Download Chapter 17 Reading Guide Answers

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Chapter 17 Reading Guide
The Transformation of the West, 1450-1750
1. What makes the West’s path unique than previous periods or areas?
Western Europe managed to still be largely agricultural, although, at the same time it was commercially
active, manufacturing grew. Bureaucratization was founded in this time period, just like other societies, but other
changes include furthering Europe’s international influence and power, as well as the scientific and religious
revolution.
2. Europe was able to make progress despite what?
Internal conflict: there was no master plan. As a result, focal points had to be brought to attention. These
focal points included: commerce, state, and culture, with support from technology.
THE FIRST BIG CHANGES: CULTURE AND COMMERCE
THE ITALIAN RENAISSANCE
3. Where did it begin?
The Renaissance of Europe began in Italy in the 14th and 15th centuries. This was because there was more
of an urban and commercial environment, and there was more geographical structure(city-states).
4. What did it challenge?
It challenged the medieval values and styles. People realized that popular beliefs may have needed to be
explored. Theology and Science was explored through many different forms
5. What changes were made in art?
Art became much more realistic. Painting turned to realism and classical and human-centered themes. This
is when Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo became popular.
6. When the church lost its role as the central focus, what took its place (ism)?
Humanism: a focus on humankind as the center of intellectual and artistic endeavor. Religion wasn’t
rejected, but it was no longer the only focus.
7. What changes did government witness?
Political leaders of city-states became more open about their purpose as political leaders, rather than being
there for a divine purpose or heredity. They identified that their job was to improve the well being of society, and as a
result other changes in the economy, armies, and diplomacy.
*Improved banking techniques, merchants were profit-seeking, armies became more organized, and there
was more of a regular exchange of ambassadors.
THE RENAISSANCE MOVES NORTHWARD
8. What caused a blow to Italy’s commercial and artistic importance?
France and Spain invaded and took some of Italy’s political independence, and Atlantic trade routes that
were established reduced the Mediterranean’s importance. Italy’s economy became shot.
9. What made the Northern Renaissance or Northern Humanism different from its Italian
counterpart?
In Italy, there was a focus on Greek and Latin language, but Humanist writers of the North stuck to their
languages. Also, there was more of a blend between church and Humanist ideas. Philosophers tended to seek a
humanist explanation for old sacred beliefs. Writers also blended the medieval culture more into their new style of
writing (pop culture, quite secular)
10. What impact did the Renaissance have on the average person or woman?
The only main impact it had on peasants was that the men became more emphasized, and women lost their
independence and power. Kings gained more pomp, but not a lot of more power, and the peasants weren’t really
touched by the Renaissance values. Family structure and pattern did begin to change. ( Later marriages, no access
to property until people were married.)
THE COMMERCIAL ECONOMY AND A NEW FAMILY PATTERN
11. What mechanical innovations did they create?
Spurred by contact with Asia; pulleys, pumps, and iron products improved. The major invention was the
printing press was invented by Johannes Gutenburg. As a result, many more books were published.
12. What innovation cause cultural, intellectual and religious diffusion to speed up (and by
who)?
The printing press, by Johannes Gutenburg.
13. What were the changes in family relations?
The goal being to slow birth rates, family structure begins to change: there were later marriages (people
were in their late 20s) and there was limited access to property without marriage being a precedent.
THE PROTESTANT AND CATHOLIC REFORMATIONS
14. What did Martin Luther protest in 1517?
His 95 theses were protesting claims made by a papal representative in selling indulgences, or grants of
salvation for money. His theses argued the popes authority itself, and that sacrament couldn’t be taken by God as
bribery to get into heaven, also, Luther didn’t believe in Monasticism.
15. Why did many Germans support Martin Luther over the pope and Catholic Church?
German political leaders saw this protest as an opportunity to gain more authority. His claim helped support
the idea that state should have greater control than the church. Also, German leaders didn’t like the taxes imposed
by the Pope.
