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