This week we explored the case for sovereignty in Western Civilization. As discussed in the previous class, as well as the textbook. At the turn of the seventeenth century, Europe emerged as a Modern State. The characteristics of the Modern State included: a) population increase, b) military organization, c) developing bureaucracy, and d) the need to tax "Inflation". As a result of these characteristics of the state, the model for government also adapted. Two competing nation-states England and France developed different Modern States at this time--England championed Constitutionalism, while France achieved Absolutism.
In the beginning of the seventeenth century, England was at the height of a Golden Age under the monarch -- Elizabeth I (1558-1603). When she died, however, tension would grow due to renewed religious struggles with the Puritans (Calvinist minded Anglicans) in Parliament, as well as the new Stuart Dynasty which proved to be ostentatious and not concerned with giving the people a say in government.
The first Stewart monarch, James I (1603-1624) came into London with the greatest of flair for the dramatic. He maintain his old prerogative rights and created new ones called impositions. He was not able to achieve absolutism in its fullest stage, however, because of the opposition he met with the Puritans and Catholics. James' son Charles I (1624-1649) also tried to achieve Absolutism, by refusing to call Parliament. But in 1640, when the Scottish presbyterians rebelled against the implementation of the Book of Common Prayer in all Churches, he need to call the Parliament to raise money to go to war. This incident ignited a revolt in the Parliament, which spurred the Civil War (1642-49). The Civil War would eventually lead to the Constitutional Monarchy under the reign of William III and Mary II and the Bill of Rights 1688-89.
When we shift from England to the Continent of Europe, we see quite a different story. The new Bourbon Dynasty established by Henry IV in 1589 brought incredible wealth and success to France at the end of the sixteenth century into the seventeenth century. Henry IV developed the role of the intendant, as well as expanded the nobles to the noblesse de robe (nobles of the robe). Together with capital intensive projects, such as canal and road building to an labor tax corvee, Henry IV was able to pave the way for Absolutism. When his grandson, Louis XIV became king in 1643, he first met resistance with a local group of politicians called the Fronde. By 1652, however, Louis XIV return to establish a personal rule, and anchored his image of the "Sun King" under the motto "one king, one law, one faith."
In the beginning of the seventeenth century, England was at the height of a Golden Age under the monarch -- Elizabeth I (1558-1603). When she died, however, tension would grow due to renewed religious struggles with the Puritans (Calvinist minded Anglicans) in Parliament, as well as the new Stuart Dynasty which proved to be ostentatious and not concerned with giving the people a say in government.
The first Stewart monarch, James I (1603-1624) came into London with the greatest of flair for the dramatic. He maintain his old prerogative rights and created new ones called impositions. He was not able to achieve absolutism in its fullest stage, however, because of the opposition he met with the Puritans and Catholics. James' son Charles I (1624-1649) also tried to achieve Absolutism, by refusing to call Parliament. But in 1640, when the Scottish presbyterians rebelled against the implementation of the Book of Common Prayer in all Churches, he need to call the Parliament to raise money to go to war. This incident ignited a revolt in the Parliament, which spurred the Civil War (1642-49). The Civil War would eventually lead to the Constitutional Monarchy under the reign of William III and Mary II and the Bill of Rights 1688-89.
When we shift from England to the Continent of Europe, we see quite a different story. The new Bourbon Dynasty established by Henry IV in 1589 brought incredible wealth and success to France at the end of the sixteenth century into the seventeenth century. Henry IV developed the role of the intendant, as well as expanded the nobles to the noblesse de robe (nobles of the robe). Together with capital intensive projects, such as canal and road building to an labor tax corvee, Henry IV was able to pave the way for Absolutism. When his grandson, Louis XIV became king in 1643, he first met resistance with a local group of politicians called the Fronde. By 1652, however, Louis XIV return to establish a personal rule, and anchored his image of the "Sun King" under the motto "one king, one law, one faith."
In 1683, Louis XIV had successful curtailed the privileges of the nobles and moved his court to the opulent Chateau de Versailles, where he would fully shine as the Sun King for the rest of his life. As a result, Louis XIV was able to achieve absolutism, because of a lack of control by the nobles in the bureaucracy. Of course this was made possible by his predecessors, but did not fully mature until Louis XIV's glorious reign.
Politically, the ramifications of these two distinct movements in England and France questioned the importance of government and the state in the Early Modern Period. Philosophers such as Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679), advocated for an Absolute rule because as he saw it, "life was nasty, short, and brutish." In other words, according to Hobbes, we should give up our liberty in order to gain protection. On the other hand, John Locke (1632-1704), who believed in the nurturing qualities of human life stated that human beings were born with a blank slate and could be molded to become responsible citizens. In Locke's view the State of Nature guaranteed the rights of "life, liberty, in property" for all citizens because they entered into a contract with the monarch. These two opposing view points will prove to be valuable for understanding political development of Europe in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
For the next class, pay attention to how Absolutism and Constitutionalism impacted Western Civilization in the Age of Reason. Particular focus should be placed on the importance of the debate (Hobbes vs. Locke) in the context to Enlightenment thinking, especially Montesquieu in the "Parable of the Troglodytes."
Politically, the ramifications of these two distinct movements in England and France questioned the importance of government and the state in the Early Modern Period. Philosophers such as Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679), advocated for an Absolute rule because as he saw it, "life was nasty, short, and brutish." In other words, according to Hobbes, we should give up our liberty in order to gain protection. On the other hand, John Locke (1632-1704), who believed in the nurturing qualities of human life stated that human beings were born with a blank slate and could be molded to become responsible citizens. In Locke's view the State of Nature guaranteed the rights of "life, liberty, in property" for all citizens because they entered into a contract with the monarch. These two opposing view points will prove to be valuable for understanding political development of Europe in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
For the next class, pay attention to how Absolutism and Constitutionalism impacted Western Civilization in the Age of Reason. Particular focus should be placed on the importance of the debate (Hobbes vs. Locke) in the context to Enlightenment thinking, especially Montesquieu in the "Parable of the Troglodytes."
world-civilization-week-8.ppt |
english-civil-war.pdf |