16. Why did ordinary people support Martin Luther?
Luther’s approach gave peasants hope because they didn’t feel like they had o have money to give to the
pope (in taxes, or in indulgences). This made it seem like most occupations were acceptable by God, because faith
was the only precedent to get into heaven. Also, ordinary people saw Luther’s theses as a basis for protest against
landlords, although Luther disagreed with this assumption.
17. Why did Henry VIII separate from the Catholic Church?
It was initially to challenge papal attempts to enforce his first marriage which had failed to produce a male
heir.
18. Why did Jean Calvin separate from the Catholic Church?
He enforced the idea of predestination, and pushed missionary work as a way to gain ordinary people as
followers. He wanted the public to have access to the Bible, as well as access to church administration.
19. What did the Catholic Reformation do to try to hold onto parishioners?
A major church council revived Catholic doctrine and refuted key Protestant tenets such as the idea that
priests could not marry and had no special sacramental power. There was a restatement of sacramental importance,
and Jesuits became active in missionary work, politics, and education. Also, the church tried to clear superstitions
and magical belief.
THE END OF CHRISTIANITY UNITY IN THE WEST
20. Who was fighting in the Thirty Years’ War?
It involved the German protestants, and Lutheran Sweden against the Holy Roman emperor, backed by
Spain.
21. What was the affect to Germany?
Germany lost power and prosperity for a full century and its population was cut by about 60 percent. The
Treaty of Westphalia decided that religion would be determined by regional leaders.
22. How did a lack of religious unity affect England?
Religious fighting punctuated British history, first before the reign of Elizabeth in the 16th century, then in the
English Civil war in the 1640s. England continued to have religious problems for about century.
23. What happen to European countries? Which saw a political surge?
There was a shift in power. France, England, and the Netherlands saw an increase in power, while Spain
and Italy had a decrease of power.
THE COMMERCIAL REVOLUTION
24. How did inflation help spur the commercial revolution?
Less money was needed to take risks and produce, so therefore, merchants felt the need to have new
products and it was easier for them to pay off debt.
25. What was formed to link European production and the colonies?
The Dutch East Indies Company controlled trade with Indonesia, while government allowed monopolies.
26. How did the commercial revolution impact average people?
A proletariat, which forced those who couldn’t produce move out of their homes. This insisted that there be
jobs in factory work and people became manufacturers and paid laborers.
27. Who did the increased wealth not reach? And what did they resort to doing?
The agricultural peasants, who resorted to working in factories and being paid cheap for labor. This forced
many to become very poor, and the quality of life got worse.
28. What is the impact on cities?
Population grew immensely, and there was not enough space for people to live. There were beggars and
wandering poor. There were social protests wanting protection of property rights, the poor united.
29. How did this impact the way people viewed the less fortunate?
Upper Class viewed the poor as one singular annoyance, not as people who were individuals. They looked
for someone to blame for the problems that inflation had brought. There was an extreme fear and persecution of
Witchcraft.
30. How did this attitude transfer towards treatment of women?
Women became the target for witchcraft inquiry, many people fearing that they were causing harm to the
people surrounding them, and accusing them of creating their own poverty and not taking responsiblility of it.
SCIENCE AND POLITICS: THE NEXT PHASE OF CHANGE
31. Politically we see the rise of the?
Nation-state: Countries gained greater individual control.
SCIENCE: THE NEW AUTHORITY
32. What new innovations aided scientific inquiry?
Copernicus, who introduced to Europe that theories of tradition could be wrong. He realized that the planets
were centered around the Sun, and not the Earth. This allowed for a more open opinion concerning invention and
theory.
33. Who was condemned by the Catholic Church for overturning Church scientific teachings?
Galileo: because of his theories of the laws of gravity.
