever.
5. The creation of a modern, democratic, merit based military force, with conscription, and officers who rise from the ranks based on their achievement.
Plainly the french revolution spiraled into radical violence as well, but the implications of the revolution created the modern state, created modern democracy, established human rights, and essentially created the modern political system.
