Elements of Western History since 1500 - Essay Example

Your Lecturer's A Review of Elements of Western History since 1500 Question How did the effects of Absolutism and the Enlightenment influence and impact the French Revolution? Absolutism refers to the fact that the ruling class of a nation us not held accountable by the people for their actions (Schwab & Jeanneney 229). In the case of France in the 1600s and the 1700s, this was the case because the ruling class had formed an elite social structure around the monarchy and royal family of the country. This group practiced what is popularly known as oligopoly where this small group of people in the French society controlled all the wealth and power of the nation. The common citizens of France lived under harsh conditions because they had no rights to question or go against the rules and principles of the ruling class. Consequently, the ruling class become more distant from the citizens. Also, due to the fact that the ruling class were seldom questioned of their actions and decisions, there was a trend of inefficiency and corruption in the control of state resources and this affected the poor in France more. This caused the masses in France, who were most affected by the inefficiencies of the ruling class to seek intervention and change. Enlightenment refers to a a trend where scholars and other influential citizens in Sixteenth and Seventh Century Europe sought to question existing trends in the society and rationalize the need for new methods (Wilson & Reill 3). In the case of France, scholars like Voltaire, Montesquieu and D'Holbech sought the “massive salvation of the people” through seeking accountability amongst the ruling class through a constitution, equal rights and egalitarianism and the fair use of scientific methods in ensuring efficiency and a better quality of life. This campaign was accepted by the masses in France and this played a major role in building the consciousness and stirring up a general dissatisfaction and action against the French Monarch and the ruling class. This became the genesis of the French Revolution which sought to destroy the dominance of the ruling class in France and establish a system of equality and the promotion of the welfare of people in the country. Question 2 The differences between constitutional monarchy and absolutist monarchy and how it was established in England and France before, during the 1600s and 1700s. A constitutional monarchy is one that derives its power legitimately through the people and there is a law that spells out the rights and responsibilities of the ruler and the ruled (Wilson & Riell 3). On the other hand, an absolute monarchy is one where the power of the rulers is deemed to emanate from some special attributes or qualities of the monarchs (Wilson & Riell 3). In the case of Medieval Europe, the most popular attribute that supported absolute monarchies was the divine backing of the royal government, confirmed by the earthly powers of the Catholic Church. England practiced a constitutional monarchy that can be traced through the evolution of the the kingdom and its ruling structures. Martland (199) identifies that the British monarchy had simultaneously sought to develop three arms of government since the Norman conquests. This is evident by the fact that the Crown sought to codify the common legal systems of England right after the conquest in the 1200s. This became the foundation for a legal system that was upheld above the King of England and it became the regulatory force of the nation and spelt out the rights and responsibilities of the rulers and the ruled by the 1600s. The second aspect of the English monarchy is the fact that the king, since the 14th Century had a body of sworn advisers who examined every ordinance and pardon of the king before it was passed into law. The third element was the representation of the people of England through a constituted parliament that represented the concerns of the nobles as well as the commoners in a national discourse. These three arms formed some kind of checks and balances for the governance of England. Also, the legal system granted freedom of religion (Kishlansky et al 331) and religious leaders were just a stakeholder group in the team of advisers to their king, thus their advice was not held as absolute but questioned to seek the best interest of the state. France on the other hand had an absolutist monarchy. The monarchy was viewed to have the power and legitimacy that was derived directly by God and sanctioned by the Pope and Catholic Church (Wilson & Reill 3). This means that every bad or good decision taken by the monarchy was considered to have divine backing and no one was allowed to question their actions. This therefore led to a series of subjective decisions that led to serious problems for the masses. Enlightenment thinkers like Locke and Voltaire admired the English monarchy because it promoted the principles of Rule of Law and accountability of its leaders. The constitution guaranteed equal rights to the masses and the legal system promised justice to them. Also, the three institution linked with the Crown promoted checks and balances that prevented absolutism in England. Question 3 The powers of the Catholic Church in 1500 and how it was affected by key events in the development of Europe after that period By 1500, the Catholic Church enjoyed a religious monopoly throughout Europe and this meant that it was the main power behind most social and