Early Modern Europe

Role of Religion in Society and Politics

Voltaire/Deleyre => religion causes actions 16th century => religious massacres, religious wars/laws 17th century => 30 Years War, Prague Defenestration 18th century => Enlightenment, declarations (tolerance)

The Declaration of the Rights of Man

- 1789 - sets a nation of free individuals and the role of government to ensure these rights - does not mention religion except that you can follow whatever religion you want

Advice to a Desolate France

- Castellio (1562) - Castellio exposes the mastering of conscience and pleaded for letting both religions (Catholic and Protestant) free for each individual to choose, one or the other as he pleased

The Root and Branch Petition

- December 11, 1640 - presented to Long Parliament to get rid of religious hierarchy within churches (15,000 signers) - said that bishops acted against the state and that a more business/commerce approach was necessary

The Encyclopedia

- Deleyre (1751-1772) - superstition is excess of religion which leads to fanatic actions - says that non-religious people have never committed the actions of religious fanatics

Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina of Tuscany

- Galileo (1615) - wanted to accommodate Copernican views with the Catholic Church - he explains it as a truth that can coincide with the Scriptures - he flirts with the duchess portraying himself as an innocent truth seeker to gain her trust

Haitian Declaration of Independence

- January 1, 1804 - says government is inhumane and asks for independence or death - says battles have not worked thus far and calls for only those truly passionate in the battle - no mention of religion

The Second Treatise of Government

- John Locke (1689) - depicts the state of nature and law of nature - also covers slavery, property, government, revolution

American Declaration of Independence

- July 4, 1776 - called to the wrongdoings of the King of Britain and said a government is needed to protect rights - no mention of religion

Answer to the Nineteen Propositions

- King Charles I (June 21 1642) - rejected and by August civil war broke out - said the proposals threatened the ancient constitution of the kingdom - he could not agree to depose himself

Texan Declaration of Independence

- March 2, 1836 - says the government does not protect its citizens yet it holds all the power in cities far away - called for separation from Mexico for self-preservation - only mention of religion was in call for freedom of religion

The Defenestration of Prague

- May 1618 - Bohemian Protestants gather in Prague to defend their religious rights - it results in the throwing of two regents out of a third floor window - they survived due to "god's grace" but prayed and confessed their sins to save themselves

The Apology of the Bohemian Estates

- May 25, 1618 - claimed that actions were a justifiable defense against those who oppressed them - Catholics in power replace Protestants with Catholics and stack positions to eliminate Protestant rights - Protestant churches were to no longer be built

The Cannibals

- Montaigne (1580) - barbarians in new world in sense that they are pure and with nature - sees Westerners as more barbaric (lie, cheat, steal) - West must fix flaws

Candide

- Voltaire (1759) - young man, Candide, journeys around the world with his mentor, Professor Pangloss - ridicules religion and government through allegory

The Peace of Westphalia

- October 24, 1648 - series of peace treaties that ended the Thirty Years' War in the Holy Roman Empire - Westphalia, Holy Roman Empire - created an eighth electorate, granted freedom to Reformed Protestants for the first time, recognized Swiss Confederation - connected the treaties of Munster and Osnabruck - called for cooperation of states and non-interference in other's affairs

The Nineteen Propositions

- Parliament (June 1642) - English Lords and Commons sent a list of proposals to Charles I in which the Long Parliament sought for larger share of governance power - York, England - the propositions were rejected by the end of the month and by August civil war broke out - call for stronger Parliamentary power and action against Roman Catholics

Francis Bacon

1561-1626; influential English writer, scientist, and philosopher who contributed to the scientific revolution; England; considered the father of empiricism/induction/scientific method

Edict of Nantes

1598; granted Huguenots limited religious freedom but maintained Catholicism as the official religion; Nantes, France; ended the French Religious Wars

Estates-General

1614, 1789; legislative assembly of the three different classes (estates) of French subjects: 1) First Estate = Catholic Church 2) Second Estate = nobility 3) Third Estate = everyone else Paris, France; proposed by Louis XVI to solve financial problems; ended in a few weeks in impasse over voting structure (order vs. head); Third Estate formed the National Assembly

Thirty Years' War

1618-1648; series of wars in Central Europe that began over Protestant-Catholic relations but led to multinational war; Holy Roman Empire; very destructive conflict in European history

Long Parliament

1640-1653; English Parliament that was not dissolved by its member until after the English Civil War; England; comprised of many smart men who set forward republican principles for reform and liberty

Peace of Westphalia

1648; series of peace treaties that ended the Thirty Years' War in the Holy Roman Empire; Westphalia, Holy Roman Empire; created an eighth electorate, granted freedom to Reformed Protestants for the first time, recognized Swiss Confederation

Huguenot

16th/17th century; French Reformed (Calvinist) Protestant; southern/central parts of France

St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre

August 23, 1572; Catholic mob violence and murder of Huguenots gathered in Paris for royal marriage; Paris; marked crippling of Huguenot movement and turning point in the war

Nineteen Propositions

June 1642; English Lords and Commons sent a list of proposals to Charles I in which the Long Parliament sought for larger share of governance power; York, England; the propositions were rejected by the end of the month and by August civil war broke out

Tennis Court Oath

June 20, 1789; a pledge signed by all but one member of the Third Estate while locked out of an Estates-General meeting; Versailles, France; met in tennis court near Palace of Versailles; organized National Assembly and pledged to establish a constitution

Massacre of Vassy

March 1, 1562; murder of Huguenots in armed action by Francis, Duke of Guise; Vassy, France; first event of the French Wars of Religion

(Second) Defenestration of Prague

May 23, 1618; two Catholic regents were thrown out of a third floor window to show Protestants rejection of Catholic oppression; Prague, Bohemia; precipitated the Thirty Years' War

Henry of Navarre

r. 1589-1610; Henry IV, first Bourbon French monarch; extended tolerance to Protestants (Edict of Nantes); Navarre, France

Ferdinand II (Holy Roman Emperor)

r. 1619-1637; Holy Roman Emperor from the house of Habsburg who ruled during the Thirty Years' War; Holy Roman Empire; tried to restore Catholicism as only religion of the empire and suppress Protestantism

Oliver Cromwell

r. 1653-1658; Lord Protector of England, Scotland, Ireland; instrumental part of English Civil War in helping the death of Charles I and dominated the short lived Commonwealth of England; controversial for ruling style and policies