europe in 1650 overview of politics and society. political map of europe in 1650

Europe in 1650

Overview of Politics and Society

Political Map of Europe in 1650

Holy Roman Empire in 1650

Crises of the 17th Century

•War

• Plague

• Famine

Thirty Years War: 1618-1648

• Defenestration of Prague

• Causes: – Religious– Political– Confused

• General Devastation in central Europe

Treaty of Westphalia: 1648

• Rulers in each of the states within the Holy Roman Empire independent of Emperor

• HRE a loose confederation of 352 states

• Recognition that different religions can co-exist within the Empire

Effects of Thirty Years War

• German states of central Europe fragmented for more than 200 years

• Population of central Europe decimated:

• In 1600, approximately 20 million people– By 1648, only 13 million– By 1700, still only 14 million

English Civil War: 1641-1648

• Struggle between Royal forces (Cavaliers) and Parliamentary forces (Roundheads)

• Issues:– Religion– Royal authority – Taxation

• War ended with trial and execution of King Charles I in 1649

Fronde in France: 1650s

• Rebellious groups of nobles attacked royal strongholds, trying to capture child King Louis XIV

• Issues:– Religion– Royal Authority– Taxation

• Revolt fizzled, largely because nobles were not united

Plague

• Epidemics of plague ravaged Europe

• 1649-1654: Mediterranean region

• 1657: Southern Italy

• 1665: London and southern Englan

• 1675-1685: Spain

• 1720: France

Bubonic Plague or ‘Black Death’

Bubonic plague from bite of an infected flea:– enlarged and inflamed lymph nodes

(around arm pits, neck and groin). – headaches, nausea, aching joints, fever of

101-105 degrees, vomiting, and a general feeling of illness

– 1-7 days to appear– mortality rate was 30-75%

Pneumonic Plague

• Second most common form of early modern plague

• Spread through droplets from coughs• Infected the lungs• Slimy sputum tinted with blood,

becoming progressively worse & bright red

• Mortality rate: 90-95%

Causes of Plague

• Poor sanitation

• Overcrowding, especially in cities

• No understanding of disease and its causes

• Bubonic Plague spread by fleas carried by brown rat

• Often half population died

• Famine often preceded or followed plague

Famine: Why?

• 85% of population lived directly dependent on the land for survival

• Low yield: 4:1 ratio needed for prosperity

• Little or no fertilizer—2/5 of land left fallow each year

• Climate colder and wetter during 17th century: seeds sometimes rotted in ground

Results of Famine

• In rural areas, lack of food to survive winter and plant next year

• In towns and cities, rising prices created hardship for poor and even ‘middling’ folk

• Poor transportation networks made movement of food difficult

• Example: Weavers of Beauvais