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The Contributions of Cardinal Richelieu and Martin Luther to Modernization in Europe

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The Contributions of Cardinal Richelieu and Martin Luther to Modernization in Europe
Modernization refers to the processes and ideas which give rise to the evolution of newer and more refined concepts and thoughts. It brings changes to the perspective from which people see things and causes them to re-evaluate their beliefs. Modernization in Europe was characterized by expansions in trade and industry, urbanization; which contributed to the development of new thoughts and thinking processes, the rise of new questions and the need for answers and finally, the idea of centralization in government. Cardinal Richelieu and Martin Luther are among the many historical figures who played important roles in the modernization process. Their thought processes and philosophies contributed specifically to the aspects of centralized government and urbanization in terms of revolutionary thought processes. Richelieu and Luther were both pioneers of two important concepts today, Richelieu pioneering absolutism, and Luther pioneering the reformation and development of Protestantism. These ideas are specifically considered a contribution to the transition to modernization because they represent a new way of thinking and system of beliefs which both Luther and Richelieu brought to the table. During the middle ages, it was common for people to adhere to what they were taught or brought up to know. Luther and Richelieu helped change this rigid and inflexible way of thinking. By this, they led the way for similar establishments around different parts of the world.
The Reformation of Martin Luther is among one of the most important events in history. In Luther’s time, there was a lot of corruption in the Catholic Church and he believed that the people had the wrong idea about Jesus Christ, the bible, salvation and the essence of Christianity. His reformation was necessitated to purge the corruption in the church and bring a new sense of enlightenment to the people in order to enable them understand what Christianity was all about. By his actions, writings and


Bibliography: France." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2007. Encyclopædia Britannica Online Schaff, Philip. History of the Christian Church. New York: Charles Scribner 's Sons, 1910. of New York Press, 1999). Pp. 381. Birn, Raymond. Crisis, Absolutism, Revolution: Europe and the World, 1648-1789 Hill, Henry Bertram. The Political Testament of Cardinal Richelieu. Madison: The University of Wisconsin Press, 1961. Luther, Martin. Ninety-five Theses, October 1517f: and the manifestoes of 1520. St Martin 's Press Inc., 1970. Kagan, Donald. Ozment Steven. Turner Frank M. The Western Heritage Ninth Edition. Pearson Education, Inc., 2007
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