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Western Civilization II

Western Civilization II. Week 1: The Rise of Modernity. Modes of Progress. The Role of the Modern Man in society Individualism Signs of Progress - developments in the economy, society, and politics. Making of Modernity.

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Western Civilization II

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  1. Western Civilization II • Week 1: • The Rise of Modernity

  2. Modes of Progress • The Role of the Modern Man in society • Individualism • Signs of Progress - developments in the economy, society, and politics.

  3. Making of Modernity • End of the Middle Ages - Collapse of Feudalism - New Nation-States emerge • Renaissance and Reformation - Cities Grow • Age of Exploration - Mercantilism and Capitalism • Scientific Revolution - The Method • Enlightenment - The Public Sphere

  4. End of the Middle Ages • The 12th and 13th centuries Europe flourished. • In the 14th and 15th centuries there is a great decline. • Pre-Renaissance Europe was hit with social, political, and economic distress.

  5. The Break Down • Hundred Years War - 1337-1453 • Black Death - Plague hits Western Europe 1347-1430 • Great Schism - 1378-1417 • Conciliar Movement - 1415 • Humanism - Reacting to Scholastics

  6. The Renaissance • The late Middle Ages was a time of creative fragmentation. • Three Crises: Religion, Plague, Government. • Italy flourished between 1300-1450 mainly because of location. • The Italian City-States - merchants and bankers

  7. Growth of City-States • Urban culture was assisted by the constant war between emperor (Ghibelline) and Pope (Guelf). • This war strengthened the merchant oligarchies in the cities and by the 15th century led to despotism. • Unlike Northern Europe ruled by kingdoms, Italy was made up of independent states.

  8. A Nation Divided • 1377 - The Church’s power starts to fade. • Avignon Papacy - splits the church • Bishops lose their power to wealthy families. • Merchants and Bankers flourish among the chaos.

  9. Mercantilism • The Italian Peninsula became the HUB for Western Europe. • Merchant Class developed • Birth of the Banking System • Working Class - Manufacturing goods became popular.

  10. Modernity Emerges • Jacob Burckhardt: Civilization of Renaissance Italy. • Revival of Classical Studies • Self-Conscious Individuals • Growth of Secular Ideas of the State • But were the Middle Ages an irrelevant interruption in the development of ModernSociety?

  11. Revolt of the Medievalists • Medievalists have pointed out that the Middle Ages have produced: • Passionate, fully self-aware individuals • Coherent theories of state • Great Nationalistic Art • Changes made in the 14th & 15th centuries not significant

  12. Medieval Institutions • Parliamentary Government • University Education • Legal Tradition

  13. Recasting the Renaissance • One cannot deny the changes that occurred from the 14th to the 15th century, but these were not dramatic changes. • The culture of the Renaissance can be described as a boy growing into a man … it is a gradual process, not immediate.

  14. Essence of Individualism • Individualism of the Renaissance gave way to the Reformers of the 16th century. • Man by himself achieves nothing through the gift of spirit or grace. • Faith through the salvation of Christ

  15. Reformation • Martin Luther and John Calvin main figures. • Failure in the face of the law - Antinomianism • Saving Faith - Not Works • Christian liberation paved the way for Individualism • Looking for something more worldly

  16. Modernity Three Major Aspects: • Capitalism • Science • Democracy

  17. Capitalism • Max Weber: 1856-1920 wrote extensively on Modernization and Global Imperialism • Protestant Work Ethic & the Spirit of Capitalism • Werner Sombart: 1863-1941 Economic Historian who wrote on Luxury and Capitalism

  18. Weber’s Thesis • What Luther and Calvin set out in the Reformation enabled Capitalism to work smoothly. • The notion of the calling • Predestination - determined whether you were going to be successful

  19. Sombart’s Thesis • Capitalism and Luxury • The Renaissance gave people the opportunity to gain luxury goods • Created a bourgeois lifestyle — Progress as determined by status • Work hard and you will get your reward

  20. Science • About eternal “things” rather than about contemplating “things” • Protestants encouraged working to gain a reward. • Science - Use - Service of God • Improving the world - Connects to Capitalism. • Socio-economic Status —> Not determined by privilege

  21. Democracy • Transformation of the Priest to the Preacher • Enlightenment created the public sphere • Capitalism had a demoralizing effect • Calvin suggested that human beings are rotten and need law and morality…. Quis custodiet custodies • But what is the best form of government? • Hobbes vs. Locke

  22. Next Week Rise of Sovereignty • Briefly trace the paths to power of England and France in 17th century and define what differences were in the two distinct formations.

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