Renaissance and Baroque Eras: Expansion, Economy, Politics, and Culture

Posted on Sep 10, 2024 in History

Renaissance III

Expansion

  1. Spain arrived in the Philippines in 1565. The islands were founded by Legazpi.
  2. France sent explorers to find new countries around the world.
  3. Holland started to organize companies to make money.
  4. England, with its powerful navy and pirates, began its rise to maritime dominance. The most important pirate was Drake.

Economy

  1. Income of Silver: Silver, primarily used to purchase goods from allies like Flanders and Italy, significantly impacted the European economy.
  2. Inflation: Rising prices became a problem, leading to the emergence of economics as a science.
  3. Mercantilism: This economic theory advocated for countries to strive for self-sufficiency.
  4. Economic Shift: The economic center of Europe shifted from the south to the north due to the latter’s stronger economies.

Politics

Philip II

Philip II inherited the thrones of Castile, Aragon, America, Italy, and Flanders. In 1580, he also inherited Portugal from his mother.

  1. Islam:
    • The Morisco population in Granada staged an uprising in 1568 but was ultimately crushed.
    • The Turks posed a threat in the Mediterranean, attempting to control the sea and raiding coasts. However, their victories were not as significant as they could have been.
  2. Netherlands:

    The Netherlands, prosperous due to commerce, saw the rise of the bourgeoisie and the Protestant religion. This led to an uprising with three main aspects:

    1. Religion: Protestantism gained popularity, especially among business people.
    2. Nationalistic Movements: A desire for independence from Spain grew.
    3. Political: The bourgeoisie sought self-government.

    Spain lost control of the northern Netherlands, which became Protestant and independent as Holland. However, they retained the south, which remained Catholic and eventually became Belgium.

  3. England: Religious wars broke out in England during this time.

Culture

  1. Literature:
    • Camoes was the most famous poet.
    • Picaresque and Cervantes were prominent prose writers in Spain.
    • Shakespeare, known for plays like Hamlet, was the most famous dramatist.
  2. Art: This period was marked by tension and division.
    • Architecture:
      • Palladio, a Venetian architect, had a significant influence on architecture in the UK and USA.
      • Herrera, a Spanish architect, designed the El Escorial monastery.
    • Painting:
      • Tintoretto, from Venice, was known for his unconventional compositions, often depicting multiple scenes, crowded figures, and confusing, unreal lighting.
      • El Greco, originally from Greece but linked to Toledo, was known for his expressive style, elongated figures, and bold use of color.

Baroque I

Expansion

  • Spain: Spain consolidated its empire, with a flourishing culture in New Spain (Mexico), particularly in architecture and literature. Lima, Peru, and Ecuador boasted impressive architecture.
  • England:
    • English settlers established Virginia in 1607, focusing on agriculture in this new land with a vastly different climate from Europe. This became the core of the”South”
    • Puritans, a group of strict Protestants, left England seeking religious freedom and founded New England in 1620. This region, emphasizing self-government and individual liberty, became the core of the”North”
  • Caribbean: Conquered by Spain, the Caribbean’s unique agricultural potential attracted pirates and sparked wars. England eventually seized Jamaica, leading to the development of the lucrative sugar cane industry.
  • Netherlands: The Dutch adopted a more modern approach to colonization, focusing on trade and establishing companies like the East India Company. They acquired territories in South Africa and Indonesia, where rubber became a key commodity.
  • Portugal: Portugal colonized Brazil and established footholds in Africa and western India, extending their reach to Japan and China.
  • France: France established colonies in the Caribbean and North America, founding Quebec.

Economy

An economic crisis, beginning in the Mediterranean region of southern Europe, spread northward by the end of this period.

Reasons:

  • Economists attributed the crisis to natural economic cycles.
  • Historians pointed to factors like frequent wars, unfavorable climate conditions, and a decline in silver income.

Politics

General International Situation:

  1. 1600-1618: This period was relatively peaceful, with Spain as the dominant power.
  2. 1618-1640: The Thirty Years’ War erupted.
    • Problems and Sides:
      • Germany: Religious tensions between Catholics and Protestants plagued Germany. The emperor’s desire for unification was opposed by Protestant princes and neighboring countries.
      • Spain and Netherlands: Spain and the Netherlands were locked in conflict.
      • Spain and France: Spain and France also went to war, led by powerful figures like Conde Duque de Olivares in Spain and Richelieu in France.
      • Catholic Germany: The Holy Roman Emperor and Spain.
      • Protestant Germany: The Netherlands, Sweden, and France.
    • Results:
      1. Germany was devastated, suffering economic, cultural, and political turmoil.
      2. The Netherlands gained official recognition as an independent country.
      3. Spain emerged weakened, facing revolts in Catalonia (1640), Portugal (1647), and Naples.
  3. 1648-1661: Most countries signed a peace treaty, except for Spain and France.

Spain:

In 1640, uprisings in Portugal and Catalonia challenged Spanish rule. After 16 years of war, Catalonia was reincorporated into the kingdom.

France:

La Fronde, a bourgeois uprising against the king, was eventually suppressed by the royal forces.

Culture

  1. Science:
    • Medicine: William Harvey, an English doctor, revolutionized medicine with his discovery of blood circulation.
    • Astronomy:
      • Johannes Kepler, a German astronomer, discovered that planets move in elliptical orbits.
      • Galileo Galilei, an Italian physicist, made groundbreaking observations with his telescope, discovering lunar craters, Jupiter’s moons, and distant stars.
  2. Philosophy:
    • Problem of Knowledge:
      • Francis Bacon emphasized the importance of experience and research, separating religion from science.
      • René Descartes stressed the power of reason.
    • Social Organization:
      • Hugo Grotius focused on international law.
      • Thomas Hobbes advocated for a strong state to prevent chaos.
  3. Literature:
    • Theatre:
      • Spain saw the rise of playwrights like Lope de Vega, Calderon de la Barca (known for”Life is a Dream” exploring the nature of truth), and Tirso de Molina.
      • England’s theater evolved to reflect a more modern society, tackling controversial themes. However, the Puritan Republic led to a temporary halt in theatrical productions.
  4. Art:
    • Characteristics: Baroque art embraced realism, depicting nature in all its forms, including the unconventional and imperfect. Artists were fascinated by light effects and captured movement, emotion, and the unexpected.
    • Themes: While traditional themes like religion, mythology, and portraits persisted, new subjects emerged, including landscapes, still lifes, genre scenes, and depictions of everyday life.
    • Artists:
      • Italy: Caravaggio and numerous foreign painters.
      • Spain: Diego Velázquez, Francisco de Zurbarán, Jusepe de Ribera, and Bartolomé Esteban Murillo.
      • Flanders: Peter Paul Rubens.
      • Holland: Rembrandt van Rijn.