Westernciv Chapter 15 - All books first page questions are answered PDF

Preview

Summary

All books first page questions are answered ...

Description

Chapter: State building and the search for order in the seventeenth century 8/5/18

1. What economic, social, and political crisis did Europe experience in the half of the seventeenth century? The wealth that poured in from the new world, especially the vast amounts of silver and gold that flooded the market, caused widespread inflation. After the resources slowed recession followed and devastated the Mediterranean and Spain's economy. The climate turned for the worst as another mini ice age ravaged crops causing widespread famine and putting the people on edge. This social tension led to the witchcraft trials that killed thousands as people, primarily women, were tortured and executed for the crime of witchcraft. Even as the hysteria ended war was brewing between the Calvinists and the Catholics. The Thirty-Year War, last of the religious wars, waged and devastated countries such as Germany and reduced the population of the Holy Roman Empire by fifth teen percent. With the war and recent famine commoners and nobility alike were unsatisfied with the rulers. Rebellion ran rampant through all of Europe, starting in the Germanic lands and Holy Roman Empire. (p.358,359,360,361,362)

2.

What was absolutism in theory, and how did its actual practice in France reflect or defer from the theory?

Absolutism is idea that the king had a divine right to hold all authority and that he answered to only God. The attempted application is best seen in France where despite the vicious and clever tactics of the controlling royal ministers and efforts of King Louis XIV, total control could never be achieved. They did manage to weaken the nobility considerably and consolidate authority in policymaking but couldn’t overcome the well-established power of the guilds, provincial representatives, and town councils. In the end the king having total control is virtually impossible and pure absolutism isn't an achievable goal because there will always be some vestige of a former power or new that will be able to challenge him. (p.362,363,364,365)

3. What developments enabled Brandenburg - Prussia, Austria, in Russia to emerge as major powers in the seventeenth century? Brandenburg-Prussia and Austria became powerful through the reorganization of their forces and empire to become conquerors like those of Western Europe. The small Prussian state had fourth largest military in Europe and Austria conquered lands formerly held by the Ottoman empire. Russia experienced the most growth. Establishment of the ruling tsar and following crushing of the nobility that threatened centralized power laid framework for Peter the Greats and his massive reforms.

His goal was to "westernize" Russia and make it a force that can compete with the western empires. He reorganized the military and central government to more effectively rule and also established a navy. Seeing the church as another threat to his absolute rule he reorganized that as well and established ruling council led by his representative to lead the Russian Orthodox Church. From there he went to the Baltic lands and successfully warred with the Swedish state, taking territories from the state. (p.367,368,369)

4.

What were the main issues in the struggles between king and Parliament in seventeenth century England, and how were they resolved?

England's government struggled to cooperate due to absolutist sentiment the king held. Parliament refused to work with the king who would disempower them, so king Charles tried to rule without them but failed due to unpopularity of his religious edicts and inability to levy taxes. Extremist parliamentary forces seized control, but they couldn't properly cooperate either and had to cede control back to the monarchy. King James clashed religiously with parliament as he pushed a return to a Catholic England. Parliament supported his puritan daughter and husband in taking control and finally England's crown and parliament were unified as the new King William and Mary established the Bill of Rights that recognized parliaments authority and prevented it from being disbanded by king by also ceding ability to call armed forces together to parliament. (p.372,373,374,375,376)

5.

How did the artistic and literary achievements of the era reflect to the political and economic developments of the period?

Post-Renaissance art reflected the uncertain and politically turbulent times through elongated figures that broke from the realistic proportions from before in a style that came to be called Mannerism. Baroque was a style that reflected the period of governmental and religious revival of the Catholic Church as well as the quest for power that these forces were on at the time. It was grand, ornate, and emotionally dramatic. The Elizabethan era of literature reflected the pride of the English empire and its wealth. In this age theater became especially popular and William Shakespeare rose to fame as a genius playwright and man of the theater. (p.378,379)

6. What theories of government were proposed by Thomas Hobbes and John Locke, and how did their respective theories reflect concerns and problems of the seventeenth century? Critical thinking Thomas Hobbes was known for his support of the absolutist form of government due to his incredibly negative view of humanity. Of course, it was written after the thirty-year conflict between Calvinists and Catholics and during the ensuing witch trials. The view of humanity outlined in his book as cruel and unreasonable was shaped by the conflict and paranoia that plagued the times. He saw an absolute government as the only way to restrain the vicious human nature. John Locke believed that people were ruled by tolerance and reason and that the obligation to obey the king ended when the king overstepped his bounds. He saw absolutist thought pit the king against the parliament that was an extension of the peoples will. 7. What did I learn from this chapter that I did not know before?

As the influx of riches from the new world slowed Italy and Spain suffered from a recession caused by all the excess imported silver and gold. Following this, a mini ace age wrecked crop fields adding famine to the poverty and raising tensions among the people until it boiled into the Witch Trials. Absolutist theory developed, and kings tried to rule with complete authority but failed due to inability to bypass the established powers but had major success in centralizing administrative authority in France. Russia developed into a super power under tsar Peter the Great who westernized Russia to compete with the other powerful states of Europe.

Key terms

1. absolutism (p.362)- A form of government in which the sovereign Power or ultimate authority rested in the hands of a monarch who claimed to rule by divined it right and was therefore responsible only to God. 2. boyars (p.368)- The Russian nobility 3. procurator (p.369)- The head of the Holy Synod, the chief decision-making body for the Russian orthodox church. 4. gentry (p.372)- Well-to-do English land owners below the level of the nobility. They played an important role in the English Civil War of the 17th century. 5. Mannerism (p.378)- A 16th century artistic of movement in Europe that deliberately broke down the high Renaissance principles of balance, harmony, and moderation. 6. Baroque (p.378)- Artistic movement of the 17th century in Europe that used your magic of facts to arouse the emotions and reflected the search for power that was a large part of the 17th century ethos....