Global History and Modernity
Modernity originates from the Latin language. The word modern is synonymous to the Latin utterance ‘modernus’ meaning just now. The idea of modernism was first introduced in the 15th century but gained momentum in the 18th and 19th centuries. Modernity refers to the social, cultural and political trends pertaining to present conditions. The concept of modernity cuts across intellectual perspectives used to not only shape our world but also explain phenomenon. High modernity constitutes a firm belief in science alongside technology as viable means of changing the social and natural order of the world. The defining characteristics of modernity present the ideology as a multifaceted worldview covering all aspects of life. Some of the dominant features of modernity include capitalism, individualism, administrative and military power. Westernization heavily banks its principles on modernity. Matters such as the European imperialism developed as an adoption of the major modernist characters. The notion of westernization therefore refers a high level assimilation of science and technology, capitalism, individualism, administrative and military power to fix situations.