In five pages the changes that took place during this time period are examined with the use of five historic documents that chronicle the ideological evolution of this era. There are no other sources listed in the bibliography.
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nature of mans reign on earth and his relation with the universe as a whole have changed dramatically over time. Between just the twelfth century and the eighteenth century
A.D., in fact, we have evolved from regarding ourselves as a lowly pawn moved about on the earths surface strictly at the whim of a relatively uncaring God, to a
devoted subject of a loving God who has reserved a place for us in heaven, to a being who is content that his role on earth is to conquer and
overcome. This evolution is thought is reflected throughout the historical literature. Five documents in particular are of use in illustrating this transition, however. These documents are Pope
Innocent IIIs 1196 pronouncement of man as a lowly being forever resigned to the most detestable position on earth, a letter written in 1492 by Pico della Mirandola asserting our
magnificence and superiority, Galileo Galileis 1615 letter attempting to justify his scientific finding to the Grand Duchess Christina, Martin Luthers document detailing his own inner dilemma in trying to balance
the justice of God and the construct of faith, and finally a 1795 mandate to King George III from Emperor Chien Lung asserting Chinas desire to remain relatively impervious to
any further Western infiltration. Lothario Dei Segni (c. 1160-1216) most certainly had definitive views about mans role on earth. After being elected
Pope in 1196 and taking the name Innocent III he recorded some of his insight about this role. He devotes paragraphs to the wretchedness of human origin and even
meaning. Man, to Dei Segni, is born in sin and exists only to toil then to eventually die and rot away to feed the worms and the ever-burning fires.