Europe’s Rise in the Early
Modern Period
Renaissance
• A period of intense artistic and intellectual
activity, said to be a “rebirth” of Greco-Roman
culture. Usually divided into an Italian
Renaissance, from roughly the mid 14th to mid
15th century, and a Northern Renaissance,
from roughly the early fifteenth to early
seventeenth century.
Political Timeline
• 1500’s – Spain’s golden century
• 1519 – Protestant Reformation begins
• 1600’s – Holland’s golden century
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Political
Vatican – Pope Boniface VIII (~1300) asserted papal superiority over temporal authority (monarchs). King Philip of France sent
troops to arrest the Pope, who soon passed away. King Philip then engineered a papal election of a French Pope.
Italy – common form of government = city-state.
Merchants begin dominating politics/economics, such as the Medici family in Florence.
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Political power came to be based on individual efforts to promote a city’s well being and cultural accomplishments.
Italian city-states began political decline around 1500.
Teutonic Knights will govern what later becomes Prussia in the Baltics.
Austria/Germany – Habsburg Family – land claims across Europe (SPA, ITA, NED, HUN). All HRE emperors were Habsburgs (from
1293 on). HRE = empire based
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Charles V – wanted to unite all these holdings under one rule – unsuccessful!
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Inspired by Magna Carta (1215) & Henry VIII’s use of parliamentary support to establish the Anglican church
English Bill of Rights also established certain civil rights to civilians, such as right to trial & habeus corpus.
Growing wealthy merchant class involved in political affairs/parliament. England = growing worldwide power.
Spain – Ferdinand & Isabella united kingdoms of Aragon & Castille, eventually forced out Muslims from kingdom of Granada
(southern Spain)
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France’s armies grew, nobles were less rebellious.
Strong bureaucracy that collected taxes & kept close watch of dissidents
Divine right of kings – w/blessings from God, legitimacy grew.
Apex of absolutism = Louis XIV (17th/18th CE). “theater state” – palace at Versailles, known as the “Sun King.” “L’ etat c’est moi”
However, the French will form a parliamentary assembly, the Estates General
English Civil War (17th century) – provoked by Catholic leanings of Stuart kings. King vs. Parliament. Parliament won, King
Charles I = beheaded. Parliament settled on William & Mary of Orange (from NED) to co-rule w/Parliament holding the power
of the purse & checked royal absolutism in England. Glorious Revolution of 1688 & English Bill of Rights were outcomes later.
Constitutionalism in England (also in NED) – rulers shared power with a parliament, or representatives selected by nobility &
leading merchants/citizens. Ruler & everyone else = subject to the laws of parliament.
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Absolutism also popular in Austria/Germany , especially Prussia. Strong military one characteristic.
France – absolute monarchs (held complete control over kingdoms – this also happens in SPA).
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Habsburgs = Catholic. Surrounded by Protestants, faced opposition from Ottomans & French King. After his departure to a monastery in Spain the
Habsburg holdings fragmented.
Sponsor Columbus. Obtain much New World wealth. Pope at one point divided globe between SPA & PORT b/c of colonization efforts.
Philip II – takes over later, Habsburg
Russia – Ivan III declared himself tsar of Russia in the early 16 th century as Mongol power declined in Russia. He soon then
added Siberia into the Russia realm, which was very natural-resource heavy.
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Peter the Great (Early 18th CE) would turn Russia into an isolated, agricultural kingdom into an industrialized, commercial, and militarized
kingdom. He founded a new capital at St. Petersburg, which served as a valuable link between Russia and the West.
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Economic
Italy - Entrepreneurial spirit – banking techniques improved, merchants became profit-seeking. Best example: Medici Family.
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Germany –
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Wool-making streamlined & trade of wool expanded/dominated by Medici in Florence. Competed with Flemish cities in Belgium.
Venice still surpassed most of its European trade rivals in terms of volume & frequency of trade due to its trade empire/strong navy.
Hanseatic League began Northern European association of trading cities, evident of movement away from manorialism.
A more literate Europe, encouraged by Protestantism & Gutenberg’s printing press take on better jobs that require literacy/advanced
knowledge.
Three-field system: grew crops on 2/3 of their land and planted oats in the 3rd field. Oats rejuvenated the soil & could help feed horses.
