Absolute vs. Parliamentary Monarchy, 17th Century Society
Absolute Monarchy vs. Parliamentary Monarchy
Absolute Monarchy was the dominant political system in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries. Kings believed their authority had been given to them by God and that they, therefore, held all the power (sovereignty) (executive, legislative, and judicial) with no limitations. At the same time, England and The Netherlands limited the authority of their monarchs by strengthening the power of their parliaments (see worksheet).
17th Century Society
In the 17th century, the population of Europe stopped growing and even fell due to wars, famine, and the biggest plague of Black Death since the 14th century. The Great Plague of London (1664-1667) killed between 70,000 to 100,000 people.
European Society had the following main characteristics:
- The agricultural crisis caused a fall in the Lords’ (nobles) income, so they put more pressure on the peasants and demanded the payment of old tributes. This situation led to peasant revolts (e.g., Peasant uprising in Catalonia in 1640). Many nobles became courtiers in the palaces of Absolute Monarchs.
- In Spain, there was no rise of the bourgeoisie, and many members of the low nobility (Hidalgos) lived on the edge of poverty. Some held public office, served in the army, or emigrated to America.
- The members of the Clergy increased because joining the Church was a way to guarantee survival in a time of economic crisis.
- The High Bourgeoisie, especially bankers, gained more influence because they lent money to the monarchs. Marriages between the bourgeoisie and members of the nobility were frequent.
- The Petite Bourgeoisie received education in Universities, and many of them worked as members of the State’s Administration as Civil Servants.
- Guilds continued to be the predominant organization in manufacture production, but the appearance of the “Domestic System” in rural areas introduced some changes that led to a proto-industrialization with new production methods dominated by the bourgeoisie, who invested their capital in them. Proto-industrialization was marked by the increasing involvement of agrarian families in market-oriented craft production. Merchant capitalists provided these families the raw materials and sometimes even the means of production (tools and capital) for them to make products at home.
- The economic situation of the peasants got worse. Some increased their income by the domestic system, but many others fell into extreme poverty and became beggars.
Science and Art
Science
Thanks to the previous work of the Humanists during the 16th century, 17th-century scientists founded the key principles of modern science: Empiricism and Rationalism, which led to the development of the scientific method.
The science of the 17th century brought revolution in three areas: the explanation of the Universe and Nature, the concept of Science, and Scientific research methods. However, Scientists had to overcome opposition from the Catholic Church, since many of these theories challenged religious beliefs and the Bible teachings.
Main Scientific Findings (16th-17th centuries)
Art
Baroque was an artistic style that developed in Europe and Latin America during the 17th and part of the 18th century. As opposed to the equilibrium and serenity of Renaissance art, Baroque Art is characterized by grandiosity, dynamism, and drama (see slide presentation).
It was not only an artistic movement but also encompassed other areas of culture such as music (Vivaldi, J.S. Bach), Literature (Cervantes, Shakespeare), Theater (Lope de Vega, Calderón de la Barca), and Philosophy (Francis Bacon, René Descartes, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke).