DBQ 1/14/11

Analyze how political, religious, and social factors, affected the work of scientists in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

Scientific revolution took place during the 16^th and 17^th centuries with a multitude of ground breaking discoveries. Political, religious, and social factors affected not only the works of scientists during this time period, but the way the discoveries and persons were viewed in the public eye. The scientists during this time period were often criticized and threatened for their scientific discoveries or methods. People in high political, religious, and social power affected the work of the scientists more than anything else. The negativity brought to works of scientists during the 16^th and 17^th centuries by political authority and religious officials are the very reason why the works were influential on the public during this time period.

Religious officials high in the Church affected the way the works of scientists were viewed during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The fuss made by the Church against scientific discoveries that disagreed with their teachings is why the works became so popular. Galileo Galilei expanded on Copernicus’s idea of a heliocentric universe while the bible taught the universe revolved around Earth, or a geocentric model. An Italian monk named Giovanni Ciampoli sent a letter to Galileo in 1615 telling him he needs to differ to the Church. “It is indispensable, therefore, to remove the possibility of malignant rumors by repeatedly showing your willingness to defer to the authority of those who have jurisdiction over the human intellect in matters of the interpretation of Scripture” (Doc 3). Letters like this to Galileo made the public more interested in his discoveries, allowing them to spread through Europe. The Church tried to gain control over scientific discoveries to boil them down, but inadvertently spread them and gave them more meaning. Other religious figure heads, such as John Calvin, a French Protestant, understood the importance of scientific works and encouraged them to be shown to the public, not condemned for the selfish reasons of Church integrity (Doc 2).

During a time of religious reformation, science was able to thrive with new discoveries. Social stature was affected by the new forming of religions and religious ideas and had opened peoples mind to new things. A French monk and scientist, Marin Mersenne, wrote a letter to his noble patron in 1635 confirming that in his experiments, he found that the discoveries of Galileo were true (Doc 5). The fact that a monk, a lower building block in the Church agreed with scientific discoveries even though higher authority was against it. The negativity of high power along with the support of the common people allowed for the radical works of scientists to be fully noticed. Scientists now could experiment to try and prove these discoveries right or wrong, a social factor that affected the works of scientists greatly. Social separations between male and female also affected the work of scientists. Margaret Cavendish, a female scientist said in her book in 1666, “But I, being a woman, do fear they would soon cast me out of their schools” (Doc 9). Science was predominantly male dominated as was every major profession during this time period.

My Map

View London Map in a larger map

Dutch Republic

Discuss ways that the 17^th-century Dutch Republic differed from its neighbors, telling how these differences attributed to the country’s success.

The Dutch Republic experienced advances in many categories such as science and art during the 17^th century. The Republic went through a “Golden Age” and experienced one of the most successful and prosperous times in their history. The Dutch Republic’s neighbors, also influenced by the Renaissance, were also experiences advances but they came along with hardships for fellow countries. France was another successful country in Europe, but unlike the Dutch, had an absolute monarchy, powerful nobles, and no religious tolerance. The Dutch Republic, unlike France, needed a decentralized government, a strong merchant class, and religious tolerance to its advantage to become successful during the 17^th century.

Most European countries did not have religious tolerance at the time. The Dutch Republic differed in this matter and tolerate multiple religions but gave Calvinists the most rights. The Republic strengthened as its merchant class was made stronger. Huguenots in France had to flee when the Edict of Nantes was revoked and traveled to the Dutch Republic. Because of the religious tolerance, they were allowed in, and the merchant class grew, which strengthened the economy. A strong economy help sustain the Dutch while a majority of its neighbors neighbors, who did not have religious tolerance, watched their economies decline.

Another way the Dutch differed from its neighbors was its decentralized form of government. Most European countries had an absolute monarchy at the time. This means all the power was in the hands of the King or Queen. The nobles in these types of governments also had a large amount of power over the common people. In the Dutch Republic, their form of government allowed the people to elect rulers of their different provinces. This makes the lower classes happier and more faithful to the elected rulers, instead of absolute monarchs who appoint themselves. In Machiavelli’s book The Prince, he states that they key to success of a prince, or any form of government for that matter, is the people being happy enough to follow and not cause problems.

Due to the decentralized form of government, the merchants and middle class citizens were a bigger part of the country, unlike its neighbors. In other European countries, the nobles and monarchs had all the power, while in the Republic the strong merchant’s class upheld a more balance economy than in other countries. The diversity and acceptance of multiple religions led to more skilled workers in the Republic than any other neighboring country. This is proven by the success that the Republic had in the 17^th century.

If the Dutch would have tried to be like other European countries, they would not have experience the amount of success they did. The Dutch Republic had its own unique style of government and religious views along with a different class make-up that allowed for its successes. These three things are the main contributing factors to the success of the Republic itself. They coincided with each other to help the Republic. The economy grew as more people came because they wanted religious freedom. The decentralized government kept the people happy and feeling that they had more power than they really did. Lastly the middle working class was built on the previous two things, overall boosting the economy and success of the Dutch Republic in the 17^th century.

Theis

2. Analyze the various Protestant views of the relationship between church and state in
the period circa 1500–1700.

3. Analyze the various effects of the expansion of the Atlantic trade on the economy of
Western Europe in the period circa 1450–1700.


4. Compare and contrast the economic factors responsible for the decline of Spain with
the economic factors responsible for the decline of the Dutch Republic by the end of
the seventeenth century.

5. Analyze various ways in which the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648) represented a
turning point in European history.

Free Response 1/11/11

Analyze the ways in which European monarchs used both the arts and the sciences to enhance state power in the period circa 1500–1800.