England – capitalism/mercantilism. Capitalism = economic system based on private ownership of property & businesses that
produce goods to be bought/sold in a free market.
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Adam Smith – capitalism – The Wealth of Nations – “the invisible hand” of the market = law that defined relationship between supply/demand.
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Fair prices = set b/c supply/demand naturally vary together. No government intervention necessary!
Replaces the guild system of the middle ages. Guilds fixed prices/wages/monopolized goods w/out an emphasis on profit-making. Capitalism opposed
this. Individuals were subject to free hand of the market, not fixed prices, & operated independently.
European banks, investment organizations grew in number after capitalism’s advent, even though these institutions had existed prior. All
European cities had them.
Joint-stock companies – example: East India Company. Piled money from investors through shareholdings & invested the money around the
world.
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This spread out wealth amongst investors, less likely that 1 person would be completely ruined.
Popular in Britain and the Netherlands b/c their governments supported rule of law & contracts.
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Mercantilism = implies more gov’t control than capitalism.
Spain – Colonization efforts by the Spanish and Portuguese, beginning in the 15 th century would create the triangular Atlantic
trade of goods, slaves, and resources to be sent between the New World, the Old World, and Africa.
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New types of crops, such as corn, tobacco, etc. would provide much wealth for the countries colonizing the New World. Gold & silver was also a
great driving force behind the coffers of many European monarchs, and substantial amounts came from the New World.
However, military aggression would prove costly & drain the Spanish treasury (fought OTT, PROT, NED)
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For example, this is opposed by Spain, where the government would control most business ventures
Mercantilism – responsibility of gov’t to promote the state’s economy to improve tax revenues & limit imports to prevent foreign profits
w/domestic money.
Influx of gold & bullion from Americas replenished Spain’s coffers.
BENELUX: Flanders especially. Textiles produced from this region were luxury items for wealthy Europeans. Hanseatic ships,
Venetians, Genoese converged on this region, along with northern, France to trade.
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Netherlands – Dutch revolted from Spanish Charles V’s oppression, ousted Spain by 1609 & built an empire afterwards. The Dutch were easily
the world’s best trading nation.
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Economic success via decentralized gov’t. Each province of NED free to pursue economic interests. NED also imposed protective tariffs on foreign
goods. Amsterdam became Europe’s financial center; over 80% of trade to Spain came out of Amsterdam.
Also dominated Indian Ocean trade & the Atlantic. Possibly conducted more than 50% of commercial shipping worldwide.
Religious
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Papal authority was asserted by Boniface VIII over temporal leaders. This led to two popes being elected – one
in Italy (Rome), one in France (Avignon), beginning the ‘Babylonian Captivity,’ or Great Western Schism (13781415).
Italy – Papacy reigns supreme. Popes patroned the arts & built massive cathedrals to glorify the faith & attract
new followers. Protestantism sinks its teeth into France, Germany, Scotland, Scandanavia, & England.
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Counter-reformation – Council of Trent (1545-1563)
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Germany – Martin Luther – 95 Theses (1517). These are complaints levied against the Catholic church,
especially for the sale of indulgences.
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Indulgences – grants of salvation in return for money given to the church’s coffers. Begun by Pope Leo X.
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Faith alone justifies me! – in Luther’s eyes, Church had put itself as an impediment between man & God.
Luther was eventually excommunicated (still thought he was Catholic for the remainder of his life). His works inspired
protestant movements all over Europe, such as Calvinism (stern/vengeful God, predestination), & the Anglican church
(founded by Henry VIII – didn’t want the Pope’s power over him).
Encouraged people to read the Bible to discover Christian message
Result of Reformation – breakup of Catholicism’s hold on most elements (political, religious, economic, & social life) in
Europe
Disbands monasteries & convents & seized their lands.
Daughters – Queen Mary/Elizabeth. Mary = Catholic, Elizabeth = Protestant
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Symbolic of growing corruption among holy men in Church
England – Henry VIII (1533) establishes the Anglican church w/English King as the highest authority, then clergy.
Allows Henry to remarry, allows priests to marry, etc.
