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31 Cards in this Set
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Max Weber & Rise of Capitalism |
Unlike Blaut, Weber argues that the wealth flowing intoEurope from the American colonies was not enough initself to cause Europe to end feudalism and develop“capitalism.” Instead, Weber argued that people inEurope had to develop a set of moral ideas/beliefswhereby they believed that it was acceptable tooverthrow the traditional rulers (kings, nobility, pope)and insist that the middle classes hold political power.Weber further noticed that the transition to capitalismhappened in Europe first in the Protestant nations, thenlater in the Catholic nations. Therefore, Weber arguesthere must be something about Protestant attitudes thatencouraged the development of capitalism. Weber stated that it was the Protestants who firststarted challenging the power of the traditional rulers(popes, then kings and other nobility) and their beliefswould pave the way for a new capitalist state system thatwould replace the traditional feudal/tributary system. |
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Protestants – 3 Key Groups |
Protestants believe that the pope is not God’srepresentative and “protest” the pope’s claim toauthority. Martin Luther produced the first wave ofProtestants. King Henry VIII of England created asecond wave of Protestants when he declared Englandwas no longer Catholic (became Anglican) and was notsubject to the pope’s authority so that he could divorcehis first wife. Henry VIII also became incrediblywealthy by confiscating all church property for himself.The third and most radical wave of Protestants was ledby John Calvin who claimed that not only Christians nothave to obey the pope but they could also disobey anykings who were “ungodly.” John Calvin also claimed that the rising middle class were God’s elect and theyhad a right to hold political power. |
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The Habsburg Myths
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The Habsburg (or Hapsburg) family had a number ofreligious and mystical claims about the special nature oftheir family. They claimed to be descended from theroyal family of ancient Troy and from Julius Caesar andCaesar Augustus. The Habsburgs claimed to be chosenby God to prepare the way for the Kingdom of Heavenand Christ’s Second Coming. They claimed their familywas destined to rule over all. Emperor Frederick III’spersonal motto was A.E.I.O.U. (Frederick was thegreat-grandfather of Charles V). The family alsobelieved astrology supported their destiny to become afamily of global Christian rule
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Martin Luther |
Posted the 95 Theses on his church door inWittenberg, Saxony on Oct. 31, 1517. His 95 Theses iscredited a marking the beginning of the ProtestantReformation. This reformation was part of a process ofpolitical and social change in Western Europe that wouldeventually undermine feudalism and create modernnation-states based on capitalist economic relationships.Martine Luther was taken to trial in front of EmperorCharles for his religious teaching at the Diet of Worms.With help from the Duke of Saxony, Luther wouldescape any punishment from Emperor Charles, but theemperor would declare Luther to be an outlaw. Luther,however, would continue to thrive and he developed alarge following both during his long life and afterwards. |
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Duke Frederick of Saxony |
The Duke of Saxony rescued Martin Luther from alikely execution sentence from Emperor Charles at theDiet of Worms (1521) - Luther had refused to recant hiscriticisms of the Pope and the Catholic Church (his 95Theses). Frederickaranged for bandits to “kidnap”Luther and hide him form the emperor and the pope forseveral years in Wartburg Castle. While in hiding,Luther translated the New Testament portion of theBible into German and sent it out for mass publication(which was illegal at the time). |
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Martin Luther’s Challenge |
Challenged the Sale of Indulgences and the Doctrine ofTransubstantiation. Emphasized Rationality overMysticism and Faith & Conscience instead of Rituals &Sacraments. Luther challenged the supremacy andpower of the Pope over the Church and claimed thatevery person could commune directly with God withoutthe need of clergy or priests. He claimed that study ofthe Bible was the preferred way of learning about God. Luther would be excommunicated from the CatholicChurch for his teachings. His followers would also beexpelled from the Catholic Church and become knownas "Lutherans."(Luther translated the New Testament portion of theBible into German while hiding in Wartburg Castle). |
