Post on 31-Dec-2015
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HIS 106 –Chapter 16The Age of Reformation and Religious Wars
The West by 1750 The most dynamic force in the world
Contacts with other civilizations had increased International trade was growing Ships and ships’ instruments had improved; this
led to explorations There were new weapons using gunpowder; ships
could now mount guns New empires emerged, ex: Russia
There were advances in printing, agriculture, science, politics, and social thought
New colonization efforts, ex: India, Americas
There were several revolutions by this time that laid the foundations for our societies today The Renaissance in Europe The Protestant and Catholic Reformations A Commercial Revolution
Agricultural Manufacturing
Scientific Revolution The Enlightment Political Changes -- Absolute Monarchies
Parliaments
Renaissance Re-birth, re-discovery Began in Italy in 15th century Period of questioning old, traditional beliefs Many felt life, as it had always been lived,
needed to be re-examined Medieval logic, literature, and theology were
questioned
Writers wrote in the vernacular on secular subjects
Religion was questioned and declined somewhat as the central focus of light and art
Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo brought more realism to the human body in paintings and in sculpture
Niccolo Machiavelli discussed realistic ways to seize power and to govern -- the ends justify the means as expressed in his book, The Prince
New focus on human capabilities; humans can progress through their own efforts and capabilities
Religion was downplayed ; people did not blindly accept what the Church said anymore
Capitalism and profit-seeking took hold Some states experimented with new ways of
governing People did not want a ruler who could not
advance the people’s general well-being
The Renaissance was open to new ideas; it encouraged innovation
The Renaissance lost some of its vigor in Italy around 1500, but their ideas spread northward to other parts of Europe -- primarily to France, the Low countries, Germany, and England Emphasis on classical styles in art and
architecture
Writers wrote in the vernacular like Rabelais and Shakespeare
Those in northern Europe blended secular ideas with religion
Political changes: Kings became Patrons of the Arts Kings tried to impose controls on the Christian
Church Kings sponsored trading companies & colonizers
Education Changed, primarily for Elites Emphasis was on the classics, service, literary
study, & Christian morality Emphasis on individual excellence, re-
examination of traditions, and on scientific discoveries
Life for the lower classes went on pretty much as before but with new taxes to pay for kings’ palaces and for colonizing efforts
Protestant Reformation Began in 1517 by German monk, Martin
Luther He questioned the practices of the pope and of
the Church He wrote a list of 95 Theses or points of
objection and tacked them to the door of the church in Wittenburg
Luther’s main objection had to do with the Church’s sale of indulgences
Basically, people paid money to win salvation for themselves and for their relatives who may be in purgatory
Other objections: Felt one could gain salvation through faith alone Felt sacraments and other ritual was not needed
Felt monasticism was wrong; priests should be able to marry
Luther wanted to discuss these objections. He did not wish to break up or destroy the Church
The Church did not like being questioned and did not care to discuss anything with Luther. He was excommunicated
There were side-effects to Luther’s questioning of Church authority German princes who became Protestant felt they
could increase their power by seizing Church property
Other Germans – peasants – rebelled against another authority, their landlords
Different Protestant Groups Anglicans – begun by Henry VIII when pope
wouldn’t allow him to annul his marriage that had produced only a daughter and no sons; resembled Catholicism in many ways
Calvinism – begun by John Calvin with his belief in predestination
Huguenots of France, Quakers and Puritans of England etc.
