“The World Turned Upside Down” by Christopher Hill reveals the unsung heroes during the English Revolution and their radical thinking that did not seem so radical after all. These ideas that Hill mentions throughout his book are radical ideas of the lower class groups such as; The Ranters, Levellers, Quakers, and Diggers. This Marxist Historian presents the “lunacy” of these groups during the 17th century. During this time those groups were referred to as lunatics, but may have well been saner than the society which rejected them, as Hill says, “If we dismiss such ideas because they seem irrational to us, we may be depriving ourselves of valuable insights into society.” (pg ___) Hill is interested in such radical thinking not only because they influence societies, but because they reveal the societies which gave rise to them. He tries to acknowledge to the reader not to be ignorant of what the common people thought. Hill discovers religious movements in England abundant with the ideas and themes that would eventually give birth to secular radical ideologies like materialism, secularism, and communism. He also is far more empathetic and understanding to those revolutionaries who introduced economic ideas of national communism. If you do not have the slightest interest in history this book is not for you. This book is not something a beginner reader would read, your average reader would struggle with his extensive vocabulary and lack of prior knowledge of the English Civil wars are recommended. The way that Hill organizes the book is intriguingly unusual, because it is thematically organized and not so much chronological like most books. His constant repetitiveness makes the book tedious at some times, but is significant to the thesis that remains throughout the book.
Hill upholds his promise in the introduction, while vigorously explaining each groups radical ideas. Furthermore, these radical ideas were suppressed by the elites that gave birth to them such as; the Parliamentarians, Royalists, The New General Army, King Charles I, ext. It is important to be aware just how deeply ingrained the church and the Monarchy was in everyday life, both during and after the Civil War. They defined most of the boundaries, and structures of 17th century society, resulting in many radical groups expressing their ideas through religion. One group challenging this were the "True Levellers" later known as the "Diggers:" With beliefs in equality, community and "true religion for all" they argued that land was "a common treasury" and lived in communes detached from society.
Another important splinter group were the Ranters who posed both a religious and a political threat to conformist ideas. They were arguably one of the most radical movements of this period, shown by their attacks on the symbiotic relationship between the different levels of the hierarchical pyramid on which society based itself on was so significantly radical, so off the allowed norm that it angered Cromwell. The Ranters were threatening his arterial method of communication to the masses, as well as his methods for "reformation of manners". They put into question the power, the structure and the influence of the church. They posed such a dangerously radical set of ideas that they were deemed to be an invention of the authorities in an attempt to extinguish extreme thoughts and practices. Some suggest they were fabricated to warn the population off the dangers of many of these ideas.
One of the most interesting and radical groups to emerge out of this period were the Levellers. Led by John Lilburn they were one of the first urban socialist and working class movements. They believed that everybody was born "equal in majesty"; and thus in a "levelled" society. There is no doubt that their ideas more than actions frightened those in power, especially Cromwell. This is evident in his harsh suppression of revolts within the Army at Ware and Burford. To the authorities their ideas were radical enough to install fear. With an estimated following of 800 within the Army and unknown number outside, for Cromwell and others the Levellers could and did disrupt social and civic order. Therefore they must have held significantly extreme ideas and ideals to challenge the current government and its divine right to reform England.
As if this was not enough, the Quakers were led by George Fox and James Naylor, they believed that faith can only be attained through personal experience, "God within them" and not in a set of prescribed rituals. Their disobedience breached Cromwell's four fundamentals- liberty of conscience- by publicaly ridiculing other religious practices, including the Puritans. And yet,"Cromwell was not opposed to the Quaker method of worship" as long as it did not disrupt the process of healing and settling. Quakers alongside other groups took a further radical step alongside the reformation of manners, and often came into conflict with the new establishment.
The ideas unleashed by these groups and sects were radical in that they threatened the established Protestant religion and the new models of rule far beyond expectation. They challenged ownership, hierarchies and distribution of faith and land, the challenged the interpretation of the Bible and many other laws, and experimented with new ideas on freedom and civil rights and lifestyles. Some of these came to inform later historical events, such as the Russian and French Revolutions. They were significant in that they did, be it in conflicting ways, challenge Cromwell's power and his ideals and posed a real threat to his New Model Army. They were also significant in that they opened the doors to many more possibilities and fresh interpretations on spiritual and civic life. There is little evidence that any of these groups survived after the return of the Monarchy, but many of them exist in some form today.
You can destroy the material but the principles cannot be extinguished, instead will live forever inside the hearts of others. As a writer Hill can convey the power and excitement of this moment of change while reminding us of its fragility. Furthermore, the rather exciting part of Hill’s ideals behind this book is that dreams of radical equality and freedom existed even before the 18th century. Even more so, the author from his Marxist background obviously has great affection for some of them. He is also generous in giving praise to contemporary scholars whose work he finds useful.