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Emperor Charles I & V 1500-1558 |
Charles was Holy Roman Emperor and the most powerful European ruler in Western Europe since the Fall of Rome in 476 AD - As defender of the Catholic Church, Emperor Charles repeatedly tried to stop the Protestant Reformation begun by Martin Luther in 1517. But Charles frequently found that many of his princes sided with Luther against him. His aunt, Catherine of Aragon, was the first wife of King Henry VIII of England. Charles V put pressure on the pope not to approve Henry’s request to divorce Catherine. However, Henry VIII divorced Catherine in 1532 without the pope’s approval and split England from the Roman Catholic Church, thus furthering the spread of Protestantism and forming the separate Church of England (Anglican Church).Emperor Charles abdicated the throne in 1556, shortly after signing the treaty of Augsburg in 1555. He splits his empire and gives Spain, the Netherlands and parts of Italy, The Philippines and the Spanish American colonies to his son, King Philip II of Spain, but the electors award the eastern half of his empire to Charles' younger brother,Emperor Ferdinand I. |
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Peasants’ War 1524 – 1526 |
This is the first major European uprising fueled by the ProtestantReformation. Influenced by Luther’s teachings about authority, thepeasants rebelled against the nobility in many of the German provinces.However, Luther himself does not support the peasants and urges theGerman nobility to crush the rebellion. More than 100,000 Germanpeasants are killed. |
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Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648) |
In 1555 Emperor Charles I & V had been force to sign the Treaty ofAugsburg guaranteeing religious tolerance to Lutherans. However, in theearly 1600s, the Hapsburg emperors once again antagonized theProtestants in the Holy Roman Empire by permitting the religiouspersecution of all Protestants and destroying Protestant churches. Theseemperors once again claimed that the Hapsburg family had been chosenby God to defend the Catholic Church and to prepare the world for Christ'sreturn. The actions of these emperors caused powerful Protestants to reactby forming the Evangelical Union (led by Protestant noblity) who foughtagainst the Hapsburg Emperor and the other Catholic Princes who hadformed their own union known as the Catholic League. The Thirty Yearswar begins in 1618 in the Holy Roman Empire but soon spreads to includeall of Western Europe except for Great Britain, Scotland and Ireland.Even Sultan Osman II of the Ottoman Empire became involved, giving support to the Protestants and fighting against the Catholics at certainpoints during the war. By 1627, The Hapsburg Emperor Ferdinand II hadoutlawed all forms of Protestantism within his Empire. This war finallyends with the signing of the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648. The power ofboth the pope and the emperor are dramatically reduced by the conclusionof this war. In some parts of Europe, up to two-thirds of the populationdied during the war. Over seven million Europeans are killed by the timethis war is over. Disease in Europe including plague is also rampantduring the war years. Fifty percent of all men in the Holy Roman Empirehave died by the time this war ends. The Thirty Years’ War ultimatelyleads to end of feudal system in much of Europe. The old feudal order isreplaced by “sovereign” nation-states. The emperor and pope lost most oftheir political authority |
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The Peace of Westphalia – 1648 |
The Peace of Westphalia ends the Thirty Years War and establishes a“modern” system of nation-states, each with their own sovereign borders,independent rulers and religious and national identity. This is the final blow tothe feudal system and the Holy Roman Emperor is now only a figurehead withvery little actual power. He only retains any real political power over hishomeland of Austria. Each region within the empire is now politicallyautonomous and recognizes the emperor in name only. Also, the pope’s poweris drastically reduced both politically and economically with the formalrecognition of Protestant European nations who do not recognize the pope ashaving any authority and no nation is obligated to pay taxes to the pope.
