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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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 ) created a fantasy of unity at his court in Prague
Lack of firm control from the emperor exacerbated religious conflicts within the empire

14. 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

15. 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 ( ) weakened power of nobility and ruled through terror
Romanov dynasty, in 1613, founded after chaos of early seventeenth century

16. 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