New Delhi: Most of us have some personal documents which are needed at every important step of our lives. Likewise, history has its own share of documents which proved to be game-changers. Those documents not only changed the course of history but also brought about a completely new discourse in the global narrative. In this article, we take a look at some of the most important documents in history which changed the world or had a massive impact on the subsequent chain of events.
Most important documents that changed history
1. Magna Carta
Magna Carta was a royal charter of rights that King John of England agreed on June 15, 1215. It was not just a royal document that wanted to establish peace between the unpopular king and a group of rebel barons, but it has also been the topic of debate on whether the royal charter had an impact on individual freedom and human rights. However, it can be said with certainty that it had a massive impact on the English politics of the early medieval period.
2. United States Declaration of Independence
This is the founding document of the United States. On July 4, 1776, the 56 delegates to the Second Continental Congress, who convened at the Pennsylvania State House (Independence Hall) adopted it unanimously. Those who signed the Declaration of Independence came to be known as the Founding Fathers of the US. Over the years, due to its immense significance, the Declaration has become one of the most circulated, reprinted, and influential documents in the history of the world.
3. Gutenberg Bible
Not a document per se, the Gutenberg Bible was a revolutionary thing. It was one of the earliest major printed books in Europe using mass-produced metal movable type. It started the ‘Gutenberg Revolution’ and the West entered into the age of printed books. The book is revered for its immense historical significance and high aesthetic and artistic qualities.
4. The Communist Manifesto
The Communist Manifesto is a political pamphlet of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels which was published in London in 1848. The text sowed the seeds of Communism which would play a very crucial role in shaping global politics. The pamphlet was published amid the Revolutions of 1848 in Europe, and to date, it remains one of the world’s most influential political documents.
5. Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The United Nations General Assembly adopted this hallmark document that enshrines the rights and freedoms of all human beings. It was drafted by a UN committee which was chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt and on December 10, 1948, the document was accepted by the General Assembly. The Declaration is generally considered to be a milestone document for its universalist language, which does not refer to a particular culture, political system, or religion and is one of the greatest documents when it comes to human and civil rights.
6. Slavery Abolition of 1833
This is one of the greatest documents when it comes to the fundamental rights of human beings. It ensured the end of slavery and the freedom of all those people who were slaves even during the beginning of the modern era. In August 1833, the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed An Act for the Abolition of Slavery throughout the British Colonies, converting enslaved people into apprentice labourers and taking steps to protect their work and well-being.
7. Treaty of Versailles
After the end of World War I, the Paris Peace Conference was held and the Treaty of Versailles was a product of the meeting. One of the worst treaties ever, it was signed on June 28, 1919, by the Allied and associated powers and by Germany in the Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles. The peace treaty was humiliating for Germany and would provide Adolf Hitler the foundation for his eventual rise and formation of the Nazi Germany which would trigger another world war.
8. The Art of War
It is an ancient Chinese military treatise and military strategist Sun Tzu is considered to be its author. The treatise has 13 chapters with each one devoted to a different set of skills or art related to warfare and their application to military strategy. Despite being penned down roughly in the 5th century BC, the Art of War remains arguably the most influential text on strategy in East Asian warfare. Moreover, not just East Asia, but also influenced Western military theory and thinking.
History has its own share of documents which proved to be game-changers. Those documents not only changed the course of history but also brought about a completely new discourse in the global narrative. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
