Medieval philosophies had a tremendous impact on political and social life for the many centuries that followed. The 15th century marks the end of the medieval era and gives rise to a period known as modernity. Modernity was invented by the famous philosophical thinker Charles Baudelaire; he described this period in history as a shift from feudalism to capitalism and the influence of secularization and industrialization. Modernity was truly seen as a major breakthrough of post-medieval society into a new and evolving culture. Modernity can be seen as a breakthrough from medieval culture in several distinct ways. One of the greatest inspirations for a new way of doing politics came from the thoughts of the great historian and philosopher Nicolas Machiavelli. He proposed that instead of analyzing how things should or should not be, as was practiced in medieval times, they should focus on current issues. For example, it would allow politicians to make immediate changes that would benefit ordinary citizens, rather than placing so much emphasis on the long-term situation. Another view that Machiavelli considered important included the notion that all humans should seek to control their own future wherever possible instead of relying solely on the government to provide for them. Interestingly, this topic is extremely prevalent in modern society, where a recent Fox News poll indicates that 74% of Americans are overly reliant on government assistance. Finally, “Machiavelli argued that violent divisions within political communities are inevitable, but can also be a source of strength that legislators and leaders should take into account and even encourage in some way” (Strauss 1987). Another famous philosopher... ... middle of paper ...... ecularization. Although many breakthroughs have occurred during the era of modernity, many things have remained constant, such as the continued establishment of universities around the world as well as the creation of representative governments. For many scholars, the era of modernity can perhaps be considered one of the greatest periods of change in all of human history. Without a doubt, it can be characterized as a period of significant evolution for humanity. Works CitedBertram, Christopher, Bertram,. “Jean-Jacques Rousseau”. Stanford University. Stanford University, September 27, 2010. Web. December 9, 2013. “Fox News Poll: 74% Say Americans Are Too Dependent on Government.” » Fox News. FOX News Network, nd Web. December 9, 2013.Graham, Gordon. JSTOR. Np, and Web. December 9, 2013. “The rise of capitalism. » World socialist movement. Np, and Web. December 9. 2013.