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Mercantilism- Protocapitalism |
Banking, trade, fiance, were growing during the Middle Ages and this resulted in growth of the middle classes- However, there would be no full-scale capitalism until the bourgeoisie gain political power for themselves in the new capitalist nation-states (such as what happened in the Dutch Republic) |
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Bourgeoisie |
New Rising Middle Class forms as a result of colonialism and the conquest of the new World. (New wealth pours in from exploitation in Americas and other colonies). Empowered by the teaching of John Calvin, the bourgeoisie will eventually seek and fight for political power in western Europe. The establishment of the Dutch Republic as well as the English Civil War (Puritan Rebellion) led by Oliver Cromwell and the Glorious Revolution of 1688 are prime examples of the bourgeoisie challenge to and overthrow of the feudal system |
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Henry VIII (Anglican) Church of England |
The English King, Henry VIII (1491-1547), wants a divorce from Catherine of Aragon. The pope, under pressure from Emperor Charles V or I, refuses to grant the divorce. (Catherine is the aunt of Charles V). Henry divorces Catherine anyway in 1532 and, borrowing from Martin Luther's Protestant claims, creates a Church of England that is free from the authority of the pope and Henry places himself as the supreme head of this new English Church. As a result the English aristocracy becomes incredibly wealthy because all the Catholic Church's lands, taxes and wealth throughout England now become property of the English Crown. Catherine of Aragon first wife, 2nd Wife Anne Boleyn, 3rd Wife Jane Seymore, |
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King Edward VI (1537-1553) |
Edward VI comes to the throne in England at the age of 9 (in 1547) after the death of his father, Henry VIII. Edward was the song of Henry's third wife, Jane Seymour. Edward kept England separated from the Church of Rome and the pope's power. Edward maintained his father's tradition by being recognized as the supreme head of the Anglican Church. Edward died at the age of 15 and named his 17 year old cousin, Lady Jane Grey, to succeed him. However, after ruling for only 9 days Jane would be overthrown by Edward's older half-sister, Mary, and later executed at the Tower of London |
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Mary 1 -("Bloody Mary") 1516-1558 |
After Henry VIII dies, his only son, Edward VI(son of Jane Seymour wife) becomes king. But Edward's half-sister, Mary(daughter of Catherine of Aragon) uses military force to take the throne of England in 1553. Mary has her cousin, Lady Jane Grey, beheaded for treason. Mary marries the son of Emperor Charles V, Phillip II - King of Spain, and together they reinstitute Catholicism in England. Became known as Bloody Mary because of her religious persecution of Protestants in England. |
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Elizabeth I - 1533 - 1603 |
After Mary dies of cancer in 1558, her half-sister Elizabeth (daughter ofHenry VIII and Anne Boleyn – wife #2). Elizabeth reinstitutesProtestantism in England. She reinstates the English royal prerogative assupreme head of the Church of England. Although both the pope andPhillip II of Spain make plans to forcibly reinstate Catholicism inEngland, their plans are unsuccessful and England becomes a majorProtestant naval power during Elizabeth’s reign |
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Dutch Republic - 1581 |
The Low Countries ( largely consisting of today's Netherlands and Belgium) declared independence from the Spanish King Phillip II(Son of Emperor Charles) with the "Act of Abjuration" declared on June 14,1581. For the next six years, the Dutch searched for an alternative monarch, even asking Elizabeth I of England to take the position as their sovereign, but she declined (fearing Spanish retaliation). The "States- General" then set up their own system of governance without any king or monarch in 1587 and this confederation of states became a republic. The governance of the Dutch Republic was made up of both nobility and "States-General." Both these groups were predominately Calvinists. The republic was NOT a democracy but a meritocracy. The wealthy nobles as well as capitalists passed laws promoting trade and business in their mutual favor. The poorer classes were excluded from political power. The first stock market in Europe was set up in the Dutch Republic. The republic was clearly a modern capitalist, rather than a feudal, political and economic system |
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Spanish Armada 1588 |
The Spanish Navy is sent to end Protestantism in England the Republic of the Netherlands. This armada is hit by a massive storm and half of the fleet is sunk before it reaches the English and Dutch navies. The surviving Spanish ships are defeated by Queen Elizabeth's navy. As a result, England becomes the most most powerful naval force in Western Europe and both England and The Dutch Republic remain Protestant and free of Philip II's rule. |
