Age of Religious War Chapter 5 Notes

8/13/2019 Age of Religious War Chapter 5 Notes

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The Century of Genius Chapter 5

Astronomy Aristotelian mechanics, Ptolemaic astronomy, and Christian theology

o Earth stood at the center and all heavy bodies were propelled around it. Earth, divinely appointed tomortal mans use, was in effect the cesspool of the universe, with the hell at its core. Such teachingswere harmonious with Ptolemy. According to him, everything wheeled around the Earth once every 24hours (moon, sun, planets, and stars). Beyond them was heaven. Everything was composed of earth,fire, water, and air. God created nonliving, then vegetative, then dumb animals then man.

o In human physiology there were 4 humors which had to be balanced.o Why this lasted up to late times was that people did not question early Greek experimentation.

The New View of the Universe Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543)- conservative and a quiet Polish cleric in East Prussia. He published a revision

of Ptolemys geocentric theory hoping to bring astronomy up to date. o Heliocentric theory- It did not add up to him that the planets could rotate around the Earth because

there needed to be 80 intricate networks of circles and epicycles. He thought that God may havedesigned a simpler pattern. The theory though made the earth seem as one of the planets, not as it is atthe time situated at a really high level. The stars did not wheel every 24 hours also, some took longer.

o For half a century nobody cared. Johannes Kepler- demonstrated Copernicus heliocentric theory. He noticed that Mars traveled faster when it

approached the sun. He discovered that Mars like all planets orbit the sun elliptically and that the sun is not atthe center, but at one focus of the ellipse; all planetary motion can be calculated with a formula. Each planettakes a different amount of time to go around. He abandoned Copernicus belief in the crystalline spheres.Planets moved through empty spaces.

Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)-constructed a telescope of his owno He saw the moon had crestso Planets and stars had very different shapes, with stars being an undefined shapeo Rings around Saturno Professors denied the evidence of his telescope because it conflicted with Aristotelian teaching, which

said that for a body to be put into motion, a move either external or internal was necessary.o He developed a whole new approach to dynamics- study of bodies in motion. He showed that equations

can be made for any motion. He said that all bodies fall at the same acceleration. Worked with pendulum and cannon ball

o This violated Aristotles ideas of natural and violent motion. Natural - internal self-direction, violent-theresult of artificial repulsion

o He got into trouble with the church- the new science conflicted with the accepted ways of the scripture.He argued scripture and nature should be separated.

o Galileo was told not to accept Copernicanism. He published a book where he talked about both,pretending to be neutral. Pope Urban III brought him to Rome and he was tried. He acceptedpunishment like a good Christian.

The Scientific Climate of Opinion Francis Bacon (1561-1626) and Rene Descartes (1596-1650) wanted to go away from old science completely.

o Descarte- I think therefore I am Metaphysics and physics Perfected Galileos law of inertia Discourse on Method- laid down rules for the abstract, deductive reasoning suitable to

mathematics. Condemned Galileo for being too experimental and insufficiently abstract Reduced nature to 2 distinct elements, mind and matter

Allowed him to explain every aspect of physical nature, in which he excluded the soul.o Bacon- science is the key to understanding human progress

Urged scientists to experiment, to pool their knowledge and to keep open-minded


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True scientists worked by inductive method, moving from the particular to the general, fromspecific experiments to axioms.

Wanted Galileo to investigate and explain internal tensions within moving bodieso Philosophers of science

Did not appreciate the creativity of abstract thinkers who worked by intuitive leaps of mind. Created the opinion of scientists as distinct figures Bacon urged scientists to form their own scientific societies, in which they were able to

exchange ideas with each other

Scientists were affiliated with bodies such as Academie des Sciences. Newtono Better mathematician than Galileoo Student at Cambridge and when the plague hit, he spent 2 years on his moms isolated farm. There he

did all kinds of experiments in math and physics Differential and integral calculus

Apple- what pulls moons to center is what pulls apple to fall This pull causes ocean tides

Universal gravitation and motion laws Combined Galileo, Kepler, Descartes, into a mathematical-physical system.

o Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy (Principia)- book with his ideas Difficult to read Three mathematical laws of motion Universal law of gravitation

Disagreed with Descartes on gravity and disagreed with him about how experimentationand observation is needed; scientists should describe how earth operates, not why.

o He was made the master of English royal mint and the president of the Royal SocietyBiology and Chemistry

Biology was a medical science and chemistry not really studied with the exception of mining for oreso For the first time 1,500-yo teaching of Galen about anatomy.o Andreas Vesalius (1514-1564)- A Flemish Professor at Padua, published a pioneering treatise on human

anatomy. Dissected many more human cadavers than Galen and corrected many mistakes. His book wasa work of art as well as science, drawing superb drawings of muscles and bones.

o William Harvey (1578-1657)- an Englishman who studies at Padua, demonstrated the circulation ofblood. Rejected the view of Galen that venous blood comes from the liver, and arterial blood distributednutrition from the liver.

Proved that blood is pumped into the arteries by the heart at a massive rate, travels to veins,and returns to heart.

Believed in Copernicus and his views were not immediately accepted. Botany

o 18 thousand species discovered by the 1680s, compared to the 500 in the 1540s.o Dutchman Anton von Leeuwenhok (1632-1723)- made a microscope which magnifies objects 300 times.

One celled organisms- did not realize microbes could be disease carriers Chemistry

o Hard to see much purposeful development during this period. Mining engineers assayed ores Pharmacists Alchemists who tried to transmute metals Atoms and matter Chemical drugs- not good

o Robert Boyle- leading experimentalist and theorist of his day Discarded Aristotles beliefs of earth, water, fire, and air but had no better theory.

Man could now observe how all inanimate objects were governed by the same timeless laws. In educated circles there was no more belief in myth, magic, and demons


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RELIGIOUS ART IN THE BAROQUE AGE In late 17 century the Baroque style was established. It challenged the paintings and sculptures of Renaissance.

o Human beauty The Protestant movement attacked the religious art of High Renaissance. Luther thought the art to be more

pagan than Christian and found it blasphemous to worsip God in lavishly decorated churches.Painting in the Sixteenth Century

Painters always supported themselves by filling commissions for religious works for the Church. Protestantscriticized this, especially Lutheran and Calvinist churches, which were kept undecorated.

o Albrecht Durer- earned living by painting portraits and illustrating books so he was not affected by thiso Hans Holbein the Younger- had to abandon painting Madonna. Moved from Germany to Switzerland in

search for work. Painted Henry VIII.o Pieter Brueghel the Elder (1525-1569)- painted for private people, concentrating on everyday life. His

religious paintings though were different. He takes a religious story and portrays it in a completelydifferent way in Massacre of the Innocents

Manneristso Worked in the manner of Michelangelo. They manipulated classical components to achieve anticlassical

effects. They decorated walls and ceilings with complex allegorical scenes of muscle-bound athletes incontorted attitudes. (Naked people)

The Baroqueo

Magnificence, theatricality, energy, and direct emotional appealo No clear line dividing Mannerism and Baroqueo Baroque became art, music, literature, politics

Development of the opera Choral and organ music

o Architectureo Appealed to kings and rich peopleo Appealed more to Catholics than Protestants.

Churches were made with Baroque interior. Expressed the power and exuberance of reformedCatholicism.

Gianlorenzo Bernini (1598-1680)- built and decorated for the popes. Great theatrical effects.Carved St. Teresas vision of being pierced through her hea rt by a flaming arrow of love. Her facewas ecstatic with blissful pain.

o Peter Paul Ruben (1577-1640)- trained in Italy, he developed an assembly line to paint pictures. Hetrained other to paint faces, bodies, and they created a pic. He just put finishing touches on them, ifeven. Few were original paintings. He was really good though. Kings commissioned him to paint forthem.

o Anthony Van Dyck (1599-1641)- painter who worked in Rubins studio and then became independent.Painted many aristocratic sitters with pride and poise to match fine clothes.

o Deigo Rodriguez Velazquez (1599-1660)- painted many portraits, especially of Philip IV. His famous workis the great portrait of Pope Innocent X.

o Buildingso Fischer on Erlack (1657-1723)

Clients were princes and nobles Baroque style was a grand staircase supported by conventional pillars, but on the shoulders ofmuscular, straining Atlas figures.

