The Romans ended anarchy by military force, but did not have any over-riding ideal behind them to win the hearts and minds of the people. The Catholic Church ended anarchy by the idealism of St Augustine, but was never able to achieve complete success. The process of emancipation from religion and feudal tyranny started with the Renaissance – The rebirth of free thought and science, initially in Italy and spreading throughout northern Europe. Later it combined with the Reformation, ending the dominance of the Roman Catholic Church.
Italy relied on taxes from Europe to the Pope, so had no incentive to change the status quo. The first effect of emancipation from the church was the rise of superstition, with belief in magic, witchcraft and astrology, but it also revived knowledge of the Greek world and provided freedom for great minds to flourish. The changes were substantial, but the modern social order was, and still is, imposed by the will of the rich and powerful, and not by all people.
The Italian Renaissance involved the 5 main states – Milan, Venice, Florence, Papal Rome and Naples, but was driven by Florence. Venice started out as democratic, but became an oligarchy controlled by leading families in commerce, mining or industries. Power politics in Italy became very complex, involving deceit, murder and conflict. The conflict relied on mercenaries, and became stylised with very little actual killing. When the French arrived they shocked the Italians by actually killing people in battle. The first notable philosopher of the period, Machiavelli, analysed the political realities of the system.
First the authority of the church reduced, and then the authority of science increased. The church was replaced as governmental authority, first by Kings, then, as in Ancient Greece, the Kings were replaced by tyrants or democracies.
The national state became more powerful, over-riding the feudal aristocracy by alliance with wealthy merchants and bankers.
Philosophy became free of control by the church or state, and was influenced by theoretical science – understanding how the world works – and practical science – how we change the world. However, it had a tendency to become subjective and introverted. Plato again became prominent, to rival Aristotle.
Large organisations achieve power, and end up regarding everything which is not human as raw materials.
Scientific technique benefits from the co-operation of many individuals – which needs a cohesive social structure.