The The Transformation of Transformation of

the Westthe West

The The Transformation of Transformation of

the Westthe West

1450-17501450-1750

The Italian RenaissanceThe Italian Renaissance

• 14th/15th Century artistic movement which challenged medieval intellectual values and styles

• Writers such as Petrarch and Boccaccio stress secular subjects such as love and pride

• 14th/15th Century artistic movement which challenged medieval intellectual values and styles

• Writers such as Petrarch and Boccaccio stress secular subjects such as love and pride

Renaissance ArtRenaissance Art

Renaissance ArtRenaissance Art

The Italian RenaissanceThe Italian Renaissance

• Painting:– Realism, classical, and human centered themes

• Religion is on the decline!• Machiavelli: Political discourse• Humanism: focus on humankind as the center

of intellectual and artistic life

• Painting:– Realism, classical, and human centered themes

• Religion is on the decline!• Machiavelli: Political discourse• Humanism: focus on humankind as the center

of intellectual and artistic life

The Northern RenaissanceThe Northern Renaissance

• After invasions from France and Spain, the renaissance moved North

• Centered in France and England– A more religious renaissance than the

Italian

• Blended secular interests with Christian devotion

• After invasions from France and Spain, the renaissance moved North

• Centered in France and England– A more religious renaissance than the

Italian

• Blended secular interests with Christian devotion

The Northern RenaissanceThe Northern Renaissance• England: Shakespeare

• Spain: Cervantes

• France: Francis I becomes a patron of the arts

• Kings were still confined by the old feudal order

• England: Shakespeare

• Spain: Cervantes

• France: Francis I becomes a patron of the arts

• Kings were still confined by the old feudal order

The Protestant ReformationThe Protestant Reformation

• 1517: Martin Luther posts his 95 Theses in Wittenburg

• Protestantism pushed for state control of the church, rather than papal authority

• Protestantism was attractive to ordinary people as well

• 1517: Martin Luther posts his 95 Theses in Wittenburg

• Protestantism pushed for state control of the church, rather than papal authority

• Protestantism was attractive to ordinary people as well

The Protestant ReformationThe Protestant Reformation

• Henry VIII sets up the Anglican church(England)

• Calvinism: The idea of Predestination, eventually makes its way to the New World

• Catholic Reformation is launched to counter Luther’s attacks

• Henry VIII sets up the Anglican church(England)

• Calvinism: The idea of Predestination, eventually makes its way to the New World

• Catholic Reformation is launched to counter Luther’s attacks

The Religious WarsThe Religious Wars• France: Edict of Nantes in 1598 grants

religious toleration to Protestants

• Thirty Years’ War: 1618, German Protestants against Catholic Holy Roman Emperor

– 1648: Treaty of Westphalia grants territorial tolerance

• France: Edict of Nantes in 1598 grants religious toleration to Protestants

• Thirty Years’ War: 1618, German Protestants against Catholic Holy Roman Emperor

– 1648: Treaty of Westphalia grants territorial tolerance

English Civil WarEnglish Civil War

• Parliament claims right of control over Absolute monarchy

• Charles I is beheaded

• Oliver Cromwell becomes “Lord Protector” (not King)

• Parliament claims right of control over Absolute monarchy

• Charles I is beheaded

• Oliver Cromwell becomes “Lord Protector” (not King)

The Commercial RevolutionThe Commercial Revolution• Colonial Markets stimulate

manufacturing• Proletariat: Growing class of people

without access to wealth producing property

– Manufacturers and Laborers

• Throughout the 1600’s popular protests were waged to help gain political rights for peasants

• Colonial Markets stimulate manufacturing

• Proletariat: Growing class of people without access to wealth producing property

– Manufacturers and Laborers

• Throughout the 1600’s popular protests were waged to help gain political rights for peasants

The Scientific RevolutionThe Scientific Revolution• Copernicus (or whomever) figures out that

the earth revolved around the sun• Galileo publishes Copernicus’ works, and

adds laws of gravity etc.• Harvey demonstrates movement of blood in

animals (heart)• Descartes: skeptical review of all received

wisdom

• Copernicus (or whomever) figures out that the earth revolved around the sun

• Galileo publishes Copernicus’ works, and adds laws of gravity etc.

• Harvey demonstrates movement of blood in animals (heart)

• Descartes: skeptical review of all received wisdom

Absolutism and Parliamentary Monarchies

Absolutism and Parliamentary Monarchies

• The Feudal Monarchy becomes undone in the late 17th Century

• French kings slowly built up power throughout the 17th Century, crushing nobles power…

• The Feudal Monarchy becomes undone in the late 17th Century

• French kings slowly built up power throughout the 17th Century, crushing nobles power…

France and Louis XIVFrance and Louis XIV

• Louis XIV– Absolute Monarch– “I am the State”– Patron of the Arts– Palace at Versailles– Tariffs were set high and colonies were

sought for raw materials and markets

• Louis XIV– Absolute Monarch– “I am the State”– Patron of the Arts– Palace at Versailles– Tariffs were set high and colonies were

sought for raw materials and markets

Other Absolute MonarchiesOther Absolute Monarchies

• Spain: Philip II

• Prussia (Germany)– Strong army and bureaucracy– State sponsored school system

• Austria-Hungary: Habsburg Rulers

• Spain: Philip II

• Prussia (Germany)– Strong army and bureaucracy– State sponsored school system

• Austria-Hungary: Habsburg Rulers

Britain (the different one) and the Netherlands

Britain (the different one) and the Netherlands

• Emphasized role of central state, but encouraged parliamentary regimes where king shares power with representatives

• 1688: Glorious Revolution finally puts Parliament in the driver’s seat!

• Emphasized role of central state, but encouraged parliamentary regimes where king shares power with representatives

• 1688: Glorious Revolution finally puts Parliament in the driver’s seat!

Growing Political IdeologiesGrowing Political Ideologies• John Locke (and others)

– Power to rule comes from the people (not from a divine right)

– Kings should be restrained to that which operates only towards the public interest

– Rights to freedom, property– Revolution could be justified to oppose

unjust rule

• John Locke (and others)– Power to rule comes from the people (not

from a divine right)– Kings should be restrained to that which

operates only towards the public interest– Rights to freedom, property– Revolution could be justified to oppose

unjust rule

Absolute Monarchies and Parliamentary MonarchiesAbsolute Monarchies and Parliamentary Monarchies

• Nation-States rule people who share a common culture, and language (unlike former Empires).

• Nation-States begin to take on additional welfare-like functions (even though those that need it aren’t represented)

• Nation-States rule people who share a common culture, and language (unlike former Empires).

• Nation-States begin to take on additional welfare-like functions (even though those that need it aren’t represented)