Transformation of Western Europe 1450 1750 CE Early

Transformation of Western Europe: 1450 -1750 CE Early Modern Period Unit 3

Major Trends l l l Renaissance: 14 -16 th centuries Reformation: 16 th - 17 th centuries Scientific Revolution: 16 th - 17 th centuries Absolutism: 17 th - 18 th centuries Age of Enlightenment: late 17 th - 18 th century

Renaissance Social • Some upper-class women receive education; maintain traditional social structures • European-style family; emphasis on nuclear family • Later marriage ages - regulated family size; population control • Increased tensions between upper and lower classes Political • Machiavelli • Competitive regional city-states in Italy created new ideas of competitive political families (Medicis in Florence) • Rulers influenced by banking, commerce and humanism Interactions • Result of commercial activities with other regions based in Italy trading port cities • Spreads from northern Italy through Northern Europe (France, Germany, Low Countries, England, Eastern Europe)

Renaissance Culture l l l Renaissance art focused more on the individual and on secular affairs - very influenced by humanism Realism Perspective Influence of Greek and Roman art and architectural details Realistic body proportions; domes; sculptures Northern Renaissance artists still paid close attention to religion, however

Renaissance Economic – Commerce initiates all of the other changes during the Renaissance – Created more global economy based on Italy port cities – Result of the Crusades and contact with the Middle East – Also result of invention of printing press – Emphasis on household economy – Surge in banking thanks to families such as the Medicis in Italy – Feudalism still present in some Northern European areas

Reformation - Main Details l l l 1517 - German priest Martin Luther posts 95 Theses on Church door in Wittenberg, Germany Challenges papal authority, monasticism, indulgences, nepotism, role of church in government, human relationship with God Faith alone brings salvation Spreads very quickly throughout Europe gain support of many German princes Major religious conflicts in Holy Roman Empire, Eastern Europe (Bohemia), England, France, Spain, the Netherlands

Reformation Social: – Promotes greater educational opportunities to lower classes Bible printed in vernacular – Increased emphasis on equality through religion – Emphasized marital love Political – Princes see opportunity to take control from Emperor and pope – Challenged role of Religion in Government – Great political turmoil due to religious wars – Treaty of Westphalia - Netherlands gains independence; rulers choose religion of their people – Edict of Nantes (France): ends persecution of Huguenots (French Protestants) – Act of Supremacy (England): English monarch is head of Anglican Church – Parliamentary power is promoted by many Protestant ideas – Spanish Inquisition

Reformation Interactions – Religious wars hurt European population – Thirty Years War kills approximately 1/3 of Germany’s population (Germany, France, Sweden, England, Switzerland, Eastern Europe, Austria) – Increased missionary work through Roman Catholic Church - Counter Reformation Cultural – Spreads thanks to the printing press – Emphasis on personal connections - de-emphasized role of priests, religious authority figures – Promote reading the Bible – New religions: Lutheranism, Calvinism, Anglican, etc – Counter-Reformation - Jesuits – Witch hunts (Europe, American colonies) Economic - religious wars dramatically decreased economic potential during periods of warfare

Absolute Monarchies l l l l Divine Right of Kings Monarchs gain power over: – Legislation – Taxation – Armies Strong centralized authority Control over bureaucracy Vastly limited power of the nobles Absolute monarchies in France, Prussia, Austria, Russia Constitutional/Parliamentary governments in Britain and the Netherlands More on Absolutism (and the Enlightenment) later….

Europe after the Peace of Westphalia (1648)

Population Growth and Urbanization l Rapidly growing population due to Columbian Exchange – Improved nutrition l Role of the potato (considered an aphrodisiac in 16 th and 17 th centuries) l Replaces bread as staple of diet – Better nutrition reduces susceptibility to plague – Epidemic disease becomes insignificant for overall population decline by mid-17 th century

Population Growth in Europe

Urbanization