Designed churches

French, English, and Dutch Art Rejected Baroque. They wanted clarity, simplicity, and harmony of design.

o Bernini was not wanted in France, Louis XIV rejected his plans. Louis imposed rules of composition,proportion, and perspective.

o Sir Christopher Wen (1632-1723)- built churches for England in elegant and classical style. His churcheswere tall, and simple with fanciful steeples (pointy top).


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Dutch Prized common sense and discipline. Everyone had to have their picture painted if they were anybody.

o Significance in the humdrum details of everyday life. Art was anti-classical and anti-Baroque.o Rembrant van Rijn (1606-1669)- he was very good. Had his own studio in Amsterdam and painted a lot

of paintings, over 600 survived. He was though increasingly unwilling to carry public favor and lostpopularity. His tragic decline went from a prosperous youth to bankrupt old age. He was a realist andexplored the sorrow of ordinary people. He did draw religious pictures despite Protestants. He did drawmany in Protestant fashion. As his life went on he preferred to depict mens inward sufferings.

FIVE PHILOSOPHICAL WRITERS: MONTAIGNE, PASCAL, HOBBES, SPINOZA, AND LOCKE Men asked fundamental questions about human nature and social organizations Approaches to moral and intellectual issues

Michael de Montaigne (1533-1592) Classical educated- spoke nothing but Latin until he was six. Spent some years as a lawyer but then the French religious wars broke out and he withdrew from public life and

began to write Essays , a series of informat musings about himself and his personal experienceso Preached moderation and tolerationo Against cruelty to children, servants, and animals show how revolted he must have been by the

hysterical butchery of the St. Bartholomew massacreo He was not trying to bran, nor confess his sinso Self-knowledge is the starting point for purposeful human experience, and he encourages the reader to

attempt his own searching self-examinationo He treats most topics with ironic skepticism, not only questioning the moral absolutes brandished by

Protestant and Catholic crusaders but wondering whether civilized Europeans are really morally superiorto savages

o He is an utterly secular thinkero Became a speaker for the politique party which brought French religion to a halt.

Blaise Pascal (1623-162) Started with math and science and was a brilliant man in the scientific revolution. Then one night in 1654 he had

an experience or religious ecstasy and dedicated the rest of his life to it. Drawn to Jansenism, within the French-Catholic church that preached a semi-Calvinist doctrine of human

depravity and divine predestination of the elect. He retired a lot to Port-Royal, where Jesuits were against themovement. Jesuits wanted to close Port Royale. Pascal wanted counterattacked with the Provinical Letters ,which accused Jesuits of employing immoral tactics to gain power. To expose Jesuit casuity, that is the Jesuitmethod of handling cases of conscience, he quotes from various Jesuit confessional manuals which wink at evilconduct. After his death though the port closed anyway.

He also targeted rationalist freethinkers in the tradition of Montaigne. He learned from Essays how to examinehimself, he was repelled by Montaignes urbane skepticism toward new ideas and high ideals.

Pascal planned a monumental apology for the Christian religion which would convert rationalists by appealingsimultaneously to their minds and emotions. He did not live to write the book but a collection of notes were puttogether into the Pensees.

Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) Shared Pascals view of human condition but not his faith in a religious solution to a mans problem. Boldly materialistic. Became friendly with Galileo, Bacon, Descartes, and Harvey and was inspired to apply the scientific method to

the study of human conduct by translating Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian war into the deepestanalysis of political behavior by any classical writer.

He wrote the Leviathan, his monumental treatise on how to prevent revolutionary turmoil.o It is the greatest treatise on political philosophy in English, but few readers like the argument.o His analysis of political conduct rests on his mechanistic concept of human psychology. He sees men as

animals, stimulated by appetites and aversions rather than by rational calculation or moral ideas. Several points of his theory are accepted


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o His effort to apply scientific method to social analysis produced a train of thought much more corrosivethan Montaignes tolerant humanism or Pascals appeal for the divine grace.

