Sunday, December 12, 2010

Dutch Republic Essay

Discuss ways that the 17th-century Dutch Republic differed from its neighbors, telling how these differences contributed to the country's success.


The Dutch Republic was a political and economical power in 17th century Europe. The Dutch Republic was able to create radical changes in how they ran their country, and in by taking this risk, prospered greatly. Through the distinctive way of life the Dutch lived compared to its fellow Europeans, with their prospering economy, religious acceptance, and their unique organization of political power, the Dutch were able to become a powerhouse and major factor in 17th century Europe.

In the seventeenth century the Dutch Republic was among the elite nations in Europe at the time, at large due to their flourishing economy. At this time the Dutch had a powerful merchant class and was also the international banking center of the world. Even the Dutch florin became the international method for monetary exchange. The Dutch were able to have a favorable quality of life, without becoming wasteful. They believed that they did not need excess, and viewed poorly on those who lived over extravagantly. With this available Dutch wealth, an equally large military force arose, with a fleet that included over 10,000 ships. They were able to control shipping and major ports, strengthening their hold on Europe. Through this Dutch wealth, the arts were able to thrive

During the early seventeenth century, the Dutch became revolutionaries in religion toleration, with granting many religions toleration and freedom in the Dutch Republic. Through this the Dutch were able to benefit their economy and their diversity. Many people of different religions would flee to the Dutch Republic, knowing that they would not be persecuted, with it being their only escape. The increase of immigrants only strengthened their already flourishing economy, which was at the top of Europe at the time.

The Dutch Republic had a very unique political structure at this time in Europe. It consisted of seven provinces, which all acted independently. The provinces then chose a stadholder who would be the executive of the province, but would not be the most powerful. In this system of government, the power was able to stay with the wealthy, benefitting the bankers and merchants, of which consisted a large portion of the Dutch Republic. This was different than other European nations, many with monarchial rulers who would have either absolute rule, or have a significant part in national affairs. In the Dutch Republic the citizens were able to have control, and in doing so only benefitting themselves. In other nations citizens were limited to their involvement in political affairs, capping the effects that they could have and, in a way, capping their countries potential to prosper.

The Dutch Republic truly was a nation that had radical ideas for its time, which were a main factor in its success in 17th century Europe. The Dutch were distinct from other nations through their economy, religious toleration, and political structure. The Dutch broke the mold in Europe, taking a risk, and a risk that benefited them greatly for their “Golden Age” reign.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Pepy's Diary Map

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?
hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=113041917894041223574.00049646761c55b129cec&t=h&z=14

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=102698758919003605813.0004964676770de983be4&ll=51.511894,-0.099564&spn=0.031302,0.077162&t=h&z=14

Monday, December 6, 2010

Free Response Question 1

"Why are the trials and tribulations of Galileo often considered both predicative of the future of Western Civilization as well as a perfect encapsulation of the context of his own time?"


In his time, Galileo Galilei was a renowned Italian scientist, astronomer, mathematician, and philosopher. He was credited with many inventions and new ideologies in his time, some with ensuing controversy. Galileo went through difficult trials in his life, in doing show representing the times that he lived in and how the world would change become because of him.

Galileo was born in 16th Century Italy, and grew up to be a very intellectually gifted man. Galileo has been credited with countless ideas, thoughts, academic works, and much, much more. His most notable controversy was that of with his proclamation of the Earth revolving around the sun, contrary to a noted Bible passage. This did not bode well for Galileo, as the Catholic Church denied his idea, claiming that it was contrary to scripture, the Church, and God. This was only one of Galileo’s many ideologies brought about, but in this instance the one ensuing with the most backlash. Galileo was deemed a heretic by the Catholic Church, and was ordered to serve house arrest, which he served up until his death in the 17th century. Eventually, in due time, the Church did come to terms with accepting Galileo’s ideas and stating that was is stated in the bible is not always went literally, but may have a more spiritual, rather than concrete meaning.

