The Italian Renaissance:

Developed in Italy during the 14th and 15th century
1. Largely in an artistic movement
Challenged medieval intellectual values and styles
humanism: a focus on humankind as the center of intellectual and artistic endeavor
Secular subjects were more popular, such as love and pride
Merchants improved banking techniques
Religion was not attacked, but its principles were not longer predominant

The Renaissance moves northward:

Atlantic trade routes reduced the need of Mediterranean ports
1. Huge blow to Italian economy
2. Focused in France, Germany and England
  1. Began after the 1450s

Changes in tech and family:

The printing press was produced when German Johannes Gutenberg introduced moveable types
1. Books were distributed in greater amounts
2. People got their ideas out
European-style family: pattern came into being by the 15th century
1. Late marriage age and nuclear families parents and children
2. Goal was to limit birth rates
3. People didn't marry until after 20s

The Protestant and Catholic Reformations:

Protestantism: urged state control of the church as an alternative to papal authority and this had obvious political appeal
Jean Calvin, a French theologian who established his base in the Swiss city of Geneva
1. He believed in gods predestination
2. Calvinists preached God's words
3. Wanted wider access to gov
Catholic Reformation: a major church council revived Catholic doctrine and refuted key Protestant tenets such as the idea that priests had no special sacramental power and could marry
Jesuits became active in politics, education and missionary work, regaining some parts of Europe for the church

The End of Christian Unity in the West:

Thirty Years War: weakened German power so much that it last for a whole century
Treaty of Westphalia: agreed to the territorial tolerance concept: a cities choice of one religion

The Commercial Revolution:

Impacts of the new world economy:
1. European trade rose
2. Europeans had some dank items
3. Markets and merchants got better

The impact of the World Economy:

Price inflation occurred throughout the Western Europe during the 16th century
1. Import of gold and silver from Spain’s new colonies in Latin America
More money more supply
1. Prices went up
Rise in the production of wines, cheeses, wool and etc
Shoemaking, pottery, metalworking and other manufacturing jobs
1. Arose in rural villages and cities

Social Protest:

Witchcraft Persecution: 60,000-100,000 witches died
1. Witches: people who couldn’t accept being poor

The Scientific Revolution: The Next Phase of Change

New instruments:
1. The microscope
2. Telescope
3. Allowed for gains in biology and astronomy
As feudalism declined in Western Europe, new political forms gained ground. Both absolute and parliamentary monarchies emerged
The feudal monarchy: the balance between kings and nobles
Witchcraft declined
1. 1670

Elites and Masses:

Absolute Monarchy:
1. (I am the state)
2. Monarchs gained new powers, curtailing the tradition of noble pressure or revolt. At the same time, more ambitious military organization, in states that defined war as a central purpose, required more careful administration and improved tax collection

The Nation-State:

They ruled peoples who shared a common culture and language, unlike the great empires of other civilizations.
1. This was true for England
Louis XIV faced a bunch of hate when crops started to die and food prices went up because the gov didn’t do a damn thing to help

Political Patterns:

In Prussia, Frederick the Great, built onto the military and bureaucratic organizations and made them better
Major western nations who opened their mouths to new ideas went to war

Enlightenment Thought and Popular Culture:

Adam Smith wanted to government to avoid regulation in favor of the operation of individual initiative and market forces
Denis Diderot was a multifaceted leader of the French enlightenment best known for his work on the Encyclopedia
1. He’s the reason we have all the answers for classes

	Created by Argjend Krasniqi almost 8 years ago

The Transformation of the West, 1450-1750 notes