History can be seen as an evolution of the progress of human consciousness. This evolution of consciousness is revealed on a societal level by the amount of individual freedom, justice, and peace that exists. Four hundred years ago it was generally accepted that monarchies were appropriate and that kings had divine rights to rule over the people. While much of the world has now rejected that idea, it still persists in certain parts of the world. A little over two hundred years ago, the idea that rule by the majority in a democracy or a republic began to replace rule by monarchy. Certainly this is progress, but it still retains the idea of people ruling over people, so we still have a long way to go toward reaching freedom, justice, and peace.