and were really overwhelmed and ultimately defeated

后来实在不堪重负最终在
by the economic, social, and political processes.

经济社会和政治进程中一败涂地
If one of the themes of the course and of any course,

如果一门课的主题或任何课的主题
really, I suppose, that deals with the modern world experience,

我认为如果涉及当代史
especially in this day of globalization,

特别是在全球化的今天
is the dynamic duo of capitalism or large-scale economic change

都是资本主义或称作大规模的经济变革
and the state,

与国家之间充满活力的二重唱
you're going to see that today in some of the folks

从今天我将谈论的几个人物中
that I'm talking about.

你就可以发现这一点
I once used the example of trying to get you to imagine parachuting

我曾经让你们想象跳伞
over the European continent over a very slow descent.

在欧洲大陆上空缓慢下降
Let's say now from maybe mid-sixteenth century

比方说大概从十六世纪中叶