Minutes of the Meeting of Monday, February 14, 2005

 Justin E. Brosnan

  On Monday, February 14th we began class by discussing Christendom and how it is considered a form of European identity. Professor Mahoney spoke about how our course should be called the European search for “identities,” since there is no one specific identity that has fully brought Europe together.

 

  1. The Middle Ages were a time where Europe was looked at as a land of Christendom. It was a realm where Christianity was the prevailing religion.

 

  1.  Before the high and late Middle Ages were the so-called “Dark Ages,” which lasted from the years 400-800. Charlemagne and the Holy Roman Empire lasted from 800-1806. The Renaissance was known as the “rebirth” of classical learning (1500-1600). The Enlightenment, which occurred during the 18th century, was the origin of modern economic theory and inspired a more secular and commercial notion of European culture and civilization.

 

  1. Whereas the Renaissance was seen as the rebirth of Roman culture, a reform of medieval Christianity also occurred after the 15th century, known as the Reformation. Different interpretations of religion resulted. Protestantism in its varying forms is the result of the Reformation. Christendom begins to be questioned as a concept, and Europe is not looked at as being one realm. This led to “Holy Wars” between 1550 and 1650. Religion becomes a factor in determining the balance of power between the emerging national states of the early modern period.

 

  1. In the 1500s Machiavelli says that the state should be defined as an end in itself. The states should be defined in non-religious terms. The king or prince rule by power, not by divine will. He said that in order to maintain a powerful state all actions are legitimate. Professor Mahoney said that this was amoral (not immoral) politics.

 

  1.  We then discussed the “modern” political theory of this period: the balance of power. No one state can become too powerful. An example of this within the Italian city-states (including the Papal States) would be Venice, Florence, and Naples. As long as one state does not become too strong, the states can live in (relative) harmony.

 

  1. The strong powers during the 1500s were Spain and France. Eventually England and the Netherlands would also become strong powers.

 

  1.  We then moved the discussion onto the balance of power in the 16th century. At this time, Spain was the “superpower.” Spain is part of the Habsburg Dynasty that originated in Austria. Looking at the fanciful 1588 map of Europe on page 52 of The History of the Idea of Europe, the head is in Spain while the heart is in Bohemia (also part of the Habsburg territories). The King of Spain at this time was Charles V from 1516-1555. He was also the Duke of Burgundy and Emperor of Austria. He is succeeded by Phillip II of Spain. France at this time feels trapped by the Habsburgs. France, led by King Francis I, begins to look for allies. They find the Turks (Muslims) of the Middle East and Protestant allies – yet another indication that religion is no longer the dominant force in determining the direction of European politics.

 

  1.   We concluded the class by discussing the balance of power in the 17th century. The Habsburg dynasty is not so powerful anymore. However, France still feels threatened by the German and Spanish Habsburgs. France, under its foreign minister Cardinal Richelieu, seeks Protestant allies against the Catholics, who are headed by the king of Spain and the Holy Roman Emperor (Habsburgs). This leads to the 30 Years War. Cardinal Richelieu divides power in the Holy Roman Empire so it does not have complete control over the Protestants. The Thirty Years war lasted from 1618-1648. At the Treaty of Westphalia, nothing is achieved in changing religious boundaries. Everything goes back to the way it was before the war, and the balance of power continues, with France now becoming the dominant power in Europe and other nations becoming interested in limiting its power.

 

  1.   For Wednesday February, 16th we are supposed to read pages 40-43 and 58-65 in The History of the Idea of Europe.