Unit 4: 1450-1750

Age of –ismsRise of European Dominance

Renaissance

• the word “renaissance” means “rebirth”• this is Europe’s “rebirth” of culture and thought• begins ~ 1400 in Italy, and spreads northward• resurgence of Classical (Greek & Roman)

thought, art, culture, architecture, etc.• marked by increased urbanization, trade, and

secularization

Italy• while other areas of

Europe developed strong monarchies, Italy did not: they developed independent city-states (similar to the Greeks)

• 3 major Italian city-states: Milan, Venice, Florence

Italy• City-States

– all become wealthy due to trade & taxation

– all are ruled by a powerful family (most notably the Medici family in Florence)

– all become VERY interested in art and architecture, and encouraging patronage for these things

Renaissance Society

• at the top: nobility (land-holding, wealthy)– expected to be educated and become a patron of the arts– expected to contribute responsibly to public life

• vast majority of the population is free, though money and power vary widely (from wealthy merchants at the top, to beggars at the bottom)

• role of women: run the household

Renaissance Thought: Humanism• Humanism: based on the study of Classical Greek

and Roman texts; rooted in the “liberal arts” (grammar, rhetoric, poetry, philosophy, and history) – what we now call the “humanities”

• Petrarch – Italian who went in search of forgotten Latin manuscripts to print & make public; also a writer himself

• Humanities + study of mathematics, astronomy, and music = a complete Renaissance education

The Renaissance Man• a person who masters all of these subjects is

considered a “Renaissance Man” – someone who excels in many areas

• quintessential Renaissance Man: Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci

Language: Printing Press & Vernacular

• printing press: Johannes Gutenberg in Germany, ~1450 (the “Gutenberg Bible” was the first book produced in Europe with moveable type, in 1455)

Language: Printing Press & Vernacular

• printing press: Johannes Gutenberg in Germany, ~1450 (the “Gutenberg Bible” was the first book produced in Europe with moveable type, in 1455)

• by 1500, there were ~1,000 printers in Europe with ~40,000 published titles

• what are the effects of the availability of printed material?– things to read → worth the time to learn to read → demand for

more things to read– efficient way to spread information

• vernacular: regional language (ie – not Latin); becomes more wide-spread and defined

Protestant ReformationWe’ll cover this in greater detail later today. But

for now: just know that it was helped GREATLY by the presence of the printing press, and it was a split of the Catholic Church into Catholic and non-Catholic (what we now call “Protestant”).

By the late 16th Century…• France: has a series of wars over religion →

France is “officially” Catholic, but very tolerant of other denominations

• Spain: ruled by Philip II, VERY Catholic• England: ruled by Elizabeth I, strongly Protestant

By the late 16th Century…

• 1588: Philip II tried to attack/invade England → complete failure

30 Years’ War: 1618-1648• 30 Years’ War: in the Germanic lands of the Holy

Roman Empire; France v. Holy Roman Empire for religious freedom (and, by extension, power in Europe)– Result: all German states are free to choose their own

religion (basically a victory for France)

English Revolution• 1642: start of civil war in England

(supporters of the king vs. supporters of Parliament)

• supporters of Parliament, led by Oliver Cromwell, win

• 1649: King Charles I is beheaded

English Revolution• Parliament isn’t functioning →

Parliament is disbanded, and Cromwell sets up a military dictatorship

• 1658: Cromwell dies, Charles II crowned King → restoration of the monarchy

Absolutism• concept that political power (one person) has

absolute, complete, total authority…and Divine Right to have that power.

• best exemplified by Louis XIV (that’s 14) of France, aka the “Sun King”

Absolutism: Louis XIV• officially become king in 1643, at the age of 4• actually begins governing in 1661 (age 23), taking

over from Cardinal Mazarin (Mazarin dies)

Absolutism: Louis XIV• reign is the longest of any European monarch• extraordinarily extravagant and expensive• Versailles: moved the palace out of Paris

Link to slideshow:

http://en.chateauversailles.fr/the-palace-

Absolutism• concept that political power (one person) has

absolute, complete, total authority• other countries with Absolutism: Prussia,

Austrian Empire, Russia

Absolutism: Russia• Ruled by a tsar (also:

czar, tzar)• 17th century: peasants

become serfs• 1697-1698: Peter the

Great visits western Europe, and (sort of) westernizes Russia

Absolutism: Russia• reorganized the army• created a navy• divided Russia into provinces to be

more easily managed• created a new governing body for the

Russian Orthodox Church• adopted Western mercantile practices

& raised taxes• required the nobles to “look” Western

(cut their hair, shave their beards, wear shorter coats)

• expanded options/rights for women: could mingle with men, allowed to choose whom they married, didn’t have to wear a veil

• built St. Petersburg, “a window to the West” – year-round ice-free port w/ access to Europe

Exploration• everybody wants more, but Europe isn’t very big• → EXPLORATION!• Later, you’ll create a map…