The Age of Confessional Division, 1550-1618 The West CHAPTER 14

The Population Recovery Consistent population growth, after 1480 Permanent shift in demographic and economic power, from Mediterranean to northwest Europe Shift from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture fueled population and economic growth

The Prosperous Villages Decline of serfdom created relative economic freedom for peasantry Successful commercial agriculture depended upon a free labor supply, access to capital, and proximity to markets Growth of rural population created a new underclass of vagabonds

The Regulated Cities Cities grew, due to migration from country Dramatic social and economic divisions grew Increasing regulation of social and economic life by urban governments Expansion of charity and welfare organizations

The Price Revolution Population growth led to demand outstripping supply, especially for essentials Prices multiplied by five- or six-fold Real wages declined, and fixed incomes and government revenues were eroded Influx of gold and silver from colonies and debasement of currencies encouraged inflation

Establishing Confessional Identities Promotion of distinct confessional institutions, beliefs, behaviors and cultures Union between political and religious authorities - development of state religion Clerical disciplining of non-conformity Catholic ritual identity depended upon a repertoire of gestures Protestant ritual identity depended upon a demonstration of sociability

Policing the Family The patriarchal ideal served the needs of church and state - the authority of a husband and father reflected that of king and clergy Evolution of a new type of family - smaller, physically and economically independent Development of new attitude towards children - greater emphasis on education, welfare and discipline

Suppressing Popular Culture Reformation or abolition of non-Christian practices in European culture Active promotion of reformed religious practices and values Broadening of the cultural gap between the élite and the broad mass of society

Hunting Witches Intensification of persecution of alleged witches The logic of witchcraft beliefs implied that a bad ending was caused by bad intentions Belief in diabolism helped explain events that could not be understood Ca. 100,000 people were accused of witchcraft and around half of them were executed Ca. 80 percent of accused witches were women

The Confessional States Fundamental principle of rulership - one king, one faith, one law Presence of a significant religious minority in a state led to tension, suspicion and even civil war Emergence of religious fanaticism fueled political assassinations and massacres

The French Wars of Religion and the Dutch Revolt Conflicts bred from competition for political power, between religious rivals Development of an international Protestant alliance between Dutch rebels, French Huguenots and the English French instability allowed Spain to become the dominant power in Europe Dutch Revolt strained the military and economic resources of Spain to breaking point

Literature in the Age of Confessional Division Vernacular languages replaced Latin as literary languages Political and religious turmoil prompted questioning about humanity and the meaning of life Remarkable period of literary creativity - Spanish Golden Age and Elizabethan Renaissance

The Dream World of Emperor Rudolf Pressure of maintaining the ideal of a universal empire, in the face of political and religious instability Rudolf II (r.1576-1612) created a fantasy of unity at his court in Prague Lack of firm control from the emperor exacerbated religious conflicts within the empire

The Renaissance of Poland-Lithuania Power of nobility had encouraged religious diversity Cultural and commercial contacts with Italy enhanced the appeal of Catholicism In the decentralized political system, the Catholic Church provided a unifying institution and culture

The Development of Imperial Russia Dukes of Moscow became the tsars of Russia, creating an authoritarian state Imitation of Byzantine style and assertion of continuity with Imperial Rome Ivan IV (1533-1584) weakened power of nobility and ruled through terror Romanov dynasty, in 1613, founded after chaos of early seventeenth century

The Divisions of the West Demographic and economic pressures eroded confidence and security Emergence of confessional states, based upon a union of political and religious authority Division of the West into religiously driven national camps Development of political alliances, based upon common beliefs