History is generally understood as the study of the past events in human development. If we specify the history of philosophy or art, we are narrowing the scope to events that define these two fields.
The flaw in many written works on history is their tendency to overemphasize the events that directly affected societies, such as wars, alliances, plagues, and revolutions. In doing so, they overlook two important fields which influence and give context to the course of human events: art and philosophy.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau's ideas influenced the French Revolution and were twisted by Maximilien Robespierre and Saint-Just to justify their Reign of Terror. At the same time, his philosophical ideas reflected a mindset among philosophers of the Enlightenment.
In a similar vein, Jacques-Louis David was a Jacobin who used paintings like "The Death of Marat" to defend his views. Its subsequent popularity among the leaders of the Reign of Terror is indicative of a frame of mind.
Commonwealth Book Publishers of Virginia publishes books that meld these three distinct, yet related, dimensions into a vivid portrayal of human events. We believe this approach provides a truly comprehensive understanding of the events under discussion.Topics covered by our book publishing service range from tales of American history to memoirs of Chinese life.
John Locke, the English philosopher, was born in 1632 in the parish of Wrington. He lived through a series of tumultuous events in England which had a significant effect on the British monarchy.
The English Revolution began in 1640 when Parliament challenged the power of Charles I. His trial and execution in 1649 paved the way for the republican Commonwealth and its constituents, the Rump Parliament, Oliver Cromwell, and the Protectorate. The monarchy was restored in 1660 under the leadership of Charles II
The Glorious Revolution of 1688 saw Parliament at odds with the monarch, yet again. With their support, Dutch stadtholder William of Orange removed James II from the throne, effectively ending the reign of the Stewarts.
It is unclear which event truly motivated Locke, but shortly after the Glorious Revolution he anonymously published his famous work, the Two Treatises of Government. The first book refuted a widely held theory of society and government known as Patriarchalism. In the second, he expounds his own views on nature, society and government.
According to Locke, mankind in a natural state are rational beings. Society and government are structures formed to protect natural rights and mediate disputes. Therefore, a government that doesn't fulfill its duties can and should be overthrown by the governed. These theories heavily influenced the course of American history due to their impact on the American Revolution, making Locke a philosopher who affected history.
Commonwealth Book Publishers of Virginia is a publisher and book publishing service with a particular emphasis on the connection between philosophical thought and the course of human events.
Charles Willson Peale supported the American Revolution, fought in the Revolutionary Army, and served in the Pennsylvania state assembly. His role as a committed revolutionary is not what earned him a high ranking place in American history, though.
Peale learned saddle making in his youth and attempted to open his own shop in adulthood. When that failed, several rich benefactors pooled resources to send him to England to learn painting. When he returned, he quickly made a name for himself in portraiture. His political views as a Revolutionary and a Freemason enabled him to come in contact with major Revolutionary figures and paint portraits of them.
He also opened a revolutionary museum where he displayed plants and animals in an effort to educate Americans on local biology. Though the museum eventually closed, its impact was significant.
His portraits provided succeeding generations with a glimpse into the personalities of famous figures in the founding of the United States. His museum removed some of the mystery from nature and provided future museum curators with a framework for natural museums. Peale was an artist who used his craft to elucidate the history of the American revolution.
Commonwealth Book Publishers of Virginia, book editor and publisher, encourages the use of art as an interpretive tool for historical events.
