17th CENTURY EUROPE

INTRODUCTION

• The 17th century was a century of crisis: political crisis, religious crisis, economic crisis and social crisis.

• For long periods, Europe was at war.

• The wars weakened Spain, and France became the most powerful country.

• In spite of these problems, it was a golden age for science and literature (particularly in Spain).

European colonies in 1660

THE THIRTY YEARS’ WAR

• War developed in Germany between 1618-1648.

• There were two blocs:

– The Catholics.

– The Protestants + France.

• It was a religion war and a war against the power of the Emperor and the power of Spain.

Main causes

• The struggle between the emperor and the German princes.

• The struggle between France and Spain for European’s hegemony.

The blocs

Catholics Protestants

Holy Roman Empire

Poland

Spain

Bohemia

United Provinces

Sweden

Denmark

England

France

Phases

• Bohemian phase (1618-1625): Imperial victory. Spain fights in the Low Countries against the United Provinces.

• Danish phase (1625-1629): Imperial victory.

• Swedish phase (1629-1635): Imperial victory.

• French phase (1635-1648): French & protestan victory. End of the Spanish hegemony.

The peace of Westphalia (1648)

• The Habsburg lost their dominance in Europe.

• Spain recognizes the independence of United Provinces.

• Religious freedom is declared in the Holy Roman Empire.

• France is the most powerful kingdom in Europe (Peace of the Pyrenées, 1659).

Population losses in Germany after the war.

ABSOLUTE MONARCHY: FRANCE

• In most countries, the kings held all power with no limitations. They believed their authority came from God.

• This is known as absolutism.

• The best example of an absolute monarchy was the French king, Louis XIV, the Sun King (1643-1715).

• Other absolute monarchies during the 17th century were Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Russia and Austria.

PARLIAMENTARY MONARCHY: ENGLAND

• At the start of the 17th century, England was ruled by Charles I, an absolute monarch.

• In 1642, a civil war began in England, between the Parliament (led by Oliver Cromwell) and the king’s supporters.

• The conflict finished in 1649: the king was executed and Cromwell established and authoritarian government.

Oliver Cromwell

PARLIAMENTARY MONARCHY: ENGLAND

• In 1660, the monarchy was restored with Charles II and his successor, James II. Both kings tried to restore absolutism in England.

• That led to a revolution in 1688.

• The English looked for a monarch who would agree to govern with the Parliament.

• This is how Mary (daughter of James II) and her husband, William of Orange, came to the throne.

PARLIAMENTARY MONARCHY: ENGLAND

• In 1689, William III and Mary signed the Bill of Rights: this declaration obliged the monarch to govern in accordance with the law and Parliament.

• So England became the first parliamentary monarchy in history.

17th CENTURY IN SPAIN

• During 17th century, Spain was ruled by the so-called “minor Austrias”: Philip III (1598-1621), Philip IV (1621-1665) and Charles II (1665-1700).

• This is a period of gradual political, demographic and economic decline of Spain.

The “validos”. The territorial problems

• Spanish kings delegated ruling powers to nobles, known as “validos”.

• A “valido” represented the authority of the king.

• Famous “validos” were the Dukes of Lerma and Uceda (Philip III), the Count-Duke of Olivares (Philip IV).

• Additionally, the monarchy was not centralized. There were many problems in the different kingdoms of the Hispanic Monarchy.

THE DEMOGRAPHIC AND ECONOMIC CRISIS

• Population fell from 8 to 6 million people, due to: wars, crop failures, plagues, migration.

• Agriculture suffered a severe crisis.

• Industry was under-developed (the wealth from America was used to buy foreign products).

• Trade with the Americas declined due to pirate attacks on Spanish ships, and the spread of contraband.

Fall in population

Disease

Emigration to America

Moriscos are expelled Wars and

rebellions

Not enough Agricultural

workers

Not enough food

Droughts and flooding

Soil worn-out by overcultivation

Poor harvests

They had to import finished products, including jewellery. These were expensive so they spent a lot of money.

Spain only exported raw materials like wool. These were quite cheap so they didn’t receive much money.

Plagues, mid-17th century

Algiers

BAROQUE ART

• This style was born in Italy, and spread across Italy.

• The main goal of this style is to impress.

• As a result it is a theatrical style, which integrates architecture, sculpture and painting to transmit the religious message of the Reformation and the Counter-Reformation.

Architecture

• They used the same elements as in the Renaissance, but used more freely:

– Octagonal, elliptical, Latin- and Greek cross plans.

– New supports are used (“salomonic” columns with twisting shaft).

– Decoration is essential and overelaborated.

– Monarchs used Baroque architecture to show their importance.

Saint Charles church– von Erlach (1737)

Baroque buildings have a lot of

decoration like reliefs, gilding and colored materials.

Spiral Solomonic columns are a new

Baroque feature

Curved facades with projections and gaps

are used to create contrast between

light shade

Classical pillars and triangular

pediments are still used

San Carlo alle Quattro Fontani – Borromini, 1634-

1640

Saint Peter’s Square – Vatican City. By Bernini, 17th century

Bernini’s Baldacchino in St.

Peter’s (Rome)

Trevi Fountain – 1700’s (Rome)

Palace of Versailles – Le Vau, Mansart

(1669-1685)

Le Chateau de Vaux le Vicomte – 17th century

Palacio de Santa Cruz (Madrid) – 17th century

Palacio de San Telmo (Sevilla) – 17th century

Plaza Mayor (Salamanca) – 18th century

Plaza Mayor (Salamanca) – 18th century

Sculpture

• It is also theatrical.

• The most common materials are marble, alabaster and bronze.

• Themes: religious, allegorical, portraits and equestrian statues.

• Gestures are exagerated and violent. So is movement.

Apollo and Daphne – Bernini (1622-1625)

David – Bernini (1623-1624)

Ecstassy of Saint Teresa - Bernini,

(1647-1651)

Saint Andrew – Duquesnoy, 1629-1633

La oración del Huerto - Salzillo, 1754

Painting

• There are many themes, such as portraits, religious pictures, myths, still lives...

• Naturalism is extreme.

• They used air perspective to show depth.

• Compositions are quite complex.

• Color is very important, more than drawing.

• Lights and shades are brilliantly used to create more volume, which is called chiaroscuro.

The Calling of St Matthew – Caravaggio (1599-1600)

The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp - Rembrandt (1632)

The Nightwatch – Rembrandt (1642)

Girl with a Pearl Earring – Vermeer (1665)

The Three Graces – Rubens (1639)

The Three Graces – Boticelli

Martirio de San Felipe – José de Ribera (1639)

Inmaculada Concepción – Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1678)

Vieja espulgando a un niño – Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1670)

The Defense of Cadiz against the English – Fco. de Zurbarán (1634)

Las Meninas – Diego Velázquez (1656)

La Venus del Espejo – Diego Velázquez (1647-1651)

Vieja friendo huevos – D. Velázquez (1618)

THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION

• Scientists started making observations and doing experiments.

• They found that the results didn’t fit with the old theories, so they had to find new theories.

• This was the start of the scientific revolution.

• Isaac Newton is a good example of scientist during the 17th century. He discovered gravity.

BAROQUE CULTURE IN SPAIN THE GOLDEN AGE

• During this century, great literature was written (Shakespeare in England).

• In Spain, this was the Golden Age of Cervantes, Lope de Vega and Calderón de la Barca.

• Famous composers like Haendel, Bach and Vivaldi wrote dramatic music.

THE END Por Daniel Quijano Ramos

Geography and History teacher

IES Puerta de la Axarquía