What effect did the Magna Carta have on Western civilizations?
The Magna Charta, emerging from England around the 14th century, delineated some human rights where none had existed before. Since its issuance, Western civilizations have had at least a semblance of human rights, though many people within them still live downtrodden, impoverished lives, so it did not create a utopia.
Les explains that throughout human history, unless a person lived among the very elite ruling class, life was mere existence under abject poverty, slavery, and oppression. He notes that the Magna Charta, which came out of England around the 14th century, delineated some human rights; before that, there was no such thing as human rights. Since the Magna Charta, Western civilizations have had at least a semblance of human rights. Yet Les cautions that even among Western civilizations many people remain downtrodden and poor. He says we are not in a utopia; the nation is blessed, but many still grovel in poverty without this world's goods.