“This article omits three great accomplishments that were occurring about the same time on Europe’s southern flank. All three involve Catholic forces defending the continent against Mohammedan hordes. The first is the successful defense of Malta, which led to the Knights of Malta’s naval check against North African pirates. When Napoleon forced the Knights out around the turn of the 19th century, there was power vacuum until the U.S. Navy defeated the Barbary Pirates.”
- I agree these accomplishments to be of major importance, at least from certain angles.
But, ever since the Dark Ages we Europeans have had these troubles with the Mohammedans.
The rise of Protestantism meant something new.
Renaissance Florence and perhaps Pico della Mirandola more than any other intellectual (the only person known to having made Girolamo Savonarola shut up!) paved the way.
BUT, it was the northern European countries, especially Great Britain, who brought about the greatest revolution of all time; namely the revolution of science and industry.
Protestantism goes hand in hand with this accomplishment and Sweden settled the issue once and for all on Northern European soil.
Catholicism was defeated and since then, human progress in the spirit of people (who actually were Catholics) like Pico della Mirandola, Leonardo da Vinci, Coperinicus and Gallileo Gallilei has been our guiding light.
The basic notion behind all of this is the rebel idea of Pico della Mirandola consisting in the belief that God loves humanity so much he actually trusts us with freedom of thought and liberty of action.
Catholicism is still around.