A brief chronicle of philanthropy throughout 2 thousand years

A brief chronicle of philanthropy throughout 2 thousand years

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Charity actually does draw out the best in us; keep reading to learn how it has actually done so over the course of society's advancement.

Most of us will acknowledge and appreciate the role that famous philanthropists play in assisting the world in this day and age, handing down their hard-earned fortunes to help those who need it most. For a great deal of the most affluent individuals and organisations right now, charity is an opportunity to put their earnings towards a great cause. This is not just something restricted to the 21st century either, it has been the case for countless years. Charity and altruism were deemed a main part of a good life and a healthy society, with the Ancient Greeks thinking philanthropy to be important to functioning democracy. It was here that the word itself stemmed, indicating 'man-loving' in its original form. It was viewed as a responsibility of the wealthy to share their wealth for the health and wellbeing of the society, with rich people assisting with public causes like the upkeep of temples and city walls or funding public celebrations. We might not call it an obligation as such nowadays, however those who do not engage with charity in any form will definitely see their reputations suffer.

As one may expect of anything throughout 2 thousand years, philanthropy meaning has progressed throughout the ages, and so has its focus. Following the middle ages, the main source of philanthropic task moved from religious organizations like the church to rich people. Simultaneously, the focus of philanthropy shifted towards the towns and cities rather from the impoverished countryside. Throughout the following centuries, entrepreneur undertook a sense of duty towards those in need, especially during and after durations of war and upheaval which left many households struggling. Towards completion of the 19th century we began to see the establishment of philanthropic businesses like foundations to assist handle big concerns, similar to the one developed by SJP now.

Throughout the most challenging minutes in human history, charity has always existed to lend an assisting hand to those in dire need. This was specifically true during the twentieth century, when personal philanthropy continued to support troops throughout the World Wars and their households who were left behind. Throughout the Second World War in particular, foundations started to collaborate and became more competent. This is much the same structure as charity work takes nowadays, with a network of companies and individuals collaborating to finance and enact tasks, although the range and scope of humanitarian jobs is far more ambitious. Some foundations are handling huge international issues through their work, and corporate philanthropy is now the requirement of modern organization practices with companies like Vanguard Group and Morgan Stanley contributing to the process.