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Southern Europe, Poland, Austria, Hungary remain Catholic
Banned indulgences
Established schools/seminaries for priests across Europe, including the Jesuits (would become essential in the spreading of Christianity to
the new world/Asia)
Mary tries to revive Catholicism in England, but this doesn’t last long.
Spain – Philip II – Spanish Inquisition used to enforce religious orthodoxy. Jews, Muslims, Protestants sought
out.
Religious pluralism becomes more accepted in Europe. Some people flee Europe to the Americas to release
themselves from persecution/division.
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Social
Italy - Urbanization increases in Italy, moves northward. This is a product of economic
prosperity. London, Paris increased in size because of the increase of commercial activity as
well. (500k citizens by 1650).
– More young people founded families at an earlier age b/c of possibility of financial independence.
– Marriage promoted as well b/c of economic unity in the joining of two families. LOVE WAS DEAD .
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Rapid population growth is a result of healthier diets (b/c of increase in food available via
trade networks). 80 mil in 1500, 120 mil in 1700.
Old diseases = less deadly. Better immunity.
– Less people dying easily!
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Gender roles didn’t change that much during this time.
– Women still subservient. Protestant/Catholic religious leadership was still male dominated.
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An advantageous marriage was a way for a woman to break her socioeconomic mold.
Few women were allowed to have an education. Some bourgeois women were bookkeepers for their husbands.
However, with the Enlightenment things will look up for women, as more will become literate.
European Jews will be expelled during this time from their homelands. Many relocate to
Poland, Germany, Palestine, & the Maghreb. France, England, Portugal, and Spain all have
monarchs that at one point in time expelled Jewish populations. Spain even expelled all
Muslims in 1499 with a ‘convert or leave’ edict, causing a Muslim revolt for two years.
European Universities will rise as well, especially the University of Paris, which will be the
foremost intellectual authority in Europe. By 1500 Europe will have a total of 80 universities,
as opposed to the mere 20 they had in 1300.
– All university courses taught in Latin in Europe. It meant that students/scholars/professors could move
from university to university. Synthesizing reason & faith = scholasticism.
– Theology emerged as the ‘queen of all sciences,’ with a strong emphasis on applying Greek philosophy,
such as Aristotle, to Christian theology. The master of this was St. Thomas Aquinas (Dominican priest &
professor of Theology at the U. of Paris), with his Summa Theologica.
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Interactions Timeline
1337-1453 – 100 Years War
1347 – Bubonic Plague enters Europe through Messina.
1492 – Muslims out of Spain
1526-1571 – Ottomans attack Hapsburgs.
1546-1555 – German Wars of Religion
1566-1648 – French Wars of Religion
1566-1648 – Netherlands Revolt
1588 – English defeat the Spanish Armada
1618-1648 – Thirty Years War
1642-1648 – English Civil War
1652-1678 – Anglo-Dutch Wars
1683-1697 – Ottoman Wars
1701-1714 – War of the Spanish Succession
Interactions
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The Crusades, prior to this period, opened up contact between European Crusaders and the Middle East. The
city-state of Venice led the 4th crusade in 1204 vs. Constantinople & helped weaken the Byzantine grip on Black
Sea/Mediterranean trade routes.
Italian city-states (Venice, Genoa especially) grew wealthy from eastern trading & securing trade routes across
the Mediterranean.
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England vs. France – 100 Years War (1337-1453). Conflict between monarchs of ENG/FRA over control of the
French throne. Financed by heavy taxes in both realms, elevating the status of both monarchies.
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Also led to nationalism (national identity)
Battle of Agincourt = French stupidity! Short-distance crossbows vs. long-distance longbows. English cannons also
secured victory vs. the French. Guns became more prominent towards the end of the war.
Ferdinand & Isabella (1492) helped oust the Islamic kingdom of Granada from Spanish soil. This was helped
previously by the Portuguese victory vs. the Muslims in northern Africa @ Ceuta, which exposed the
Portuguese to the wealth of caravan routes & African trade.
Spanish had the largest empire by mid 1500s (& the best navy – the armada), however their defeat to the
English in 1588 in the English Channel spelled the end. It destroyed the Spanish treasury and helped cement
Protestantism as the religion of England.
