Introduction to Western Civilization: The 1600s

Overview of Class Structure and Expectations

  • Test Number One scheduled.

  • Assignment information: Due in Canvas every Thursday; last assignment submitted last week for attendance.

  • Current standing in the class: No major concerns, confident in progress.

  • Upcoming test on Thursday, study guides and notes posted on Canvas.

Historical Context of Western Civilization (1600s)

Modern Government Overview

  • Beginning of modern government forms in the 1600s.

  • Two main forms of government discussed: Absolutism and Constitutionalism.

Constitutionalism
Key Countries

  • The Netherlands: A constitutional system with a focus on the family name "Orange".

  • England: Significant role in constitutionalism during this time.

Characteristics

  • The Netherlands experienced prosperity in 1600s due to:

    • Shipbuilding industry.

    • Successful merchants and trade.

  • Policies affecting trade such as Navigation Acts enacted by England:

    • Required English goods to be transported on English ships, impacting Dutch trade negatively.

  • Decline of the Netherlands as major power by the end of the 1600s due to these acts.

Political Structures
England’s Monarchy

  • Royal family in England: Stuart Family.

    • Key figures: James I, Charles I, Charles II, James II.

  • Shift in power towards Parliament over the century.

    • Result: Parliament becomes more powerful and represents the public interests.

  • End of Stuart monarchy after Anne's death—throne passes to the Hanover Family (first king: George I).

Emergence of the Prime Minister Role

  • Creation of the position of Prime Minister to bridge communication between the monarchy and Parliament.

Absolutism
Characteristics

  • Defined as monarchies where the monarch has absolute control over all aspects of life (politics, military, culture, religion).

Key Example: France

  • Monarch: Louis XIV, known as the "Sun King" and likened to Apollo.

  • Known for:

    • Centralized control and transformation efforts through the Palace of Versailles.

    • Active role in military conflicts, expanding France’s influence in wars.

Russia’s Absolutism

  • Significant ruler: Peter the Great of the Romanov dynasty.

  • Objectives of Peter the Great:

    • Modernization and westernization of Russia.

    • Creation of Saint Petersburg as a new cultural center.

    • Focus on developing a navy and military prowess.

The Ottoman Empire

  • Context: Not a European nation but influential and engaging with European powers.

  • At its height in the late 1400s to 1500s.

  • Encountered significant military defeats in the late 1600s (notably the failed siege in 1683).

  • Eventually termed the "Sick Man of Europe" due to consistent territorial losses leading up to WWI.

Italy’s Political Fragmentation

  • Italy in the 1600s:

    • Fragmented into multiple city-states with no unified government.

    • Key areas included the Papal States under the Pope’s control and various territories governed by foreign powers.

    • Future unification discussed for test 3 in the 1800s, but not a major power during the 1600s.

The Significance of Historical Power Dynamics

  • Importance of understanding power relationships:

    • France and England as powerful and more unified nations.

    • Austria faced distinct challenges due to its diverse ethnicity and religion, which created internal conflict and hindered external focus.

  • Discussed how ethnically homogeneous societies (like England and France at this time) had fewer internal issues than more diverse nations (like Austria).

Military Focus in Prussia

  • Description of Prussia as a critical player in the European landscape.

  • Notable characteristics:

    • Military focus: Large, professional standing army contrary to the norm of temporary levies.

    • Economic dependency on the nobility (junkers) to maintain this military funding.

    • Significant territorial expansions particularly at the expense of Poland.

Test Preparation Insights

  • Exam expectations: Focus will be on remembering significant figures and events in English and French history.

  • Highlighting common points of confusion (e.g., names of rulers) as potential pitfalls in exams.

  • Emphasis on understanding the differences between notions of absolutism and constitutionalism, especially in relation to England and France.

Important Learning Differences

  • Discussed differences in governance experiences between England's struggle with absolutism versus France's embrace.

  • Need to understand historical context to explain England's legacy of representation which influenced resistance against absolutism more than in France.