Major Themes in Western Europe – 1500-1700

Major Themes in Western Europe – 1500-1700 • Break-up of Christian unity (Protestant Reformation) • Consolidation of centralized states (Absolute Monarchs) • Development of modern Capitalism • Development of modern Science

Steps to Reformation • Catholic Church wanted to raise $$ to rebuild St. Peter’s Cathedral • Sold Indulgences to raise $$ • Pardons that released sinner from saying certain prayers or performing penance for sins. But most believed it was purchasing way into heaven • Luther’s 95 Theses • Impact of Gutenberg's Printing Press

Luther’s Teachings of Reform • 1. People get salvation through faith alone • 2. Church teaching should be clearly based on the Bible – not on the Pope or the Church • 3. All people of faith are equal – don’t need Priests to serve as “interpreters”

Council of Trent • Catholics held council following Reformation in order to: • Define differences between them and Protestants • Persuade some to return • Address Church doctrine • Acknowledged abuses • Called for Catholic Reform

Jesuits • Founded by St. Ignatius Loyola • Spread the newly reformed Catholic Church to converts around the globe • Advanced Education (founding of universities)

English Civil War & Glorious Revolution • England broke into 2 factions (King – who was Anglican; and Parliament – which was made up mostly of Calvinists, or Puritans) • King Charles I was captured by Parliament’s forces and beheaded in 1649 • Leads to period of chaos with no monarch • Parliament restores monarchy in 1660 • 1688: Glorious Revolution: James II’s daughter Mary and Dutch husband William of Orange are placed on the throne • **Now Kings are ruling in a co-op fashion with Parliament in Great Britain

Absolute Monarchs • Divine Right of Kings: King’s authority came from God & served as God’s lieutenants on earth (if you didn’t obey, it was anti-religious) • Power for absolute monarchs was heavily dependent on limiting the power of the nobility.

Louis XIV and the Palace of Versailles • Louis XIV: “I am the state”; best example of an absolute monarch • His home: The palace of Versailles

Peter the Great – Czar of Russia • Problems with Russia? • The “Great Transformation” of Russia • Modeled Russia after Western Europe • Envied W. Europe’s administration, economy, military • Changed Russia with following reforms… • New modern army • Modern weapons • Overhauled gov’t • Modern economy • Western clothes/dress • St. Petersburg

Capitalism • Economic system where private parties buy and sell goods on the free market • Private businesses own tools, machinery, buildings, raw materials • Private businesses hire workers, set wages, and decide what, when, and how to produce • Prices determined by supply/demand • Businesses take advantage of market conditions to make money

Government & Capitalism • Governments in Europe saw capitalism as the best way to achieve personal and communal interests of people • SO…Government would get involved by… • Recognizing people’s rights to property • Settling disputes • Chartering Joint Stock Companies • Church and capitalism? - loans, interest, dangerous?

Serfdom • Russian labor system where nobles had serfs tied to the land they worked • Russian serfdom leads to more European capitalism • Inexpensive labor force in Russia produced grains / raw materials cheaply

Adam Smith • Scottish philosopher • Sought to convince people that capitalism was socially beneficial • Society prospers when people pursue their own economic self interests (greed is good) • The “Invisible Hand” Theory • The self regulating nature of the marketplace • Self interest, supply/demand, & competition

The Invisible Hand“Free Market” Capitalism – popularized by Adam Smith • If the consumer is allowed to choose freely what to buy and each producer is allowed to choose freely what to sell and how to produce it, the market will settle on a product distribution and prices that are beneficial to all the individual members of a community, and hence to the community as a whole. The reason for this is that self-interest drives actors to beneficial behavior. Efficient methods of production are adopted to maximize profits. Low prices are charged to maximize revenue through gain in market share by undercutting competitors. Investors invest in those industries most urgently needed to maximize returns, and withdraw capital from those less efficient in creating value. Students prepare for the most needed (and therefore most remunerative) careers. All these effects take place dynamically and automatically.

The Age of Reason – or The Enlightenment • Intellectual, cultural, and scientific movement in the 18th century – largely based on reason. • The "Enlightenment" at its core was a critical questioning of traditional institutions, customs, and morals, and a strong belief in rationality and science. • Can we use reason and the scientific method in all aspects of life – including government, religion, economics, and education? • Are there laws governing human behavior as well?

New Way of Thinking (Scientific Revolution) • Based on observations and a willingness to question old beliefs • New truths to be found (new discoveries) • Maybe we don’t know everything about the world (didn’t know there were extra continents out there) • Process to navigate required research in science/math/astronomy (new knowledge doesn’t mesh with ancient beliefs)

Views of the Universe The Medieval View • Earth is unmoving – center of universe (Geocentric theory) • Sun, moon, planets move around earth • Based on common sense and Aristotle

Nicolaus Copernicus – Heliocentric Theory Studied sun/planets for 25 years – found the Earth revolves around the Sun (Heliocentric Theory) • Didn’t publish works until right before he died (feared Church reaction) Why?

Galileo Galilei • Objects of different weights fall at same rate • Supported Heliocentric View • Church is angry (if we’re wrong about this, then people will doubt us in other areas as well) • Sent before a Church court and forced to renounce his views (still put into House-Arrest for rest of life)

John Locke • More positive view on human nature • People could govern themselves • All people born free w/3 natural rights (LIFE, LIBERTY, PROPERTY) – gov’t is supposed to protect these rights – or be overthrown by citizens • Ideas became basis for modern democracy (consent of the governed)

Montesquieu • Studied political liberty • Admired Britain’s 3-branch system of government • Came up with Separation of Powers: liked how it prevented one branch from becoming too powerful (power should be checked) – basis for U.S.A.’s checks/balances

Major Themes in Western Europe – 1500-1700