The European history is outstandingly unique in comparison to other cultures’. During the fourteenth to sixteenth centuries, there were several remarkable movements, advancements and disappointments made within the European history. With the numerous aspects that factor in the European history are made up through the culture such as, the form of government, the economic stance, the trade reliability, the position of authority, the structure of the society, as well as the spread of religions over the land. Two of the most important movements within the European history were the Renaissance and the Reformation.
Between the 1300s and 1500s, Europe experienced a period of cultural rebirth known as the Renaissance, marking the transition from medieval times to modern times. The Renaissance brought new importance to individual expression, self-consciousness and worldly experience.
The renaissance is defined as the “rebirth” of civilization in Europe from the 14th to 17th centuries (General Characteristics of the Renaissance). A renewed interest of classical world spread from its beginning in Italy, north to Germany and
Europeans’ changing world-view had enormous impact following the Middle Ages. Evaluate cultural and intellectual changes and continuities in Europe during this period.
During the fourteenth century, China firstly created the printing technology and introduced it to Germany, and then Germany spread it out to other European countries such as Italy, France, and so on. Besides the printing technology, the great invention of gunpowder and the compass together composed the cornerstone of capitalism. The connection with non-Europeans had great influence on both deterioration of the understanding of culture, religion, government due to the Black Death and on the rebirth of European culture and religion. The Black Death was a historic event that enabled people to challenge the authority of the Church, to realize the importance of equality, and more importantly, to contemplate the meaning of life and self identities. As for the Reformation, increased trade between Europe and the world laid the foundation for the transformation of the Church; the cultural education strengthened people’s faith in God so that they no longer relied on external acts blindly. Furthermore, the rise of capitalism contributed to the Reformation because it accelerated the development of economy prosperity in Europe. Overall, one could say that tragedies like the Black Death happen for a reason, and there are many beneficial things that can follow
Uncoincidentally, the name Renaissance means “rebirth” in French which really summarizes the era’s revival of philosophy, art, learning, trade, and much more across Europe (Fitzpatrick). Within this seemingly positive list of Renaissance effects, several of these became factors that discredited the Catholic Church and preceded the Protestant Reformation. New humanist and secular philosophical ideas that gained precedence in the Renaissance gave people during the time a new appreciation and sense of stability outside of the Catholic Church (Fitzpatrick). The rebirth of scholarly learning brought about many strides in the scientific fields that disputes the Catholic Church and begins the downfall of their era of
In chapter sixteen of "Understanding Western Society: A brief History / Volume 2: From the Age of Exploration to the Present", the reader will be presented with reading material based on Absolutism and Constitutionalism in Europe between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries. In this chapter the question is presented, "What made the seventeenth century an age of crisis?" It is explained that Europe experienced economic hardships due to changes in climate, disagreements in religion, and war. The war which largely contributed to this economic crisis is referred to as the Thirty Years War. The Thirty Years War was a religious war between the Catholics and the Protestants. Tensions between Catholics and Protestants date back several centuries. After tensions had reached an all time high prior to the Thirty Years War, a truce was formed by the Peace of Augsburg in the year 1555, however the truce did not hold up as time went on. In time, Lutheran princes developed the Protestant Union in 1608, which influenced Catholics to develop the Catholic League in 1609. These groups wanted to make sure that the opposing groups made no advancements in religion or territory. The Catholics had the Spanish Habsburgs on
It marks the transitional period between the end of the Middle Ages and the start of the Modern Age. The Renaissance is considered to have begun in the fourteenth century in Italy and the sixteenth century in northern Europe. Much of the foundations of liberal humanism were laid during the foundation. For some, this usurps God's rightful place as the author of values and as the director of history. But positively, the contemporary universal outlook, respect for the dignity of all people on which democracy is based, thirst for knowledge and for ways of bettering the human lot, all derive from the Renaissance and from the Enlightenment that
The Italian and Northern Europe Renaissances were both an important mark in history by changing the ideals of life, thought, culture, and art of the people’s of this time. In this paper I will explain the motive for change in these cultures, including the similarities and differences of the two cultures.
What were the key events that shaped European History after the decline of the Roman Empire?
The Middle Ages provides historians with various examples of concepts like kingship, church, warfare, politics, and health. Historians are able to explore events during the middle ages to determine how society operated and what mindset medieval people had. The middle ages is split into three sections early (500-1000), high or central (1000-1300), and late (1300-1500). This paper is going to delve into some similarities and differences between the high and late middle ages specifically looking at religion, politics, and warfare.
There were many historical events that occurred in Europe during the sixteenth century. At this time, Europe was not very virtuous and respectable. This is because at this time, the Protestant Revolt nearly destroyed the Catholic Church. In addition to this, European politics were compromised by religious struggles which laid the foundation for the Thirty Years’ War. Though there were numerous events that occurred in sixteenth century Europe that are worth noting, this essay will focus on three individuals who heavily influenced history in the West. The essay will not only describe the lives and careers of these men, but the roles each one played in trying to advance, or in some cases, destroy, the Catholic Church in the sixteenth century.
The Middle Ages, often referred to as the Dark Ages, was regarded to be a time of despair, disease, and death. Just as the name the “Dark Ages” suggests, this period of European history seemed to be surrounded by darkness and hopelessness. Unfortunately, the majority of people only see this side of the Middle Ages when, in fact, the Middle Ages was a much more important era. Especially during the late Middle Ages, one can find a change in orthodox social structure, political instability mostly concerned with succession to the throne, and economic changes and how those changes went hand in hand with the change in society. After certain demographical changes and turning points such as the Hundred Years’ War, Europe began to transform
The fourteenth to the sixteenth century was an incredible time to be in Europe. This marked the beginning of The Renaissance. The Renaissance started in Italy and spread to the rest of Europe. To understand how this spark of “rebirth” came about, it is important to know what was going on in history prior to this. The Black Death swept across Europe, a plague that severely damaged the European population. Political and economical instability were major conflicts that were tearing the continent apart. The Renaissance was exactly what Europe needed to get back on their feet. Science, literature, art, and politics were all brought back to life and amped up during this time period.
A variety of events from the eleventh century to the fourteenth century ignited the Renaissance. The Crusades prompted the Renaissance through the weakening of the feudal nobility and the laity’s
The one constant theme from any period in history we examine seems to be that of change. As Europe began to take shape, it did so with an expansion and contraction rate that was dramatically impacted by changes in political organizations, positive and negative economic forces, and through shifts in social structure. The path to the creation of the European empires was a long and tedious journey. Sixth century feudalism gave way to the creation of a central authority. The thirteenth century was scarred by the Black Death but it brought about economic changes that would resonate well into the Renaissance period of the fifteenth century. Nation-states began their formation as the need for a centralized government dictated. With each step