Key Concepts from European History (16th-17th Century)

NORTH SEA AND TED PROVINCES OF THE NETHERLANDS

  • Introductory geographical overview involving various regions:

    • North Sea

    • Ted Provinces of the Netherlands

    • Denmark-Norway

    • Notable cities include:

    • Haarlem

    • Amsterdam

    • Leiden

    • Utrecht

    • The Hague

    • Dordrecht

    • Delft

    • Breda

    • Antwerp

    • Holy Roman Empire present in the region

    • Other relevant areas: Flanders, Lorraine

MODERN WORLD

  • Challenges leading to the modern world include:

    • Renaissance Humanism

    • The rise of centrally governed nation-states

    • Discovery of the New World

    • Invention of the Printing Press

    • Protestant Reformation and the subsequent Wars of Religion

    • Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment

RENAISSANCE

  • Emphasis on:

    • Study of ancient Greek and Roman culture

    • Included history of the early church

  • Stressed individual achievement and focus on man, as opposed to religious achievement

  • Rapid knowledge spread due to the invention of the printing press in 1450

  • Growth of scientific inquiry leading to practical observations over traditional religious instruction

PROTESTANT REFORMATION

  • Notable Characteristics:

    • Religious reform movement in Europe during the 1500s

    • Attacked the Catholic Church

  • Key event: Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses

    • Document outlined 95 fundamental problems with the Catholic Church that sparked the revolution

  • Resulted in religious wars in Europe between Protestants and Catholics

REFORMATION AND THE MODERN AGE

  • Consequences:

    • Shattered religious unity in Europe

    • Weakened the authority of the church

    • Strengthened monarchs and magistrates

    • Contributed to the growth of political liberty

    • Led to a more confident, assertive individual, especially concerning salvation

    • Potentially led to capitalism or was fueled by capitalism

DISCOVERY AGE

  • Key aspects:

    • Europe discovered an entire new continent, prompting increased overseas exploration and opportunities

    • Significant wealth gained from trade in spices and resources like gold and silver from the New World

    • The African Slave Trade was initiated

    • Indigenous populations in the Americas faced severe declines

    • Navigation and mapping significantly improved

ECONOMIC DECLINE IN EUROPE IN THE 16TH CENTURY

  • Factors:

    • Wealth acquisition by Spain led to inflation

    • Spain's decline affecting international competitiveness

    • Population increases resulted in food and job shortages, worsening inflation

    • The decline affected the poorer classes most severely

COMMERCIAL REVOLUTION

  • Characteristics of the period (16th-18th century):

    • Economic expansion in Europe, colonization, and mercantilism

    • Depended on capital availability and efficient flow of goods and money

    • Driven by competition and profit motives

    • Individual initiative was paramount for wealth increase and colonization, notably in North America

MERCANTILISM

  • Goal:

    • Enhance the wealth of the state

  • Features:

    • Strict government regulation over the national economy

    • Notable figure: Jean Baptist Colbert, known as the Father of Mercantilism in France

MODERN STATE BANKING SYSTEM

  • Functions facilitated:

    • Flow of money, credit extension, and fund transfers

  • Key institutions:

    • Bank of Sweden: First national bank founded in 1657

    • Bank of England established in 1694

17TH CENTURY EUROPE

  • Description: Century of modernization of government

  • Emergence of two basic government patterns:

    1. Absolute monarchy

    2. Constitutional State

CONSTITUTIONALISM

  • Defined as:

    • Limitation of government power relative to individual rights and liberties

  • John Locke’s influences:

    • "Second Treaties of Civil Government"

    • Advocated belief in natural rights

    • Promoted social contract theory and the peaceful revolution against oppressive governance

THE NETHERLANDS

  • Composition: Consisted of 7 provinces

  • Historical context: Experienced a golden age in the first half of the 17th century, characterized by dominant Calvinism but religious tolerance