Galileo lived in a time wherein the Church had a major influence on government, science, and just about all everyday life in Italy. Galileo was not able to rise up against the Church, and thoroughly justify his claims because the Church was simply just too powerful at this time. Prior to this, the Church fully backed Galileo in his research, finding no fault in his findings. It was only in his believed anti-scripture discovery that created the tension between the two. The Church was able to stop Galileo from his work, and deem his work against the Church, condemning those who agree with such. In this time, Church was still tied with government, so the Church could do at its will, making religious laws now political.

Through the ordeals that Galileo went through during his life, we can see that this would lead to a newly designed future. In his time, Galileo was under the watchful eye of the Catholic Church, with its involvement in the state. With Galileo’s “rebellion” against the Church, he sparked a movement wherein the Church would slowly become less involved with the government. In today’s world, Churches are still a major factor in political affairs, but they cannot compare to the involvement of the past. Not only has Galileo changed the world from a religious perspective, but his intellectual and scientific contributions are equally, if not, more important to modern day life. Galileo has contributed some of the most scholarly ideas of his time, and of all time. He has even been referred to as the “father of modern science.” He revolutionized our view of astronomy, and our place in the universe. He has contributed immensely to the fields of mathematics and philosophy, and so much more. Galileo truly was a man ahead of his times.

Galileo really has revolutionized our world today. He was a major factor in his time, and his proven to still be today, with his inventions, ideologies, or many other contributions to society. Through his turmoil’s and work in Italy, we can see how Galileo’s times where and how he has gone to change the way that the world has become.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Test Score

50/50
100%

Test 2

48. Prince Henry the Navigator

49. Christopher Columbus

50. Columbian Exchange

51. Horses

52. Mercantilism

53. Joint Stock Company

54. Lutheranism

55. False

56. Amsterdam

57. Dutch East India Trading Company

58. No

59.

60. The Middle class

61. The House of Commons

62. Anglicanism

63. The Stuarts

64. Episcopal

65. 1603-1642

66. The Divine Right of Kings

67. Puritanism

68.

69.

70. Scotland

71. The Cavaliers

72. The Round Heads

73. Oliver Cromwell

74. Republic

75. Prime Minister

76.

77. Charles II

78. The Reign of the Stuarts

79.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Test 1

1. Martin Luther

2. 95 Thesis

3. Berlin

4. The Saint Peters Basilica

5. December 12, 1595 (FREEBIE)

6. Faith Alone

7. The Bible

8. The Christian Hierarchy - The Bishops

9. The Roundheads

10. False

11. The German Nobility

12. Calvinism

13. Protestantism

14. The Peace of Augsburg

15. He wanted to stop the hierarchy in the Catholic Church

16. Luther still held ties with the Catholic Church

17. John Calvin.

18. Hapsburg

19. (Freebie)

20. Hugonauts

21. King Henry the Eighth

22. Elizabeth the First

23. Anabaptists

24. Pope John

25. Council of Trent

26. True

27. The New Revised Edition

28. Loyola

29. To convert others to Catholicism

30. 15th Century

31. Giotto

32. King Phillip

33. The Spanish Armada

34. St Bartholomew's Day Massacre

35. The Edict of Nantes

36. 300

37. The Peace of Augsburg

38. The Protestant Union

39. The Catholic League

40. Catholic

41. Protestants

42. The Catholics - The Pope
The Protestants - Ferdinand

43. Gustavus

44. The Peace of Westphalia

45. Western France

46. Germany

47. France

48.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

DBQ Format Quiz - Part 1

1. What is the range of scores for a DBQ essay?
Between 1-9

2. If a DBQ answer does not have a thesis statement, what is the highest score you can get?
4

3. If you have 12 documents, what is the bare minimum you must site in your DBQ?
7

4. Explain what bias is
Bias is your personal opinion on the question and expresses your beleif to the reader.

5. Explain what they mean by groupings.
This is when the writer organizes his essay into specific, related groups and details them individually.

6. If you are citing Doc. 5

(Document 5)