The Transformation of the West – Part 2 1450-1750

New technology Though several pieces of technology continued to enter Europe, the most significant and impactful was the printing press, introduced in 1440. Based off of Chinese moveable type printing, the printing press (invented by a German silversmith named Johannes Gutenberg) had major impacts in Europe.

Impacts of printing press 1) Books were FAR easier to print and availability increased (500x faster!). 2) As a result, books became cheaper and easier to obtain. 3) Literacy, therefore, increased rapidly throughout the continent. 4) Armed with knowledge, people began to challenge old ways of thinking, especially toward religion and the church.

The Protestant Reformation One of the individuals questioning the church was one of its own, Martin Luther, a German monk. Luther was a devout Catholic who had joined a monastery as a young man. He was obsessive in his duties of prayer, fasting, and attending mass. Despite all of this, he suffered from crippling doubt over the state of his soul, and whether he had true salvation. In the early 1500’s he was appointed professor of theology at the University of Wittenberg. His job was to teach the Bible to young monks that had just joined monasteries. He set about his task with tremendous vigor, spending hour after hour reading the Bible and preparing his lessons. In reading the Bible, Luther was convinced that many of the practices of the Catholic Church, which he had accepted, were actually not supported by scripture.

The Protestant Reformation The MAIN issue Luther had with the Church was that it taught that in order to be saved, you had to perform numerous rituals and requirements as a way to earn your salvation. Luther was convinced that humans could do nothing to earn salvation, but that instead it was the result of God’s grace alone, and having faith in that grace. He also began questioning other Church teachings and policies.

The Protestant Reformation He was very concerned with the practice of selling indulgences, which the church taught granted salvation through their purchase. From a theological standpoint, Luther was concerned that the Church was teaching salvation could be gained through good works alone, instead of faith. To respond, Luther writes a scathing criticism of the church and pope. It’s called the 95 Theses. He nails it to the church doors in Wittenburg, Germany. This revolutionary document kick started the Reformation by pointing out abuses and corruption in the church.

The effects of the Protestant Reformation The reformation also sought to break away from papal control and establish state control of the church. Many European kings saw this as advantageous because they could strengthen their power by claiming to be head of religious affairs without papal approval or control. Many Protestant branches began to form (Anglicans in England, Lutherans in Germany and Sweden, Presbyterians in Scotland, Calvinists in France and Switzerland)

The Protestant Reformation Henry VIII sets up the Anglican church(England). Calvinism: Articulated by the French theologian John Calvin. The idea of predestination was central. Eventually makes its way to the New World. Catholic Reformation is launched to counter Luther’s attacks. The Catholic Reformation focused on a reinforcement of Catholic doctrine, disputing certain Protestant teachings, and sponsoring an aggressive missionary campaign under the Jesuits.

The Religious Wars As a result of the Protestant Reformation, Catholic and Protestant tensions erupted into widespread violence throughout Europe over the next century. While on the surface these conflicts were over religious disputes, they also were for economic and political reasons. If Protestants challenged Catholic religious authority, they may also dispute the Church’s political supremacy and paying taxes to the Catholic Church.

The Religious Wars Thirty Years’ War: 1618-1648, German Protestants and their allies against Catholic Holy Roman Emperor supported by the Catholic Church and Spain. 1648: Peace of Westphalia grants territorial integrity and established Westphalian sovereignty. This principle states that each nation has control over its own domestic and territorial affairs with the exclusion of external influence. It essentially ended government sanctioned religious wars as well.

The Commercial Revolution Read on p. 375 Europe also experienced a fundamental economic revolution in the 16th century focused on: A) An abundance of new goods and wealth from their colonies B) Massive inflation (Why?) C) More domestic manufacturing

Effects of Economic Change As new crops from the Americas came into Europe, the population rose sharply. However, inflation (from increased wealth) made prices for food rise and several small landowners had to sell off their land in order to survive. These groups took jobs in domestic manufacturing and paid agricultural laborers. However, many did not find employment and fled to the cities, increasing a homeless and beggar community.. Collectively, these individuals made up a group known as the proletariat, those without access to wealth-producing property. The proletariat began crying out for change through social protest starting in the 1600s. (see p.375)

The Scientific Revolution A set of profound scientific discoveries from 1500s-1700s rocked Europe’s foundations even more. Copernicus figures out that the earth revolved around the sun (heliocentric theory), perhaps by studying Muslim astronomical transcripts? Kepler improved understanding of the universe through his studies of planetary motion (elliptical orbits) Galileo publishes Copernicus’works, and adds laws of gravity etc. His book (Starry Messenger) got him in big trouble with the church. Newton established the principles of universal gravitation and how it effects the laws of motion, building on both Kepler and Galileo’s discoveries. The Scientific Rev. proved that science can provide orderly and rational laws to explain the universe.

