Test 4 Flashcards
Feudalism
Basic social/economic system, political too. weak central monarch that ruled over autonomous nobility. Gained position through warrior grandfathers. Nobility was 5% to 1%, most people were peasants, slavic slaves, and serfs who worked land and gave portion of crop for protection. Lords. served as the law enforcers. Not many people had means/skills to fight back but nobles did because wealthy enough too, kept the serfs in line.
King (most land)-Nobility (military service for land)-Lesser nobles-Country men with least land
- Not much industry in medieval times, predominantly agriculture society.
- 3 estates: those who pray (clergy),fight (nobles), and work (serfs)
Clergy
Devoted life to God. Ranged in power from town Fryer to the Pope. Priests looked over common people’s needs(marriages and deaths). It provided stability after the fall of Rome. People believed baptism and marriage were important for salvation and only priests could provide these. For this reason priests were powerful, could excommunicate. Some were corrupt and made $ off services and had girlfriends.
Protestant Reformation
Frustration w/ RCC corruption led to this. Did not start as movement to split Europe but as a reform movement.
Martin Luther
Starter of the Reformation. Born to a rich German family, he went to seminary and got a PHD in Theology. He believed that the bible was the final authority, even trumped Thomas Aquin’s teachings. Observed priests selling indulgences (get out of hell free cards) which had started during the Crusades as a way for disabled men to be forgiven.
Wrote 95 thesis, urged the Church to stop and nailed it to the door of Ventiburg Germany. Believed the church could change if knew problems. Pope defended sale of indulgences however. A public argument started, church excommunicated Luther. He started his own church, very radical. Many people supported supported him and monasteries spit over this.
Luther married a nun and translated the Bible from Latin to the Vernacular (German). Came after the printing press. More people than ever could read and interpret the Bible. His actual role in the movement in 1522 was small but he had changed Christianity in Europe forever.
John Calvin
- Most forms of American Christianity have his teachings. Renaissance humanist influenced him, he learned Latin, Hebrew and Greek to really study the Bible. French were very intolerant of Reformers and Calvin was French. So he moved to Switzerland.
Wrote Institutes of Christian Religion which was the most prominent in Protestant thought. Salvation from God and faith were more important than works and sacraments. Believed the Bible was everything you needed. Argued that God predetermined the Elect and the Reperbait. Elect was upright and received grace. Calvinists believed that wealth was a sign of Gods grace.
Calvinists took over Genovea Switzerland, installed a morality police. Center of Protestant Reformation. THey doubted if humans could be truly wise and main goal of life was salvation. It was anti-intilectualism or social darwanism… After death used Calvinism as a means for rich to get richer and poor to become poorer.
Henry VIII
Great reformer. King of England and head of Church of England but not over Pope. Wanted his marriage to be annulled but Pope refused. So he broke with the RCC and established the Anglican Church. Clergy could get married, translated Bile to English and made all wealth belong to England by confiscating monastery money.
Counter Reformation
- Inquisition, mainly in Spain. Find Protestants and kill them.
- Council of Trent- looked over Church doctrine, gave less power to priests and required more education for them.
- Led to French wars of Religion- Huganots (French Calvinists) which were 40-50% Nobles against the Catholics. Henry IV reconverted to Catholicism. Eden of Knots revoked and Huganots left France.
Thirty Years War
1618-1648. In Germany. Lutheran/Calvin/Catholics fighting. Guns were used and lots died.
Decentralized Germany because Barons decided for the people of his county what the religion was, so it varied. Most were Lutheran or Catholic. After this Europe tended to not go to war for God after 17th century.
Economics in Medieval TImes
Wealth was considered evil. Communal responsibility to take care of each other. Money should be spent on God and the poor if you had extra. Poor was responsibility of Church and King. Barter society so not much money.
Capitalism
Economic and political system. Control by private owners. Discovery of the New World brought wealth and opportunity.
Downside of Capitalism is poverty, Before this everyone took care of each other, even though everyone was poor. Capitalism undermined communal responsibility, no economic justice. Capitalism hired unemployed over guild workers. Peasants revolted and bandits began to steal. General discontent. Some capitalists saw wealth as Gods favor and led to social inequality based on religion.
The Enclosure Movement
wool b/c of technology improvements led to old nobility being less rich and having to sell their land to business men. They put sheep on the land, but the peasants who had survived on that land lost jobs and had to move to cities.
Fuggrs
German banking family that lent money to Church and Kings. Used profits to build churches and donated to the Church so they thought it was okay to borrow from them.
Mercantilism
State capitalism. Louis XIV of France known as Sun King enacted this in France. Economy exists for benefit of state and he said he was the state. Acquisition of gold and silver then stored in a bank for economy. Strict control over foreign ventures and good sales, Worked very well for France in 1600s, most powerful. But this concentration of power led to a the French Revolution.