religious activities throughout Europe (Lockhard 396). The Catholic Church made laws for the social and religious activities for countries in Europe and it also gave spiritual legitimacy to the kings, rulers and constitutions of nations around Europe. It therefore had several degrees of control over governments and nations of Europe. The Renaissance brought about the argument for the use of science and the liberalization of arts. This led to the reduction the reliance on God and the Catholic church for religious guidance, rather people relied on research and knowledge to improve their lives. The Age of Exploration gave the Catholic Church more power since they could send missionaries to other continents to baptize more people and integrate them into the Faith. This expansion led to the expansion of the control of the Papacy to The Americas, Africa and Asia. The Reformation caused a reduction in the power of the Catholic Church because it saw the separation of several states in Northern Europe from the Church. This was worsened by the fact that several members of the church broke off and started other Christian denominations. The Scientific revolution also brought about the use of science and research to improve the lives of people in Europe. This gradually took the place of relying on God for protection from natural disasters and the granting of a better life. This weakened people's commitment to the Catholic Church. The Enlightenment caused people to begin asking questions about the advantages and disadvantages of blending the church and state activities. It led to an objective analysis and identification of the problems posed by the blend of religion and state. This formed the basis for the ultimate break away between the church and state. The French Revolution was an action that ultimately saw the first radical separation of the Church and the state. The French Revolution also acted as a challenge for other nations in Europe that had leaders who were backed by the Vatican and were being oppressed. This opened the floodgates for the establishment of constitutions that sought to separate states from the Catholic Church in several parts of Europe. Question 4 The spread of the Protestant Reformation throughout Europe and England and the differences between the Catholic Church and Protestant movements The Protestant Reformation began in 1517 when Martin Luther nailed a series of questions against the Catholic Church on the Wittenburg Castle Church door. Ulrich Zwingli another Catholic Priest in Switzerland also came up with issues around this that that questioned the doctrines of the Catholic Church. This began a trend of debates about the doctrines and practices of the Catholic Church in Germany and other parts of Europe. In England, King Henry VII had a dispute with the Catholic Church in 1529 and this led to the independence of the English Catholic Church which led to the formation of the Anglican Church in 1536 (Duicker & Spielvogel 428). This led to a trend of movements that sought to break away from the Catholic church throughout Northern and Central Europe. The Protestant Reformation questioned the activities of the Catholic Church in several areas (Spielvogel, 275). It sought the promotion of Scripture reading amongst ordinary members of the Church and not just ordained priests. It also sought some liberalization of prayers and flexibility on the mandatory pilgrimage placed on some members of the church. It also had questions about the veneration of saints and the prayer through Mary as well as celibacy of Catholic Priests. The Protestants also asked questions about the role of the Papacy in political and governance matters in the states of Europe. The spread of the Protestant Reformation was supported by several factors identified by Duicker & Spielvogel (430 – 431). The first element of the spread of the protestant movement was the growth of state power. The English had demonstrated that the power of the state could stand against the Catholic Church. Thus, other nations in Europe saw a chance in the break away from the Catholic Church and the establishment of independent churches. Secondly, social changes and the renaissance helped in the spread of independent thinking bereft of Catholic ideals and requirements. Also, the impact of the invention of the printing press made it easier for information to be spread and also allowed the transmission of information. The criticism of the Catholic Church and its support for oppressive governments and limitation of rights made the Protestant Reformation popular throughout Europe. Works Cited Duicker, William & Spielvogel, Jackson. World History Vol 1 Mason, OH: Cengage. 2010. Print. Kishlansky, Mark; Geary, Patrick & O'Brien, Patricia. A Brief History of Western Civilization Vol 1. New York: Pearson/Longman. 2004. Print. Lockard, Craig. Societies, Network & Transitions: A Global History – Vol I to 1500. Mason, OH. 2010. Print. Martland, Fredric William. The Constitutional History of England: A Course of Lectures. London: Lawbook Exchange. Print. Noble, Thomas; Strauss Barry, Osheim, Duane. Western Civilization – Beyond Boundaries since 1560. Mason, OH: Cengage. Print. Schwab, Gail & Jeanneney, John. The French Revolutoin of 1789 and its Impact Greenwood Publishing Group. 1995. Print. Spielvogel, Jackson. Western Civilization – A Brief History. Mason, OH: Cengage. 2010. Print. Wilson, Ellen Judy & Reill, Peter Hanns. Encyclopedia of Enlightenment. Infobase Publishing. 2004. Print. Read More