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Past Imperfect, Ep. 2 (1964-07-26)
About this film
At about twenty-two years of age Martin Luther considered the law profession. Soon afterwards he gave this idea up for the life of a monk. Ultimately he left the monastic life to establish Protestantism and the Reformation became an historic fact in Europe. Conceit: What if Luther had decided to become a lawyer and never entered the monastery? As a result of the achievements of her first conquistador (great conqueror), Hernando Cortez, the Spanish Empire maintained power in Latin America for almost four hundred years. Conceit: Suppose Cortez had fallen into disfavor with the Aztec ruler Montezuma and been beheaded. Suppose, as a result, Spain had withdrawn her forces from Mexico. What would this have meant to the future of Spain and the future of Mexico? Although President Woodrow Wilson had insisted upon the establishment of the League of Nations as part of a World War I peace treaty, his own country, the United States, was the only major power not to apply for admission.Conceit: Suppose the United States has become a member of the League. How would this have altered subsequent world history? In 1688, King James II lost the throne of England to his daughter Mary and her husband Wi…
Directors & creators
National Educational Television and Radio Center
Subjects
public broadcasting, AAPB, Past Imperfect
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