34. What did the scientific revolution encourage that scared the church?
It encouraged that there should be a scientific explanation for everything, and that miracles and God
controlling everything doesn’t really scientifically make sense.(there’s not a man controlling the clock in space)
35. What industry began after the realization that we could control our environment?
The Medical industry, since people realized that witches couldn’t provide magic to heal people.
36. How did Deism grapple with the science and faith?
Deism was the idea that although there may be a divinity, its primary role is to set the natural laws into
motion.
37. What cultural traditions came together to create this new Western passion for empiricism?
Philosophy that was derived from ancient cultures, such as Greece, and Islamic states.
ABSOLUTE AND PARLIAMENTARY MONARCHIES
38. Which country became the model for the new state?
France
39. What were some of the actions they took to consolidate power in the hands of the king?
They blew up castles, and therefore reduced the power of Nobles. Also, they stopped a lot of medieval
parliamentary meeting. The bureaucracy was formed of merchants and lawyers. The King had much more power in
this model for monarchy.
40. What were some of the positive changes that focused on the economy? (know what
mercantilism is)
Mercantilism: governments should promote internal economy and improve tax revenues and limit trade.
The tariffs were taken away, and King Louis XIV encouraged that more product came from internal
merchants.
41. Which countries’ kings shared power with a parliament?
Britain and the Netherlands.
THE NATION-STATE
42. What are some common characteristics of the nation-state?
The rule was over a people with common cultural ties and language. The people felt more individually
represented than in large Empires.
43. What expectations shifted in how people viewed the role of government in the nation-state?
They felt like its role should be large in the welfare of the people, but its role was small in actual governing.
IN DEPTH—ELITES AND MASSES
44. What movements started with the elites?
The Enlightenment: Rational Laws to explain human behavior: Criminals should be treated justly, laissezfaire system of economy, society should be more intellectual, feminist movement, marriage concept changed to
become more emotional.
45. What movements started with the masses?
Ongoing change in commerce and manufacturing: purchase of processed products, entertainment became
more praised, speeding up farming with technology(fertilizer), manufacturing became more popular (turning toward
Industrial Revolution), and investing in funs for profit.
THE WEST BY 1750
POLITICAL PATTERNS
46. Who still maintains most of the power in both parliamentary and absolute governments?
How did this affect those governments’ ability to rule?
The aristocracy: because they had the biggest ties with government, and they refused to pay more taxes, or
really change at all. This affected government because the burden of government was all placed on the poor.
47. How were “enlightened despots” different?
They saw that reform was for the greater good, and wouldn’t just directly benefit the rich, but everyone.
ENLIGHTENMENT THOUGHT AND POPULAR CULTURE
48. What did Adam Smith discuss in the Wealth of Nations?
People act according to their self interest, but through competition, promote general economic advance.
Government should avoid the regulation in favor of the operation of individual initiative and market forces.
49. Why is Diderot compiling the first encyclopedia so significant (not in the text—just think)?
It produced a greater wide-spread knowledge of basic scientific, mathematic, and literary thought throughout
Europe. When people are more educated, they recognize ways that societies work and can more reasonably have
educated opinions that recognize ways to improve society as a whole.
50. Who challenged the traditional male-centered view of society?
Feminist thinkers such as Mary Wollstonecraft argued that this new idea of personal freedom should extend
to women and men.
51. How/Where did a lot of these progressive ideas spread?
In reading clubs and coffeehouses where discussion was encouraged.
52. What was the change toward children?
There was a push for a humane treatment of children. Swaddling was discouraged, and educational toys
and books were encouraged.
ONGOING CHANGE IN COMMERCE AND MANUFACTURING
53. What agricultural changes were made to make life better?
Drain swamps, technology: fertilizer, seed drills, and stockbreeding, and people finally accepted the potato
as useful.
54. What is the domestic system?
Capitalist merchants distributed supplies and orders and workers ran the production process for pay.
55. What crop aids the Industrial Revolution? Explain.
The potato, because it improved food supply.