absolute, unchangeable truth.

Industrious Europeans set out to question the answers they had been given and to find new and better ways
of doing things. The results were intellectual revolutions and a technological revolution of sorts. The intellectuals reached heights that
equaled or surpassed everyone who had ever come before them. While the intellectual revolutions didn’t have many immediate effects
on the average European, the technological revolution in agriculture sure did. As a result of the ingenuity of a few Europeans, millions
enjoyed a higher quality of life.
Politically, Europeans looked for better ways of doing things but found themselves held up against the wall by rulers who wouldn’t give
them an opportunity to test their new political ideas. In those cases, the Europeans armed themselves and took the opportunity by force.
Over and over in the story, people will take what governments are not willing to give if they believe the governments are being unfair
and unreasonable.
Part 4: “You Say You Want More Revolution? (c.1776–1900)”
It’s human nature for a person to want what another person has. Europeans were the same way. When they saw the revolutionary
successes of one country, they wanted the same freedoms and opportunities. Much to the chagrin of the classes who traditionally held
power in Europe, the revolutionary spirit spread through Europe. A driving force behind that revolutionary spirit was a sense of
community and belonging called nationalism, which was very similar to patriotism.
Nationalism and the desire for a group of like-minded people with much in common to rule themselves turned into powerful forces.
Nationalism toppled regimes, united people scattered over large areas, and inspired progress, unity, and pride. Unfortunately, some
Europeans forgot what oppression felt like. A fierce competition developed between the powerful nations to see who could conquer the
most land and build up the biggest armies. The tensions created by that competition will come back to bite Europe more than once.
In a truly remarkable chapter of European history, Europeans once again reached incredible new heights by using their min