The Portuguese aggressively expanded their trade dominance in the Indian Ocean, beginning with Bartolomeo
Dias, and eventually Vasco da Gama.
Germany – 30 Year’s War (1618) – Protestants vs. Catholics. Involved almost all regions of the HRE. German
princes attempted to take back lands once owned by the Catholic church. Ends w/Treaty of Westphalia,
allowing principalities to choose their own faith.
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These trade routes had helped the spread of the Bubonic Plague across Europe prior to and through the 1400s. As the
plague hit in the mid 1300s, European populations wouldn’t get above pre-plague levels until 1500.
Marco Polo’s trip: 1271. Crossed central Asia, lived in Mongol court.
Patchwork of religious affiliations/alliances in HRE.
Dutch traders will begin to compete with Muslim and Indian traders in the Indian ocean, securing the wealth &
dominance of the Dutch as they entered a golden age in the 1600’s.
Many wars will be fought in Europe for political and religious reason. Europe was so beleaguered by the
constant threat of war that by the 1600’s many Europeans were ready to flee the continent for the New World.
They looked for new economic opportunities, as well as religious freedom.
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Arts/Intellectual/Technology
Italy - The Renaissance begins cultural change in Europe and began in Italy, eventually moving north.
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Humanism – interest in capabilities and accomplishments of individuals. Reflected in
painting/sculpture/philosophy.
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Wealthy merchants patron the arts (Medici family), as well as the Catholic church (Roman Popes). Both use art
for its aesthetic appeal and as propaganda.
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Architecture – new experimentation with space, use of domes, buttresses, etc. all with Roman/Greek capitals,
orders, etc.
Art: Giotto – added humanism to art with realistic expressions and emotion into three dimensional works.
Cavallini, Perugino also followed suit in the high middle ages, paving the way for Michelangelo, da Vinci & others.
Stone quarrying also expands based on architectural boom & urbanization
Spain – use of windmill emerges
Northern Renaissance – Shakespeare, Erasmus, Van Eyck.
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Patron-supported artists – Michelangelo, da Vinci, Raphael
France – use of the water wheel emerges.
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Dante Alighieri – Divina Commedia. Used Greco-Roman classical themes & epic poetry to convey a story of his journey through
nine circles of hell, seven terraces of purgatory, all to reach Paradise. Virgil served as his guide.
Petrarch, Boccaccio – Italian humanist writers.
Writing in vernaculars, rather than Latin.
Humanism works well with Protestant movements that emphasized the individual – individual faith.
Individual knowledge fit in with humanism/Protestantism – encouraged Christians to be literate/discover messages of
Christianity themselves.
Pope Nicholas V – created the Vatican library, bought up Greek/Roman scrolls to foster accurate translations of the material
with the help of humanist scholars, which were paid. Erasmus of Rotterdam is a great example of this.
Van Eyck used oil instead of egg yolks in his paint mixtures, giving pictures more luster & longevity.
New, larger hulls developed for deeper Atlantic/Pacific waters.
Borrowed compass from Chinese
Mercator projection – mapmaking technique that improved Atlantic navigation.
Nature/Near
• Deforestation was abundant due to new industries &
boom in building across Europe that coincided with
urbanization & the expansion of cities.
– Less wood meant a search for new energy resources, such as
coal, which England excelled at.
• By 1600 on 3% of the population controlled 97% of the
land.
• New crops such as corn & potatoes allowed the poor
more variety in their meager diet.
• English coal mining exploded from the 1600’s onward,
propelling England as a manufacturing power, as well as
adding to atmospheric pollution in England.
Significance/Big Ideas
• Contraction in the East, expansion in the West
• Consolidation of power by European monarchs, who begin to
assert themselves. Centralized states! Defined borders!
• Capitalism rises with a growing merchant class & new banking
methods
• Colonization – motivated by trade, religious zeal, wealth,
monarchical power.
– Slavery becomes a large part of new world economics. Slaves =
unpaid, less overhead cost. Helped repopulate workforce in the
Americas after indigenous populations died off from European
disease.
• Connection of two hemispheres
• Contemplation & reemergence of Greek and Roman forms in
art, philosophy, & architecture
• Creation of new technologies & improvement of old ones
• Clash of religious ideals – Protestantism vs. Catholicism