The seventeenth century was a time of great chaos and struggle. So much so that many historians have called this time period the “General Crisis.” This century saw conflicts as never seen before, not in magnitude, scale, or number. Europe at this time saw the 30 Years War, the Fronde, a large scale French peasant revolt, and the English Civil War, an altercation which involved the overthrow of an established monarch and regicide. As if that was not enough, several catastrophes were running in the background, even while the blood was spilling. Famines struck Europe leaving many to starve, all while rampant inflation crippled European economies across the board. To make the situation worse all the intellectual progressions made in the previous …show more content…
He lists Germany, Spain, France, and Switzerland and states that they all have become “blown up.” However, the one exception to this sea of chaos appears to be the Netherlands, or as it was known then, the Dutch Republic. While all the aforementioned catastrophes were occurring, the Dutch were experiencing a golden age. Over this century, the Dutch became the center for commerce and banking, while simultaneously experiencing a revolution in art and thought. This upward trend on the part of the Dutch differs greatly from the rest of Europe. Evidence of this differentiation lies in the economics, politics, and philosophies of the two at this pivotal point in …show more content…
The Dutch were experiencing a revitalization of various industries. Though the Dutch were not protected from the environmental patterns of the time, they found means of compensating. Donald Harreld observes that even though Dutch grain production declined at this period, Dutch fishing and animal husbandry increased to make up the difference. The surplus from the growth in these industries were then used to trade with the Baltic regions for grain, this left the Netherlands insulated from the economic problems of the time. The average person would not perceive a difference, since the quantity of grain at the end remained steady for the most part constant. This increased trade to keep up food quantities also served to develop the Dutch shipping industry. In addition, Harreld brings up the booming Dutch banking system as further evidence of the Dutch Republic's economic proficiency. The Dutch during this time become the center of European banking, supplanting Venice. The Dutch Republic did not experience the famine that most of Europe felt nor did they encounter the economic down spiral most of Europe suffered, both of which are key differences that demonstrate how the Dutch Republic was an outlier in the seventeenth
The Elizabethan Deliverance - Arthur Bryant Reformation and Revolution 1558-1660 - Robert Ashton Elizabeth and her Parliaments - J.E. Neales Elizabeth and her Reign - Richard Salter Elizabeth I and religion 1558-1603 - Susan Doran Tudor England - John Guy Elizabeth I - David Starkey
Henry VIII’s reign was a turning point in the Tudor period as it signified an end to Yorkist pretenders to the throne and it was at this point that the idea of regicide... ... middle of paper ... ... to support them in their rebellions. There was now a widening social gap that created tension as the gentry attempted to emulate the nobility. As although the Cloth trade in Kent was declining in 1554 Wyatt’s rebellion had no real socio – economic cause and the Northern Earls in 1569 and Essex in 1601 had no socio –economic causes whatsoever.
The eventual breakdown of severing relations between Charles I and Parliament gave way to a brutal and bloody English Civil War. However, the extent that Parliament was to blame for the collapse of cooperation between them and ultimately war, was arguably only to a moderate extent. This is because Parliament merely acted in defiance of King Charles I’s harsh personal rule, by implementing controlling legislation, attacking his ruthless advisors and encouraging public opinion against him. These actions however only proceeded Charles I’s personal abuse of his power, which first and foremost exacerbated public opinion against his rule. This was worsened
Whilst Henry VI’s was in rule during the 1450’s, England had many issues and problems that cause such instability in the country. One of the largest factors arguably is the loss of the Hundred Years war between The French and English over France. This in turn caused many problems to occur with links to almost every feud the country faced. Yet some historians argue that Normandy wasn’t the main issue of instability in England instead of other reasons such as instability.
The 17th century was a chaotic time period in England. England saw a transition in their nation’s religion during the reign of different monarchs. Before the start of the 17th century, England was under a Roman Catholic monarch with Queen Mary. Mary attempted to turn the Church of England into a Catholic Church and in the process earned the name “Bloody Mary”. She earned this name through her executions of many Protestants in England. However once Mary was unsuccessful in creating a Catholic England and was no longer the monarch, the Church went back to a Protestant Church. With the church now being Protestant, the Catholic minority in England began to become upset with the church and even plotted to make the church Catholic again through violence.
...Landless peasants were now working in factories, the economy was more stable, government and the military was stronger then ever, and Europe was one step closer to more modernized countries.
History is full of ups and downs, twists and turns that ultimately shaped the modern world we live in today; its foundation laid throughout history. The events of the past; good, bad, and indifferent could have adversely affected our modern society had they different outcomes or ceased to happen at all. There are countless historical events that are significant in their own right, but I have chosen to discuss five of the most significant historical events in Western Civilization occurring pre-1689. The Greco-Persian Wars, the Conflict of the Orders, the Punic Wars, the Gallic Wars, and the Black Plague had crucial influence over today’s economic, political, and social structures.
In 1642, King Charles raised his royal standard in Nottingham, marking the beginning of the English Civil War. The next ten years saw the Cavaliers (supporters of the King) and the Roundheads (supporters of the parliament) engaged in a vicious battle for their respective leaders with the Roundheads ultimately victorious. This essay will attempt to explain why civil war broke out in England while summarizing the story behind the antagonism of the two parties.
Piran Talkington HST213- Essay 2 In the three kingdoms, the characters of war from 1639 to 1643 were widely different. The main differences were due to geopolitical situations as well as religious overtones and undertones. The levels of these very from country to country, however there is at least a small amount present in all three countries. In general, the war in Scotland was a religious war that was almost completely based off issues of religion.
Initially, the traditional context of war was pegged to supreme powers of God upon the people. Therefore, war could be manifested in occurrences such as plagues, drought and famine, and fire. On the other hand, these beliefs were escalated by the widening rift among the Christian believers, particularly, the Catholics and the Protestants. The author presents the modern interpretations of war as differences in the administration, armed society, and the economy. In that connection, therefore, the English Civil Wars could solely be attributed to the armed
Many of the French people were left without homes, food or livestock, they were about to face a harsh winter and were unsure if they had enough seeds to plant crops the following year. The climatic changes that occurred over Europe had drastic consequences for agriculture, resulting in malnutrition which pre-disposed the populace to disease. Inflation increased and famine soon spread across Europe, resulting in many deaths. Around 1339, Europe’s population began to increase, this growth began to surpass the capacity of the land to feed its populace. Therefore, a severe economic crisis began to emerge....
Stott, Anne. "Europe 1700-1914: A Continent Transformed." europetransformed.blogspot.com. University of London, 7 March 2011. Web. 30 November 2013.
Giles Milton’s Nathaniel’s Nutmeg provides an interesting narrative on the historical account of the European race for control of the spice market in the 17th century. Milton interprets the Age of Exploration in-depth with accurate information yet provides an intriguing narrative of the conflicts between the Dutch and the English. Contrasting with Nathaniel’s Nutmeg, John Merriman’s A History of Modern Europe uses clear and concise mundane facts to provide the accounts of history during this era. Presenting history in a non-fiction novel makes the read effortless and alluring but also takes away some of the factual evidence. History presented in this form differs from accounts of colonial competition written by academic historians because of
The 14th century is ranked as one of the most distressing epochs in the history of Western culture. With the transformation of the Holy Roman Empire into a greatly destabilized elective monarchy, the transfer in political power from Germany to France and the escalation of England's power comes the end of the High Middle Ages in which Europe sank into a time of despair. Many events were responsible for this decline and loss of hope. Among them, three deserve special attention: the Great Schism, the Hundred Years War, and the Black Plague.
The states of Switzerland and the Netherlands gained their sovereignty, and began to gain wealth from their new found