Investment Banking
- Stocks: Netherlands started this. Business men would meet and would share b/w each other Textile man would invest in another textile company who would then sell shares to other men.
- Dutch East India Company- International trade, very risky. Better to have many stocks. Took Dutch all over and made them a world power in 17th century.
- Investment banking-loaning $ was sinful in medieval, known as usury. Began to change and investment began so could buy stock and sheep land.
Louis XIV
Absolute monarch, I am the State, “The Sun King”. Believed it was God’s will for him to rule. Became King at 4, Cardinal Mazaran was his chief adviser when too young to rule.
- Civil War in France 1648-1653. Almost drowned because no one watched him, he lived in poverty for a while, which shaped his later rule by making him distrust the nobility and people who fought the Civil War. Began ruling assertively in teens.
- Fought many wars of expansion
- Revoked Edict of Nantes (which gave freedom of religion to Huganots) and built palace of Versailles
- Later wars were not as successful but he continued to shape French culture. French became the language of diplomacy, had edge on fashion and literature. Military and navy were amazing.
- Powerful and hard working ruler, made France greatest country
Jean Baptiste Colbert
Mercantilist and finance minister of Louis’. Kept gold and silver in reserves by getting over-sea colonies. Also favored trade with more export than import. Always have surplus.
-Mercantilism had many state monopolies on goods.
Palace of Versailles
Not known why he built but is a picture of excessive government spending. Palace away from Paris and a place for King /nobility to go and be morality lax. Everything wrong with a monarchy. Used to keep nobility in line by keeping them at court where Lois could watch them, splendid incarceration. Through lavish party throwing he took some of the nobles riches because he put the money back into the state economy.
Despotism
Ivan IV “The Terrible”. In Russia, he ended chaos. Was strong, centralized power. Had wars of expansion in East Eurasia and Southern Ottomans.
-Was despotic because he had final authority, No other voices counted but his. Decisive but tyrannical.
Enlightened Despotism
Peter I “The Great”. In Russia, was fianl authority but knew country was bakcward and tried to modernize Russia. Modern navy with German naval officers. Moved capital to Moscow and built St. Petersburg, the window on the west. Decisive ruler could improve country.
English Civil Wars
1645-1651. 4 sided that would switch alliances: 1. King Charles I of England
- Parliament
- Scottish Coventanters (Presbyterians)
- Irish Confederates (Catholics)
Taxes and religion were major conflicts. King taxed without Parliaments permission and tried to reform the Book of Common Prayer toward Anglican.
- Battle of Marston Moor: Major rebel (Parliament) victory, made deals with Confederates and Presbyterians
- Parliament executes Charles I, monarch abolished and common wealth established. Son Charles II flees to France. 200000 people die and no more English wars
Oliver Cromwell
Anti-Anglican Puritan against Charles I. Calvinist who believed no minister needed for salvation. He was a military leader and a strict officer, was successful.
- Leader of New Model Army: Professional Parliament army, replaced local militia. Not loyal to Nobles but Parliament. Defeated Royalist forces.
- Became Lord Protector of British Isles: Leader of Britain. Allowed Jews to come back, against high nobility and monopolies. Tried to keep middle path.
- Republican government failed after his death and Charles II restored as monarch in 1660.
Glorious Revolution
James II was Catholic, wanted to restore Catholic in England. More rebellions. The rebels invited William of Orange and Mary Stuart (James II’s daughter) to come to England with their army and host military coo.
-James fled and William and Mary made King/Queen. Gave power to Parliament who funded the military and said no more Catholic Kings. Secured Protestant as Christianity of Prestige and Power in England
Renaissance
Rebirth after the Dark Ages (1000 years after fall of Rome)
Humanism, Petrarch
Anti religious today but back in Renaissance these men were Christian
- Petrarch: studied Latin classics and Greek. Poet that read philosophical Greek work that nobody read b/c considered Pagan.. Petrarch thought it possible to be Greek and Christian, God didn’t create man for sin but to glorify Him. Thought God gave humans a brain to think and thought it led to great faith. People thought he was demoting God.
- Thought medieval scholasticism that was only wrote memorization was bad and encouraged thought of theological questions.
Rabelais
Same beliefs as Petrarch. Was a monk, Dr, author. Read Greek too. Lived in time of printing press and used the new media of paper back books to criticize people of his day through literature. Criticized the Church and monasteries
Sir Thomas Moore
Devout Christian, lawyer and businessman in London. Almost became a priest but became a civil servant. Protector of London’s poor, critic of Capitalism. Adviser to King Henry VIII, sent around to negotiate with Europe. He was Catholic though and refused to condone Henry’s divorce to Katherine, did not say this publicly though. However, his refusal to sign off on the divorce got him executed behind the scenes. He is now a saint and a martyr.
-Wrote books and treaties. Most famous is Utopia. Meaning “No Place”. Thoughtful criticism of capitalism and greed. Lapsed Christian values. In book it is Pagans living better than the supposed Christians of today. “If pagan communists can be good that why cant Christian capitalists?” Thought it was wrong to kill thieves who had no choice but to steal and thought more Christian values would improve England.