  • Tolerance extended to Catholics, Jews, and Lutherans

  • Distrust towards monarchical government types

  • Executive role: Stadholder responsible for military leadership and order maintenance within each province, usually occupied by the House of Orange

  • States General: Assembly of provincial representatives

AMSTERDAM

  • Significance: Became Europe’s commercial and banking center

  • Key milestones include:

    • 1609: Establishment of the Exchange Bank of Amsterdam

    • Introduction of the Stock Exchange

  • Industrial activity involving products like woolen clothes, refined sugar, glass, beer, and paper

DECLINE OF THE NETHERLANDS (2nd HALF OF 17TH CENTURY)

  • Issues leading to decline:

    • Navigation Acts by England forbidding transportation of goods on non-English ships

    • Lack of strong executive leadership

    • Decline of shipbuilding industry

ENGLAND

ELIZABETH I TUDOR (1533-1603)

  • Daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn

  • Known as the Virgin Queen

  • Reign marked by the Golden Age of England

  • Good relations with Parliament

  • Successor: James Stuart of Scotland

JAMES I STUART (1603-1625)

  • Dynasty: Stuart Family

  • Known for poor English speaking skills

  • Struggled to maintain good relations with subjects and Parliament

  • Belief in divine right of kings

  • Attempted to rule without Parliament

  • Commissioned the King James Version of the Bible

CHARLES I (1625-1641)

  • Adherence to divine right rule

  • Ruled for 11 years without calling Parliament (11 years of tyranny, 1629-1640)

  • Religious uniformity angle opposed Puritanism, causing unpopularity

THE SHORT PARLIAMENT (1640)

  • Events leading to assembly convening:

    • 1639: Conflict with Scotland arising from Anglicanism imposition

    • Need for financial resources to combat Scotland led to calling Parliament

    • Quick dismissal due to grievances discussions instead of funding votes

  • Aftermath: Charles went to war with Scotland and faced defeat

THE LONG PARLIAMENT (1640-1660)

  • Reinstated by Charles to secure funds for Scotland

  • Mandated the Triennial Act requiring Parliament to meet every three years

  • Power limitations: Parliament could not be dissolved without consent

THE ENGLISH CIVIL WAR (1642-1651)

  • Triggered by Charles attempts to arrest Parliament members

  • Resulted in a civil war lasting ten years

  • Key figure: Oliver Cromwell, a Puritan leader

  • Outcome: Charles lost the war and was put on trial

PRIDE'S PURGE AND THE RUMP PARLIAMENT

  • Colonel Thomas Pride conducted a purge of sympathetic Parliament members

  • Remaining Parliament (Rump Parliament) brought King to trial

  • Verdict: Found guilty of treason and executed on January 30, 1649

CROMWELLIAN ERA (1653-1658)

  • Established Commonwealth, a Puritan republic (1649-1653)

  • Cromwell faced unpopularity, suppressed rebellions in Ireland and Scotland

  • Engaged in conflicts with the Rump Parliament

  • Dissolved Parliament in 1653; became Lord High Protector with a new Parliament

  • Cromwell's death occurred in 1658

CHARLES II (1660-1685)

  • Restoration period following Cromwell's era

  • Son of Charles I, returned to power with conditions

  • Known as the "Rowdy Monarch"

  • Declaration of Breda allowed Parliament authority to punish father's accused killers

  • Limited powers: Could not tax or pass laws unilaterally

JAMES II (1685-1689)

  • Brother to Charles II; identified as Catholic

  • Had two Protestant daughters, Mary and Anne

  • General unpopularity due to religious orientation

WARMING PAN BABY SCANDAL

  • James II’s Catholic wife, Mary Modina, gave birth to a son

  • Controversy arose around the legitimacy of the child i.e. rumors of smuggling in a warming pan

GLORIOUS REVOLUTION

  • Event: Protestants petitioned Mary (James II's daughter) and William of Orange for the throne