Went really far with the idea of national sovereignty.Benedict Spinoza (1632-1677)

Sought to combine metaphysical precision of medieval scholasticism with the mathematical precision of 17century science

His Ethics is a long series of geometrical definitions, axioms, propositions, and corollaries. Book was amanuscript until his death.

He was independent of religion, although he was born a Jew His Tractatus Theologico-Politicus championed freedom of thought and speech in the teeth of the DutchCalvinist clergy.

Deeply religious, but his concept of God made him seem atheist. He conceived of nature as unified and uniform, incorporation all thought and all things, embracing mind and

body, and he defined philosophy as the knowledge of the minds union with the whole of nature. Everything isattributed to God, nothing in nature is independent of God, and God cannot be conceived of as distinct from Hiscreation. Mans highest goal is the intellectual love of God, which gives us a vision of the infinite beauty of theuniverse.

o Spinozas god cannot be imagined anthropomorphically.John Locke (1632-1704)

Son of a Puritan country lawyer Shared opinion with Hobbes that English schools were old -fashioned and retrospective Had an experience with Whig party that molded him into a pragmatic champion of political liberalism, religious

latitudinarianism, and intellectual toleration. He was made a celebrity by the Glorious revolution Two Treatises on Civil Government- ridiculed the notion that kings possess a divine right to paternal power,

argues that the subjects of a state are endowed with inalienable natural right to life, liberty, and property When he imagines a man in the state of nature, he stresses the perfect freedom and equality of precivilized life

rather than the Hobbesian natural state of war. He wants minimal degree of governmental regulation, in contrast to Hobbe. Government should reflect the opinion of the majority, which meant, in England, a majority of the property

owners represented in Parliament. Recognized that unequal division of property undermines a mans natural equality and incites crime sogovernment should protect his life, liberty and property.

In his Letters Concerning Toleration, he attacks the idea that Christianity can be promoted or defended by force.He sees no harm in widespread of religious practices, as long as the worshipers profess faith in God.

He was sometimes a rationalist and sometimes an empiricist. His political philosophy was rationalist while hiscentral tenet, the existence of natural rights is an empirical proof.

o The human mind is born with a blank slate, not with innate ideas.

THE GOLDEN AGE OF ENGLISH, SPANISH, AND FRENCH DRAMAEngland

Plays evolved from Christmas mysteries, Robin Hood, to richly romantic plays far more exciting and entertainingthan the didactic medieval religious plays or the humanist school plays

You have comedies which are funny, tragedies like Hamlet which are passionate and gory. The Revenge themeoccurred commonly. Plays were rarely set in contemporary England because the stories were borrowed fromItalians and because Elizabethans believed anything can happen in Italy.

Very few plays touched Protestantism or Catholicism because every play had to be licensed by a royal censor. Over 300 playwrights wrote for hundred companies. At any given day it is estimated that 10% of the total

population of London would be found in theater. The audience consisted of everyone from different classes. Only Puritans did not come. The city fathers

considered plays public nuisance and so theaters were built outside the city walls. The queen was very stingy.


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Pierre Corneille (1606-1648)- the first great French dramatist, who wrote a number of effective comedieso In one he displeased the clergy so in the next few he tried to please them.

Jean Baptiste Racine (1639-1699)- poet of surer taste and control than Corneille, and he perfected the Frenchneoclassical tragic style.

Moliere or Jean Baptiste Poquelin (1622-1673).o Was initially sent to Jesuit school.o He wrote and produced a brilliant constellation of farces, parodies, and satires.o Took the lead role of the comic himself, for he was a great comic actor.o His humor is realistic and hard-hitting. The clergy even banned some of his plays. Why declineo Molieres death - there was no one bettero Racines retirement o Louis XIV growing preoccupation of war (he liked plays)

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Age of Religious War Chapter 5 Notes