European monarchs were able to enhance their power with advances in science and the arts during the 16^th and 17^th centuries. New ideas were being thrown around by scientists while artists and architects broke down barriers of the art world that had not been touched before. The shocking new discoveries and ideas allowed the State to gain power. A scientist like Galileo with his ideas of a heliocentric universe was an example where Church teaching was disputed. Scientific discoveries and new art types disagreed with some Church teachings and in ways took away from the power of the Church, and added to the monarchs.

In the palaces of the monarchs, extravagant art could be found anywhere. Artists had begun to make beautiful paintings taking new artistic ventures. Pagan gods being painted in the nude could be seen in the palaces as they grew in popularity. Hugh murals and extravagant paintings hung from walls and ceilings to show the power and elegance on the monarchs. This in turn upset Church officials because it was not “right” to have nude paintings and pictures of pagan gods. The Church was losing a grip on its power it had worked for and the monarchs used the paintings and other works of art to add to the power loss of the church and add power to the state. There were people who liked this type of art work and if the monarchy showed they like it, common people would feel they had something in common with the monarchy and would in turn be more faithful.

The advances in sciences during this era also aided to the power of the state and the lack of credibility of the Church. The Church taught that the Earth was the center of the universe when actually the sun was the center with everything revolving around it. This is known as a heliocentric universe. Copernicus first came up with the idea but Galileo Galilei is popularly thought of when it comes to this idea. His idea and teaching was shot down by the Church because it went against their teaching when it is actually the way the universe is. While he did not make his discovery to add to the power if the state, it did have a ripple effect that gave the state more power. There was a certain amount of power to be shared between church and state. When the church lost power, the state gained it and vice versa. During this period the monarchs supported people who made radical discoveries and advances that had the chance to help increase the committed followers to the state. In Machiavelli’s book The Prince, he says that a government must have the support of the low classes to be strong. By supporting new ideas that the lower classes supported, the state was able to enhance its power.

Developments in architecture could be seen also that added to the effect that monarchs were all powerful. Take for example the living conditions the monarchs had. They had the largest homes by far in all of Europe, adding an aura of power to them. Top line clothing was worn and the best food was served. While the monarchs did indeed have power, they were able to make it seem as if they had more than they really had by using architecture and fashion. The people on the outside looking in see them and at first impression, see how much power they really have. Lower classes may not like it all the time but they have to respect it. The respect the monarchs earned is a key component to the power they gained from arts and sciences.

Without art and science being prominent in the 16^th and 17^th century, the monarchs would not have been able to gain the same amount of power they did. Material things had become dominant as they are today and the monarchies took advantage of the resources they had at hand. The Church lost power due to radical ideas during this period of Renaissance able to give the state all the power it needed and more. The state now was ahead of the church in power instead of the two being even as it had been before the Renaissance took place. Sciences and arts were the reason the state gained its power during the Renaissance instead of losing it all to the church and the people.

Thesis Statement

The War of Spanish Succession, the Treaty of Utrecht, and the European Balance of Power

The Treaty of Utrecht assured that England would remain a dominant power after the War of Spanish Succession due to its rise of control of the slave trade, while also giving England power over France at the time.

Free response practice #1

"Why are the trials and tribulations of Galileo often considered both predicative of the future of Western Civilization as well as a perfect encapsulation of the context of his own time?"

Galileo Galilei was a respected Italian scientist of his time. He had many great discoveries and inventions that would go on to shape civilization even after his death. Some of these discoveries were controversial, especially with the Church. His discoveries went against the word in the Bible and he was accused of heresy. His discovery that the sun was the center of the universe and everything revolved around it was especially controversial with biblical teachings at the time. His trials and tribulations gave way to advances in modern science and also showed that at his time religion and science conflicted greatly.

During Galileo’s time, religion was a major discussion topic. It had caused many controversies in the past, some including scientific discoveries others not. In the Bible it says that the Earth never moves, and with Galileo saying it revolved around the sun, the Church was offended. He was taken from his home while he was sick, forced to go to trial, accused of heresy, and put on house arrest. He was not able to leave his house at all, even though all he did was make a great discovery. This exemplifies how serious of a crime this was at the time because religion was at a state where it was an unstable controversy. If this discovery had been made in a time of religious stability, it may have received the credit it deserved at the time.

His discovery opened new doors in science that people had never thought could be opened. His discovery put science in a whole new light and opened numerous possibilities for new research. At the time of his discovery, religion was more renowned and thought about then science. His discovery had to be covered up by the Church because if his discovery was right, it would take away from the literal credibility of the Bible. Galilei said that two truths should not be contradicted. His discovery was indeed right, and he did not make this discovery as an attack on the church, rather to give information to the people. If his discovery had not contradicted Church teachings, the Church would have been fine with his discovery, even glorified it. The Church was not punishing him for the discovery itself, but for the way it affected Church teachings.

This discovery helped fellow scientists shift into a new type of science that has lead to the abilities we have today. Without his discovery being voiced, we would be not as updated in things like astrology and space travel. If he had feared voicing his opinion because he knew the Church would be upset, we would never have heard of his name. He took the courage to voice what he had found, right or wrong, and the risk he took greatly affected modern life for the better. It still shows that his time was in primitive stages of scientific discovery in certain areas that we still do not totally understand. His time was more about religion than it was about anything else.

Galileo is a hero for his discovery in the science department. His trials and tribulations have made the people of the world more advanced and intelligent. Western civilization had created inventions that would not be able to be thoughts without Galileo. Religion is not a dominant as it was in his time. People during his time were forced to agree with Church teachings or they would be punished. Now, science is a major study and competitive industry in the modern world to find more great discoveries like Galileo’s controversial discovery. Discoveries today are still controversial, but not as often with religion. The times have greatly changed since Galileo’s time and advance in all fields can be slightly contributed to his courage and intelligence. His trials and tribulations changed today’s world for the better.