The World During the Age of Reason: 1600 – 1700
History Paper #3, 2/12/2007
Mark Sakowski
During this period, the explorers from the countries of
Europe continue to explore; countries like Spain, England, France, and the
Dutch. These countries sail to South, Central, and North America, Africa,
India, and Southeast Asia.
The civilizations of Asia and the Middle East remain within their natural
boundaries because they had all they needed with no desire or the ships to
go beyond their borders.
A new Age of Reason begins where the Renaissance ends. New ideas exchanged
with people of different cultures bring new learning, inventions, and
technology especially to the growing cities of Europe. Europe becomes the
center of wealth, power, and colonization; the explorers from these
countries traveled the world bringing back new ideas and new riches.
The Arts were advanced in the new, realistic paintings and sculptures. New
music was produced on new instruments like the piano and organ. New operas
and ballets were written and performed in new opera houses supported by
the rich kings and queens of Europe.
Architecture of new styles built from new ideas brought back from all
points around the world like the middle East, India, and China were used
to design new European buildings.
Science and Technology was growing because of philosophers like Francis
Bacon were doing science experiments. Then other Scientists began testing
more experiments, then they invented things like the thermometer,
barometer, microscope, seed drill, and the first successful pendulum
clock.
England In 1603 was ruled by a new King James I, replacing Queen Elizabeth
I who died. King James made peace with the Catholic Spain. He authorized
the printing of the bible into English in 1611 called the New King James
Bible. The English Civil War, 1645-1660, was fought between the people who
supported King Charles I and the people who supported the Parliament. The
Parliament didn’t want Kings to have all the power, and King Charles I
wanted to have power.
North American Indians began to experience the arrival of explorers from
Europe who began to build Colonial America. In the 16th Century, Spanish
explorers traveled up from Mexico, Texas, into the southwest. Spain
developed the first North American colony in 1565 at ST. Augustine, FL.
In 1534, The French explored the St. Lawrence River. In 1608, a Frenchman,
Champlain establishes Quebec and explores the great Lakes and Canada. The
French also begin to explore the Ohio River Valley west of the Appellation
Mountains. They also explored the Mississippi River and establish the city
of New Orleans.
In 1585, the unsuccessful English colony of Roanoke was attempted. In
1607, the English establish their first successful colony at Jamestown,
Virginia. Life at first was very difficult for the first people. There
were many hardships like sickness from the mosquitoes, little food. Most
of the men came to search for gold and were not good farmers or hunters.
The Indians helped them to survive the first couple winters. In 1620, The
Pilgrims found Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts. They went there because they
wanted their own religion and wanted to worship God in their own way. They
also had a difficult time in the beginning because of the cold in
November. They also got help from the local Indians at first.
In 1625, the Dutch settle in Manhattan buying the land from the Indians
for $24. The Dutch only held the land for a short time until the English
took it. In 1680, William Penn got the King of England to pay the dept of
William’s father; but the King didn’t have the money, so William Penn
asked instead of money give me land and the King agreed with William Penn.
The king called the land Pennsylvania which means Penn’s wooden land.
Back in Europe, there was The 30 Years’ War, 1618-1648; it was between the
Catholics and the Protestants of Germany. It began when the bishop of
Plaque allowed the Catholic people to burn the protestant church in the
city. The protestants rebelled and were supported by the people of France,
Denmark, and Sweden. At the end of this war Germany was reduced in size
and power and the borders of the European countries became stable.
France had a new king in 1624, Louis XIII. Because he was just nine years
old at this time, a church cardinal, Cardinal Richelieu, was appointed
Chief Minister to help rule France. Richelieu was a powerful supporter of
the king who helped France gain much power and money. Louis XIV, the Sun
King, reigns from 1643-1715 determined to make France a better nation by
reforming the laws and reorganizing the taxes and expanding the Navy. He
also promoted the arts and the construction of many new buildings
throughout France.
Spain loses its power within Europe during this period following the loss
of the Spanish Armada to England in the previous century, 1588.
East India Companies were powerful trading organizations developed by the
rich people of England, France, the Dutch, and Italy. These companies
financed trading missions around the world which made the members very
rich.
Japan in this period becomes isolated from the world because they want to
be alone.
China was ruled by the Manchu Qing dynasty from 1644-1770. The
Manchus conquer most of China and the neighboring countries of Vietnam and
Mongolia.
In the Middle East, the Ottoman Empire, continued to be strong
throughout the 17th century because of the internal fighting within Europe
during the 30 year war.
Slavery and Pirates have existed since people began to travel on the seas.
During the 17th Century, the number of pirates grew along with the
exploration of the new world. Pirate activity along the
Atlantic Ocean trade routes, especially in the Caribbean, grew to the
point where it was dangerous to sail in these areas without navy
protection. Slavery was a big business. The slaves would be captured in
Africa and sold to the slave traders on the coasts. The traders would ship
them across the Atlantic to the west Indies to be sold to work on the
sugar plantations; some would be shipped to the Atlantic colonies
beginning in 1619 in Jamestown, VA. The sugar would be shipped in the same
ships up north to the northern colonies where the sugar was turned into
rum. The rum was put onto the same ships that would carry the rum back to
Europe and Africa. This process was called the Triangle of Trade.
Africa south of the Sahara Desert, continued to be a tropical world in
habited by many tribal societies. These tribes attempted to avoid contact
with the slave traders. They did not have the technology of the Europeans.
Russia prior to the end of the 17th Century was a big, backward country.
In 1682, Peter I, known as Peter the Great. He was educated in European
schools and he attempted to modernize Russia.
The 17th Century produced much learning, building, wealth, growth and
colonization by the powerful countries of Europe. The explorers from these
countries went all over the world looking for more riches to bring back to
their kings and queens. New lands were found and new colonies developed to
make Europe richer.
The End
