Transformation of the West

Chapter 17, pgs 368-386

Periodization

1300-1450: Italian Renaissance

1450-1600: Northern Renaissance, Reformation, Commercial Revolution

1600-1700: Scientific Revolution, Political change

1700-1800: Enlightenment

First Changes: Culture & Commerce

Petrarch – writings of pride & human achievement contrast w/ previous more religious periods

A New Spirit

Renaissance

Italy~urban center, commercial center~

Humanism = focus on humankind• Examples: Literature, Art, Politics

– Economic effects

– Political effects

1 of 2

Renaissance

Northern Renaissance~political independence & trade decline in Med~

More religious, but humanism continues

– Political effects

Impact of Renaissance was limited however

2 of 2

Changes in Technology & Family

Contacts spurred new technology

New European-style family emerged

Protestant & Catholic Reformation

Martin Luther challenged the Catholic Church– Believed faith = salvation

Protestantism was born– Political appeal

– Peasant appeal

1 of 2

Protestant & Catholic Reformation

After unity breached, other Protestant groups sprang forward– Anglican: England (Henry VIII)

– Calvinism

Catholic Reformation– Catholic Church fights back, successfully in S. Europe

2 of 2

End of Christian Unity in West

Effects of Reformation: – Religious wars

• Some religious pluralism, not liberty

– Political benefits mixed

– Beyond politics• Less connection b/t god & nature• Gender relations• Literacy

Commercial Revolution

New levels of trade – Caused by world economy & inflation

Colonial markets stimulate manufacturing

Prosperity of commoners improves too– Average 5x more “things” than SE Europeans

Social Protest

Formation of proletariat

Rising population & food prices hit poor hard

↳ Increased tension b/t rich & poor

Next Changes: Science & Politics

Scientific Revolution

Rise of nation-state

Copernicus = 1st step in scientific revolution

Did Copernicus Copy?

Science: The New Authority

Examples of scientists who followed Copernicus – Kepler– Vesalius– Galileo– Harvey– Bacon– Descartes– Newton– Locke

1 of 2

Science: The New Authority

Impact of scientific revolution:– Spread of scientific knowledge

– Belief in human control & understanding environment

– Attacks on traditional religious ideas

– Wide assumption about human progress

Science = center of intellectual life for 1st time

2 of 2

Absolute & Parliamentary Monarchies

– Decline of feudal monarchy = 2 new government forms

1. Absolute Monarchy• Example: France

2. Parliamentary Monarchy • Example: England

The Nation-State

Governments who increasingly ruled peoples of common culture & language– Resulted in:

• New loyalties & political bonds…which resulted in

• Commoners believing gov should act in their interests…which resulted in

• New functions of gov (like economics)

The West by 1750

Political Patterns

By end of period, political change drawing to close in England & France

Change continued in Prussia however– Frederick the Great

Warfare b/t nations continued often b/c of rivalry

Enlightenment Thought

Cultural changes as result of applying rational thought to human society

Enlightenment principles =1. -

2. -

3. -

4. -

1 of 2

Enlightenment Thought

Popularization & changes for ordinary people– Common exchanges of ideas

– Increasingly wide audiences for findings

– Attitudes toward children changed

– Family hierarchy weakened

2 of 2

Ongoing Change in Commerce

Commerce & consumerism spread to ordinary life– Agriculture

– Manufacturing

↳ Population explosion

Innovation & Instability

Interconnection of developments is key

Change in Europe = change in view of others– Backwards, if not uncivilized

Global Connections