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Detailed Study Notes for Historical Overview

PERIOD 1 OVERVIEW

MAIN TOPICS/TIMELINE

  • Late Middle Ages (1300-1450)

    • Hundred Years’ War
    • Conflict between England and France; significant military and political changes.
    • Black Death
    • Widespread plague leading to massive population decline and social upheaval.
    • Role of RCC:
    • Avignon Papacy: the pope's residence in Avignon, France, leading to issues of authority and legitimacy.
    • Great Western Schism: divide in the Catholic Church with multiple claims to the Papacy.

  • Renaissance (1450-1600)

    • Printing Press and Gutenberg: revolutionized the spread of information.
    • Humanism, Secularism, Individualism: focus on human potential and achievements, rather than religious constraints.
    • Italian vs. Northern Renaissance:
    • Italian Renaissance centered on classical revival; Northern Renaissance focused on detail and realism in art.
    • Art:
    • Patrons: wealthy individuals or institutions funding artists.
    • Themes: human experience, classical mythology.
    • High Renaissance and Mannerism: shifts in art style and philosophy.

  • Age of Exploration (1450-1600)

    • Motives and Technologies: competition for trade, national pride, advances in navigation.
    • Portugal and Spain: leading maritime powers.
    • Columbian Exchange and Slave Trade: transfer of goods and slaves between Americas, Europe, and Africa.

  • Scientific Revolution (1540-1700)

    • Disciplines: advancements in astronomy, physics, biology/anatomy, and chemistry.
    • Persistence of Alchemy: early attempts at chemistry and exploration of nature.

NEW MONARCHS (1450-1550)

  • Consolidation of power leading to nation-states
    • Bureaucracies: establishment of structured governments.
    • Taxation: increased revenue to support nation states.
    • Courts: centralized justices diminish noble power.
    • Examples: Spain, France, England.

REFORMATION (1517-1648)

  • Corruption in the RCC:
    • Issues like indulgences (promoted by Tetzel) spurred reform efforts.
  • Martin Luther and 95 Theses: criticism of the Church, emphasizes faith and scripture.
  • Proliferation of denominations: Anglicanism, Calvinism, and responses from the Catholic Church (Counter-Reformation and Council of Trent).

WARS OF RELIGION (1560-1648)

  • French Wars of Religion:
    • Conflict primarily between Catholics and Huguenots (French Protestants).
    • Important figures: Henry IV, Elizabeth I (politiques leading to stability).
  • Thirty Years War: a devastating conflict involving multiple European powers.
    • Resulted in the Treaty of Westphalia, establishing modern state sovereignty and balance of power.

LATE MIDDLE AGES CONTEXT

  • Little Ice Age: climatic changes affecting agriculture and social conditions.
  • Societal structure impacted by major events like the Black Death and the Hundred Years' War.

RENAISSANCE CONTEXT

  • Italian vs. Northern Renaissance:
    • Secular vs. Christian Humanism: differing views on the role of religion in human potential and education.
  • Notable figures:
    • Italian: da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael.
    • Northern: Erasmus, More, Cervantes.

AGE OF EXPLORATION

  • Context:
    • Interest from the Crusades, Renaissance, and scientific inquiry sparked exploration.
    • Notable figures include Prince Henry the Navigator, da Gama, Columbus.
  • Impact of Columbian Exchange: socio-economic and environmental shifts across continents.

SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION

  • Worldview Shift: movement from divine right and geocentrism to secularism and heliocentrism (Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo).
  • Development of the Scientific Method (Bacon and Descartes) leading towards empirical sciences.