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John Calvin – Calvinism |
John Calvin was born in France in 1509. He converted to the Protestant beliefs as a young adult. Although he initially followed the teaching of Martin Luther and the Lutheran Church, he eventually led a new set of beliefs that became known as "Calvinism." Calvinism promoted the following ideas which were not completely shared by the Lutherans.:Predestination – the “elect” of God – God has preordained who will get into Heaven. Wealth is a sign of God’s approval. Calvin’s ideas are very popular with the rising middle classes (bourgeoisie) across Europe. Calvin settled in Geneva Switzerland and became known as a major leader of the Protestant reformation while living in that city. Followers of Calvin’s teaching become known in England as “Puritans" and in France his followers were known as "Huguenots." In other parts of Western Europe they were generally referred to as Calvinists. The “Parable of the Talents”was used by Calvin as a religious and moral justification for accumulating large sums of wealth. Hard work and the accumulation of wealth was viewed as a sign of God’s approval(the “Protestant Ethic”). Calvin was NOT against the charging of interest (usury) which had been considered sinful by most Christians throughout the Middle Ages. Calvin also claimed that “ungodly kings” should not be obeyed. (This notion began to lead to a popular Protestant and Enlightenment view of “sovereignty by the people.”)Calvinism spread rapidly across western Europe among the newly rising middle classes and, according to the readings by Weber, were a key force in shaping modern nation-states and their relationship to capitalism. |
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Huguenots
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French Calvinists – They followed the teachings of John Calvinand frequently challenged the power of the Catholic Frenchmonarchy. Many Huguenots would flee France after thousands ofthem became victims of a series of massacres known as the St.Bartholomew’s Day Massacres approved by the French monarchyThis series of massacres began on Aug. 22, 1572 (St.Bartholomew’s Day) the day after the wedding between KingHenry of Navarre (a Huguenot) and Princess Margot of France (aaCatholic). The French Queen Mother, Catherine de Medici and herson, the young King Charles IX of France, approved of themassacre of thousands of Huguenots who had come to Paris for thewedding of her Catholic daughter. This king-approved massacreresulted in the death of thousands of Huguenots in Paris andthroughout France. Killings of Huguenots continued until October 3 of the same year. The pope sent a golden rose as sign of hisapproval to the French King Charles IX and ordered that a “TeDeum” or hymn of thanksgiving be performed. On hearing of theHuguenot slaughter in France, King Philip II of Spain, son ofEmperor Charles, was said to have “laughed for the only time onrecord.” Many of the surviving French Huguenots fled to TheNetherlands (where they would later help create the DutchRepublic).
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Henry of Navarre - Henri IV of France |
Henry of Navarre was famous for his Huguenot (FrenchCalvinist) beliefs and his marriage to the French CatholicPrincess Margot (Princess Marguerite de Valois) just priorto the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre. Their marriagewas formally declared as the means to create peace betweenHuguenots and Catholics in France, but tragedy followed.This tragedy would become known as the St.Bartholomew’s Day Massacre. Although Henry of Navarrewould be forced to renounce his Huguenot beliefs in favorof Catholicism, he would eventually become King Henri IVof France, he also issued the Edict of Nantes in 1598. Thisedict allowed some protections for Huguenots in France butfavored Catholicism as the state religion. Ironically, HenryIV would be murdered by a radical Catholic in 1610.However, Henri IV’s grandson, Louis XIV (the so-called“sun king”) would remove all Huguenot protection andopenly persecute them causing Huguenots to once again fleeFrance. |
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Puritans and Pilgrims |
Puritans were unhappy with the Church of England(the Anglican Church). Even though it is Protestant, the Church of England does not follow the teachings of John Calvin and it is controlled by the English monarchy, Puritans, on the other hand, follow the teachings of John Calvin and are unhappy with the monarchy's power. Some Puritans, known as Pilgrims, leave England, spend many ears in the Dutch Republic and then finally settle in North America in 1620 to establish their own colony where the Anglican Church cannot touch them |
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English Civil War 1640-1660(Puritan Rebellion) |