Absolute and Parliamentary Monarchies The feudal monarchy – the balance between political power of kings and nobles – began to unravel throughout Europe in the 17th century. In France, the trend was toward more absolute power for the kings, while in England and the Netherlands, parliamentary powers grew.

France and Louis XIV Read on p. 379 Louis XIV Europe’s greatest example of an absolute monarch. Huge patron of the arts (starting an academy of science and supporting artists and writers) Palace at Versailles External tariffs were set high and colonies were sought for raw materials and markets while internal tariffs were reduced to stimulate trade within the country.

Britain and the Netherlands Parliamentary systems Emphasized role of central state, but encouraged parliamentary regimes where king shares power with representatives Because they still had a monarch and parliament, they are referred to as parliamentary monarchies Nonetheless, there were still tensions between kings and parliament. The English fought a civil war over the issue, with Parliament winning basic sovereignty over the king.

Growing Political Ideologies Aiding the growth of parliamentary systems and shared power in Europe were the writings of several political theorists like John Locke. His writing are profound for the development of western democracies. The following are the highlights: Power to rule comes from the people (not from a divine right) Kings should be restrained by institutions that protect public interest (like parliaments). People are born with natural rights like life, liberty, and property. Revolution could be justified to oppose unjust rule Sound familiar?

John Locke’s Influence “When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another…” “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

The Enlightenment Period from the mid-1600s throughout the 1800s. The Enlightenment was inspired by the Scientific Revolution’s ability to bring greater understanding of the universe. Enlightenment thinkers sought to improve society through the establishment of rational laws built on a scientific study of human behavior. While Enlightenment philosophers could be found throughout the West, France was the center of this movement. (Voltaire, Rousseau, Descartes, and Diderot) Major social improvements such as freedom of speech, religion, and press as well as abolishment of torture and greater political representation were major breakthroughs of the Enlightenment Age.

Adam Smith and the Wealth of Nations The Enlightenment also encouraged improvement to economic ideals. The most influential economist of the Enlightenment, and probably the entire modern age, is Adam Smith. He was a Scottish economist who argued that people act according to their self-interest and this promotes general economic advance. Smith believed in three basic laws of economics: 1) The law of self-interest 2) The law of competition (through specialization of labor) 3) The law of supply and demand

Adam Smith and Wealth of Nations Smith believed, above all, that government should avoid regulation of the market system, therefore creating a free-market (laissez-faire). According to Smith, each individual strives to maximize his economic gains by the free exchange of goods and helps to advance the public interest. For example, the shoemaker spends his wages on bread, then the baker spend his earnings on bricks or beer, and the cycle continues. This economic policy is known as capitalism. Smith DID NOT support the ideas of mercantilism which limited trade between nations. He believed free trade with no limitations could create greater wealth.

Impact of Scientific Rev. and Enlightenment on Religion The Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment damaged the influence of religion in the West. Science was seen as a vehicle for greater understanding of the world and universe and therefore faith in the unseen or unexplainable was seen as irrational by many. The Enlightenment showed that society could be improved and human behavior could be improved through rational laws. Humans were believed to be good by nature and their needs for salvation were questioned in some circles.

Manufacturing growth Overall, trade and commerce grew much more amongst the general population as commoners now began to purchase processed products and goods from the colonies (like refined sugar, coffee, and tea). This was accompanied by a huge spread of domestic manufacturing as people began to produce products such as textile and metal goods in their homes to try and supplement their income. Domestic manufacturing inevitably encouraged technological innovations to improve efficiency. We begin to see simple machinery created that can increase production and do the work of multiple people in a fraction of the time.

Terms to Know -Absolute monarchy Printing press -Parliamentary monarchy Indulgences -Scientific Revolution 95 Theses -Enlightenment Protestant Reformation -The Wealth of Nations Thirty Years’ War -Capitalism Peace of Westphalia Proletariat Heliocentric Theory

People to Know -Louis XIV Johannes Gutenberg -John Locke Martin Luther -Adam Smith Jean Calvin Henry VIII Copernicus Kepler Galileo Newton

Dates to Know October 31, 1517 1618-1648 1648