Copernicus
Polish. Major work was 6 Books Concerning Revolutions of the Heavenly Orbs. His field was astronomy, law and medicine. Studied Muslim astronomers and concluded that the geocentric view of the universe was wrong and it was heliocentric. This forced people to question notions they has always had. Made other questions arise about the Bible. Not many people read his book because considered heresy.
Scientific Revolution
- Kepler verified the heliocentric model.
- Galileo said heavens were changeable
- Newton came up with fundamental laws of Physics
- Improved technology like clocks, lead pencils, thermometers, guns and calculators.
Enlightenment
Kepler, Galileo and Newton all led to. Reason would lead to conclusions that were against beliefs.Great age of reason over belief. Critical approach to knowledge to improve human happiness.
Rene Descartes
pure reason, I think therefor I am. Was Christian and thought this increased proof of God.
Thomas Hobbs
Did not believe society was perfectible, needed a King
John Locke
impurism and modern democracy.
Voltaire
vocal critic of Church. Science and rationality equaled happiness. Saw religion as oppressor. Formed foundation of contemporary humanism
Sa’dian Dynasty Morocco
Crossroads, rose in 1500s in North West Africa. Europeans invaded= Spanish and Portuguese were successful. Foothold for Europe in Africa. The people said to be related to Muhammad. Europeans rose to power by military mercenaries that used fire arms.
Ahmad al Mansure
Most notable sultan of Sa’dian Dynasty. He pushed south as far as Timbuktu and took over gold trade there. Phillip II of Spain and Elizabeth I of England ruled at this time, he sided with England and France over Spain and Portugal. He aided them by making them fight a two sided war, also helped with navy by offering a safe harbor in Africa.
-Nicknamed the “Golden One”. In 1600s was important Islamic power in Atlantic
Songhay
1500 miles across. 15-1600s. Was in theory an Islamic Empire because the elite were Muslims but the countryside was West African religion. They combined some parts of Islam but not all. Known as Liberals=Native and Muslim. Conservative=Arabian Islam.
- Sonni Ali: King and a liberal Muslim, tolerant. Founder of Empire and liberalism helped him but drew conservative criticism.
- Muhammad I Askia: Very conservative, known as “Defender of the Faith” to Muslims, but alienated West Africans. He fractured the Songhai empire that led to Moroccan invasion in 16th century.
Timbuktu
Most important West African city. Trade and education capital in 11-1700s. Predominantly Muslim but has Christians. Control of Timbuktu=Control of Africa and gold.
Kongo and Ndongo
Christian state in Africa. 1390, Leader was Maniknogo. In 1490, the Kongo King and Princes were converted to Christianity from the West African religion.
- King Alfonso I was the best Kongo king, he ruled when the Portuguese began coming. He was a devout Christian and wanted to further Christianity in Kongo. He wanted to trade weapons and economic ideas with Portuguese but Portuguese wanted slaves. For a while the relationship was okay, helped education/trade but not for long. Alfonso wrote Portugal King about slave trade b/c slave raiders were not operating under his domain of control. but king did not help.
- Portugal established Kongo as a colony named Angola, which didn’t break free until 1975.
Queen Nzinga
One of the most important resistant figures. Queen of part of Kongo (Ndongo) that split during a civil war. Fought Portugal fiercely, did not claim all Ndongo, but did found new kingdom MATAMBA KINGDOM, which remained independent til 19th century,
-Portuguese liked to divide and conquer African people by turning them against themselves to weaken their forces.
The Middle Passage
Boat with as many slaves as possible. Branded, chained and overcrowded. Mutiny led to suicide by jumping off ship. Justification of slavery was capitalism, high profits with no worker fees. Scientific theories and religion tried to justify too. Impossible to buy because $$ was the reason.
Ottoman empire
1300s. Borsa and Anatolia was base and large parts of Southern Europe. Tamerlain amost wiped the Ottomans out but did leave some survivors.
- Let Jews/Christians regulate themselves. Known as the Milet system in Ottoman empire, as long as didn’t hurt Muslims and paid taxes.
- Survived until WWI. In 1699, Treaty of Carlowitz was the beginning of end for Ottomans. Had Bad economic decisions, exchanged raw material for European manufactured goods, Weak sultans. European penetration and Capitalism. Military degeneration.
Mehmet II The Conqueror
Ottoman Ruler. Captured Constantinople in 1453. Know as the Second Rome, capital of Byzantine empire. Fell finally after 700 years. City was complete mess, all people had abandoned. Mehmet wanted to rebuild so allowed former residents to come back regardless of religion. Safe haven for Jews during Inquisition. Mehmet then expanded to Serbia, Greece, Albania, Iraq and Ottanto Italy. Saw Sharia law did not work so made QUANUN or a secular law.