Those Puritans who remain in England are unhappy with the rule of King Charles I. They want political power to go with their new economic power. The Puritans, who are anti-king, go to war against the Anglicans who are pro king. Oliver Cromwell leads the Puritans to victory over the Anglican. The Puritans take power in England and execute King Charles I(1649). Cromwell rules as "Lord Protectorate" of England through the use of martial law. Theater, alcohol, dancing and other worldly pleasures are forbidden to the English public during the period of Puritan rule. The Protestant ethic becomes law during this period. The English monarchy is eventually restored is 1660 when Charles II - son of the executed Charles I- is placed on the throne of England and the Puritans lose their power over the nation. |
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Glorious Revolution 1688 – Rule of Bourgeoisie |
The English bourgeoisie strongly dislikes King James II of England because he is Catholic. King James II gained the English throne after his Protestant brother, King Charles II, died. The English bourgeoisie gains political power and reshapes the nation state by inviting the Protestant princess Mary (who is the eldest daughter of James II) and her Dutch husband William of Orange,to bring a Dutch army and force James II off the throne. (In other words, the daughter brings an army to remove her Catholic father from the throne in order to place herself and her Dutch husband on it). When Mary and the Dutch army arrived in England, King James II was deserted by his own military who also disliked him for being Catholic. James II fled to France. His daughter and her husband took the throne. However, William and Mary’s powers asking and queen of England are strongly limited by the Parliament which is becoming increasingly controlled by the middle classes.William and Mary are England’s first “constitutional monarchs”which means that their powers are limited and controlled by laws passed by the Parliament. A Bill of Rights is passed by Parliament guaranteeing rights and the power to vote only to wealthy, property owning, Protestant, English men. |
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Accumulation of Wealth |
Calvinists believe this was a sign of blessing or approval from God. The accumulation of wealth was a sign of being “God'select”. Thos who work hard and make money are pleasing to God.Those who are poor are lazy and immoral and will be punished byGod. This is the basis for what Weber refers to as “The ProtestantEthic. |
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Max Weber |
Weber’s book, The Protestant Ethic & The Spirit of Capitalism, discusses the key issues mentioned below: |
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Protestant Work Ethic |
Calvinists believe that working and making money is pleasing To God. Therefore they start working more (Lengthening of Workweek). Dancing, sports, drinking music and other distractions from work are considered sinful. |
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Piety and the Accumulation of wealth |
Although Calvinists believe making money is a way to serve God,they also believe in being frugal and not wasting money on luxuries.Therefore, they begin to accumulate large sums of wealth which theybelieve is what God wants them to do |
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Protestant Discipline |
Work vs. Pleasure. Work is morally good and glorifying to God.Making and accumulating money is a sign of God’s approval, butdon’t waste it on pleasure, luxury or other forms of sin. Calvinistlife centers around working and attending church. |
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Capitalism |
Bourgeoisie gains both political and economic powerCapitalist Laws –After taking power, the bourgeoisie favor the middle classesand grant them political power, but continue to marginalize the lower classesand women. First example of a European capitalist nation was the DutchRepublic founded in 1581. Although it claimed to be a “republic,” the newDutch state only granted political power to wealthy white males. Englandwould do the same after the Glorious Revolution of 1688. |
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New Form of Nation-States
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Treaty of Westphalia 1648, national sovereignty, the end of thetributary/feudal system, rise of individual, separate nation-states. Nationalreligion declared for each individual state. Each nation was considered to havepermanent sovereign territories. Subjects were expected to be loyal to only onegovernment, the government who directly ruled over the nation in which theylived. Each nation was associated with one single religion. These new nationstateswould become increasingly capitalist, mixing the interests if business andfinance with the interests of the state and political power would ofteneventually be shared between the nobility and the bourgeoisie. Prime examplesof this would be the power of the States-General in the Dutch Republic and thepower of the English Parliament after the Glorious Revolution of 1688. |
