POL128 Essay 
POL128: POLITICS AND FILM ESSAY
Sajan Jacob
500563074
J. Zboralski
Thursday March 13, 2015
Revolutions are facts that have changed the world and has helped many nations become what they are today. Revolutions can take on different forms, some may be driven with violence while others are driven with peace. This concept of revolution was first related to the “Aristotelian notion of cyclical alterations in the form of government” (Britannica, 2013), whereas now revolution is more of a drastic change from corruption to a civilized system that meets the needs of society. To name just a few of the great historical revolutions in European history that have changed the world, include the English, French and Russian revolutions, which not only changed the system of the government, but also the economic system, social structure, and the cultural values of each of these nations. During the historical time periods, revolutions were seen as very destructive and violent, specifically looking at ancient Greece to the European Medieval Times. Greek philosopher Plato believed, that when a society has a strong set of beliefs and values, it can prevent revolutions. Aristotle went more in depth in this matter and described that if a society’s culture and values are very weak, they will be prone to a revolution (Mandel, 2003). At the time of the middle ages, the regulation of the firm beliefs of the government were the priority for all of its society. The religious authorities had a lot of power in influencing that the church made people accept the lack of fairness of power, instead of creating stability in the society. For them, power was the key to living a well life in the middle ages (Dunn, 1994). Once humanism began during the Renaissance, the concept of revolution as an unlawful act of society change to create a more present understanding of revolution. The sixteenth century Italian writer by the name of Niccolo Machiavelli brought the idea of how
Sajan Jacob
500563074
J. Zboralski
Thursday March 13, 2015
Revolutions are facts that have changed the world and has helped many nations become what they are today. Revolutions can take on different forms, some may be driven with violence while others are driven with peace. This concept of revolution was first related to the “Aristotelian notion of cyclical alterations in the form of government” (Britannica, 2013), whereas now revolution is more of a drastic change from corruption to a civilized system that meets the needs of society. To name just a few of the great historical revolutions in European history that have changed the world, include the English, French and Russian revolutions, which not only changed the system of the government, but also the economic system, social structure, and the cultural values of each of these nations. During the historical time periods, revolutions were seen as very destructive and violent, specifically looking at ancient Greece to the European Medieval Times. Greek philosopher Plato believed, that when a society has a strong set of beliefs and values, it can prevent revolutions. Aristotle went more in depth in this matter and described that if a society’s culture and values are very weak, they will be prone to a revolution (Mandel, 2003). At the time of the middle ages, the regulation of the firm beliefs of the government were the priority for all of its society. The religious authorities had a lot of power in influencing that the church made people accept the lack of fairness of power, instead of creating stability in the society. For them, power was the key to living a well life in the middle ages (Dunn, 1994). Once humanism began during the Renaissance, the concept of revolution as an unlawful act of society change to create a more present understanding of revolution. The sixteenth century Italian writer by the name of Niccolo Machiavelli brought the idea of how
Bibliography: "Revolution | Politics." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2013. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/500584/revolution Almond, Mark. "How Revolutions Happen." BBC News. N.p., 2011. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. <http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-12431231>. Mandel, Ernest. "What Is A Revolution?" - International Viewpoint. N.p., 2003. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. <http://www.internationalviewpoint.org/spip.php?article159>. Skocpol, Theda. "States and Social Revolutions." States and Social Revolutions (1979): n. pag. Print. Dunn, John. "Modern Revolutions." Google Books. N.p., 1994. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. <https://books.google.ca/books? hl=en&lr=&id=P_RGhbDaE0MC&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&dq=analysis%2Bof%2Brevolutions&ots=5CgPFVW_9c&sig=XEJYtu_axkzboHVOOrC_cx7-F3s#v=onepage&q=analysis%20of%20revolutions&f=false>. Neitzel, Laura. What Is Revolution? Minneapolis, MN: First Unitarian Society, 2012. 2012. Web. Mar. 2015. <http://www.columbia.edu/cu/weai/exeas/asian-revolutions/pdf/what-is-revolution.pdf>. Dosanjh, Ujjal. "Resolution 2015: Let 's Build A Corruption Free India." Midweek Jan. 2015: n. pag. Print.