Catholic Reformation or Counter -Reformation Catholic Church tried to restore unity by
Re-emphasizing Catholic teachings and discipline De-emphasizing money issues and extravagances Refuting Protestant issues Attacking heresy, superstitions, and magic Beginning the Jesuit order that became involved
in politics, education, missions, and regained some areas in Europe for the Catholic Church
Church unity had been broken Now there would be Catholic and Protestant That brought on conflict; there were wars in
Germany, France, Poland, England, and the Low Countries Thirty Years’ War – German Protestants vs. Holy
Roman Emperor backed by Spain English Civil War – religious and civil issues
resulting in beheading of Charles I
Religious issues dominated Europe for a hundred years
At the end, some toleration or religious pluralism was accepted
Because of all this religious questioning, more people made distinctions between what was religious and what was secular
Commercial Revolution At the same time Europe was experiencing
religious revolt, it was also experiencing changes in commerce
New markets were opening as a result of explorations and colonies
New products were available As the market grew, more people entered
business
New wealth and new raw materials were coming in from new colonies
Trading companies were formed often with government backing -- Dutch East India Company and British East India Company
New raw materials helped stimulate manufacturing
Not everyone fit in to this new commercial world
As small farms were bought up by larger estates, so they could specialize in a certain product, some found themselves displaced
These people would become farm workers, manufacturing workers, or the wandering poor
Some governments set up aid for the poor Some governments built new prisons Prosperous families furnished their homes
better, more comfortably, and spent more time together
Better educated elites separated themselves from the common folk by emphasizing refined manners and more devoutness
In response, the propertyless folk rebelled and asked for more say in their government; their rebellions were crushed
There were new ideas and new tensions Added to these came new discoveries in
science with Copernicus, Galileo and others discussed in Chapter 23
Scientists emphasized their reasoning abilities
Science did not blindly accept traditional beliefs that often proved inaccurate
Their ideas were spread quickly with the help of the printing press
Politics Absolute rule of kings
Many areas of Europe had absolute monarchies like Spain, Prussia, and Austria-Hungary
By the 17th century France had the most powerful of absolute kings, Louis XIV Reigned for 72 years Passed laws as he saw fit Expanded the power of the state Had a professional army
Parliamentary Monarchies Britain and the Netherlands Created strong central governments Had shared power between a king and a
parliament
Britain By 1688 the Parliament in England had a Bill of
Rights – a government based on a contract between the governor and the governed
The idea that a parliament had certain powers and the people had certain rights came from John Locke and others in the 1700s during a period called the Enlightenment
Magic and Witchcraft 1400 – 1700 was a period when many
believed in magic and witchcraft 70,000 – 100,000 were put to death for
harmful magic and witchcraft from 1400 – 1700
Witches were accused of inflicting harm, flying, appearing as animals, being cannibals (eating Christian babies), and insulting Christian beliefs
How did this come about? Cunning Folk – found in villages and helped
people cope with tragedy. They gave comfort sometimes by using magic. This could give them influence that those governing did not have
Clergy – thought to practice magic through the sacraments and through exorcisms. In 13th century the Church declared that only priests had magical powers that came from God. Others’ power must come from devil.
Woman Hunts? 80% of all witch hunt victims were women who
were single and between the ages of 45 and 60
Witch hunts ended as people started relying more on science and when important people began being accused. When they were accused, they called a halt to witch hunts
Philosophers and Writers Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (1547-1616)
Seen as greatest of Spanish writers Wrote Don Quixote, 1603
About a not too stable middle-aged romantic Believes he must prove he is worthy of knighthood by
battling a windmill (dragon) to defend a noble lady (peasant)
Humiliated by a well-meaning friend who wished to bring him to his senses by defeating him in combat
Quixote died broken-hearted; we need our dreams
William Shakespeare (1564-1616) Seen as greatest playwright in the English
language Wrote plays about individual rulers,
commercialism, and Elizabethan bawdiness Wrote histories, comedies, and tragedies Tragedies: Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Othello,
King Lear, and Macbeth His plays are for all times. - Ben Johnson
Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) French mathematician and scientist Torn between skepticism and Christian dogma Didn’t like Jesuits Did think a belief in God improved earthly life
psychologically
Baruch Spinoza (1632-1677) Jewish, Dutch Criticized religion Wrote Ethics Was attacked by both Protestants and Jews
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) An original political philosopher Became a Calvinist Had a very low opinion of humans 1651 wrote Leviathan about political
consequences of people’s actions Believed much could be accomplished through
the use of science
Believed people should sign a social contract for the sake of peace and self-defense to agree to set aside personal rights to all things. There should be restrictions on liberty.
Was for absolute rule
John Locke (1632-1704) Most influential political thinker of 17th century Said power to govern comes from the people Kings should not have total power and was
against the divine right of kings Said people have the right to life, liberty, and
property Believed that if there is an unjust government, the
people have a right to overthrow it
By the beginning of the 17th century, there had been Voyages of Discovery, the Reformation, Religious Wars, Superstition and the Enlightenment