  • Significance: They assumed the throne bloodlessly, marking a revolution without conflict

ENGLAND IN THE 18TH CENTURY

  • Conditions set for William and Mary upon ascent:

    1. Act of Succession to determine succession orders

    2. Declaration of Rights as Bill of Rights limiting monarchy powers

  • Result: Ultimate power transferred to Parliament

ANNE (1702-1714)

  • Majority of reign spent in conflict: War of the Spanish Succession

  • No heirs led to the ascension of the Hanovers

GEORGE I

  • First Hanoverian King, began rule at age 25

  • Did not speak English nor attempt to learn it

  • Notably had two mistresses referred to as the Elephant and the Maypole

  • Frequent absences from England, preferring Hanover

WALPOLE’S POLICIES TOWARDS THE AMERICAN COLONIES

  • Characterized by lax colonial taxation policies

  • Allowed relative self-governance among colonies with minimal oversight from England

ROLE OF THE PRIME MINISTER

  • Functioned as a mediator between King George I and the populace

  • First Prime Minister was Robert Walpole

  • His party (Whigs) dominated Parliament until 1760

ABSOLUTISM

  • Definition: A state is termed sovereign when it has a monopoly over justice and force within defined boundaries

FRANCE IN THE 17TH CENTURY

  • Historical context: Final stages of the sixteenth century marked by religious wars between Catholics and Huguenots

  • More of a land power compared to naval capabilities

THOMAS HOBBES

  • Author of "Leviathan"

  • Belief: Government's primary role is to prevent chaos and violence among people

  • Advocated strong monarchic governance ruling with an iron fist

  • Described life without government as “poor, solitary, brutish, and short”

HENRY IV (1533-1610)

  • The first Bourbon ruler, originally a Huguenot

  • Converted to Catholicism stating, "Paris was worth a mass"

  • Issued the Edict of Nantes granting Protestants the right to worship

  • Financial reforms aimed at reducing peasant taxes and limiting noble influence

  • Assassinated by Francois Ravaillac on May 14, 1610

LOUIS XIII (1610-1643)

  • Ascended throne at 9 years old after Henry IV

  • Mother (Marie de Medici) acted as regent

  • Involvement of Cardinal Richelieu, seen as the actual head of governance

CARDINAL RICHELIEU

  • Key actions:

    1. Weakened noble power

    2. Enhanced royal finances

    3. Dismantled Habsburg stronghold in Europe

WEAKENING THE NOBILITY

  • Utilized Intendants: Officials managing finance, justice, and reporting throughout 34 provinces

  • Replaced traditional nobility as primary administrators

ENHANCING ROYAL TREASURIES

  • Farmers General: Tax collectors grew prosperous from collected taxes, purchasing their titles

  • Nobility types:

    • Nobility of the Robe (wealthy tax collectors)

    • Nobility of the Sword (established aristocracy)

DEFEATING THE HAPSBURGS

  • Strategic guidance for Louis XIII: joined Protestant German princes against the Habsburgs during the Thirty Years' War

  • Resulted in France's ascension as a dominant power in Europe

LOUIS XIV

  • Ascended as King in 1643, aged 4; mother, Anne of Austria, as regent

  • Cardinal Mazarin as First Minister

  • His rule faced opposition from nobility during early reign

THE FRONDES (1648-1650)

  • Two civil conflicts involving the nobility against the crown during Louis XIV's early reign

  • Eventually, the crown emerged victorious

  • Louis XIV preferred to operate outside of Paris, distrusting the nobility

LOUIS XIV IN POWER

  • Assumed full governance at 23 years old

  • Engaged in diplomatic marriage with Marie Theresa of Spain

  • Known by monikers: The Grand Monarch; The Sun King

VERSAILLES

  • Relocated royal residence to the hunting lodge at Versailles in 1661

  • Involved significant renovations, making it the royal seat of government

  • Allowed Louis to monitor the nobility closely living within the palace

VERSAILLES PALACE

  • Description and notable areas encompassed:

    • Hall of Mirrors

RELIGIOUS POLICY

  • Enforced religious uniformity in France

  • Outlawed Protestantism by revoking the Edict of Nantes

  • Consequence: Exile of industrious Huguenots which hurt the French economy

WAR OF DEVOLUTION (1667-1668)

  • Causes: Utilized unpaid dowry from wife Marie Theresa as a reason for pursuing the Spanish crown

  • Consequences: Large expenditures, souring relations with other nations, and minimal achievements

WAR OF SPANISH SUCCESSION (1701-14)

  • Conflict noted for its duration, with prolonged fighting against England and the Dutch

  • Resulted in Louis's grandson, Philip of Anjou, achieving the Spanish throne but renouncing claims to France

  • Triggered by childless death of Charles II of Spain leading Louis to impose his grandson

DEATH OF LOUIS XIV

  • Died at age 77 on September 1, 1715

  • Left a legacy of government debt and ongoing warfare across Europe

  • Notable legacy: Construction of Versailles Palace, viewed as his crowning achievement

POLAND IN THE 17TH CENTURY

  • Political landscape marked by nobility blocking central government formation

  • Resulting partitions between Austria, Prussia, and Russia (1772-1795)

  • Poland effectively ceased to exist on European maps for over a century

RUSSIA IN THE 17TH CENTURY

  • Control by Mongols during a significant portion of western Russian history

  • Ivan IV, known as “the Terrible,” rolled back Mongol influence and established rulership as Tsar/Czar

TIME OF TROUBLES

  • Significant period leading to the Romanov dynasty establishment

  • Michael Romanov elected as Tsar in 1613 following civil war after Ivan IV's reign

PETER THE GREAT

  • Notably tall (6’7) with physical impairments

  • Lack of formal education; had a reputation as a heavy drinker

  • Major reforms in military and education

  • Religious control measures were implemented

    • Mandated aristocratic appearance changes including beards and western clothing

    • Encouraged the adoption of smoking habits

PETER AND THE BOYARS

  • Under his rule, boyars (nobility) faced reduced power and influence

  • Founded St. Petersburg as a significant new capital: "Window to the Sea"

  • Engaged in the Great Northern War, defeating Charles XII of Sweden

OTTOMAN EMPIRE IN THE 17TH CENTURY

  • Considered the largest, most stable state adjacent to Europe

  • Empire extended from Africa to the Middle East

  • Gradual decline following a failed attempt to seize Vienna in 1683

  • Gained the status as the "sick man of Europe"

ITALY IN THE 17TH CENTURY

  • Primarily regional and fragmented

  • Key powers: Hapsburgs in Spain controlled Milan and the Kingdom of Naples, while the Pope governed the Papal States

  • Balance between few politically independent Italian states

AUSTRIAN HAPSBURGS

  • Major ruling family with influence over Spanish, Austrian, and Holy Roman Empire thrones

  • Engaged in numerous wars primarily against Louis XIV and Ottoman forces

  • Struggled with unity due to diverse populations across their expansive empire

  • Key involvement: Stopping the Ottoman advance on Vienna, gaining territory in Hungary

HAPSBURG LANDS IN CENTRAL EUROPE (1648)

  • Significant locations included:

    • Leipzig

    • Prague

    • Vienna

    • Royal Hungary

    • Silesia

    • Moravia

    • Lower and Upper Austria

    • Styria

    • Bohemia

    • holy sites and strategic areas across the landscape

PRUSSIA IN THE 17TH CENTURY

  • Historical context involving pagan Germanic invasions

  • Converted to Protestantism in the 1500s

  • Came under the control of the Hohenzollern family starting in 1525

  • Transitioned towards absolute monarchy, while still accommodating Prussian aristocracy

  • Known members: Junkers corresponding to the emergent power structure.