Transformations in Europe, 1500-1750

Introduction

The lecturer introduces his new novel and explains that it is a scholarly enterprise. He then proceeds to discuss the sequencing of topics in world history textbooks.

The One Donkey Solution

• The lecturer introduces his new novel, "The One Donkey Solution," which explores the sexual and religious symbolism of donkeys with respect to the coming of the Messiah.

• The novel features characters such as President Obama and President Pnina Jawed of Iran, and is narrated by the donkey of the Messiah who shares his thoughts on various religious figures.

• Despite taking the form of a novel, "The One Donkey Solution" is a scholarly work that took 40 years to complete.

Sequencing of Topics in World History Textbooks

• Most world history textbooks follow a pattern of discussing topics such as the Mongol Empire, European Renaissance, age of exploration, Reformation, and early modern Europe.

• However, this approach may not be necessary or appropriate for understanding certain historical events.

• For example, when discussing European conquest in the New World, historians often overlook or downplay the empires that were conquered (such as the Inca and Aztec empires).

• This Eurocentric approach also tends to view non-European empires as savage or barbaric while glorifying European conquerors.

The Colombia History of the 20th Century

In this section, the speaker talks about a book he compiled called "The Colombia History of the 20th Century" and how it was a thematic history with chapters on different things that made the 20th century distinctive.

Thematic History

• The book had twenty chapters on different themes such as socialism, economic developments, popular culture, telecommunications, and transport.

• There were no chapters on World War I or II or the Great Depression because they were episodes that happened in the 20th century but did not fundamentally alter people's lives.

• The speaker believes that how we view history is predicated on where we are looking from and where we are looking from changes with time.

Future Perspectives

• The speaker predicts that in the beginning of the 22nd century people will look back at the 20th century very differently than we do now.

• He proposes half a dozen book proposals sent to editors in 2099 proposing a history of the 20th century from various perspectives such as Asia becoming dominant force in the world or North and South America uniting as an Anglo-Hispanic powerhouse.

Mid-20th Century Western Suprematism

In this section, the speaker talks about how master narratives of world history tend to be rooted in mid-20th century Western suprematism when Europe and America were still unquestionably where the world had gotten to and where it was going to go.

Master Narratives

• Master narratives of world history tend to be rooted in mid-20th century Western suprematism.

• The speaker believes that by the second decade of the 21st century most young people would not know what the Cold War was because it was over and socialism/communism were now historical antiques.

Early Modern Europe

In this section, the speaker talks about how we tell stories of history is predicated on where we are looking from and how we view early modern Europe.

Henry VIII, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Charles V

• The speaker questions whether there is any reason why anyone should know who Henry VIII was anymore or if there is any reason why Martin Luther and John Calvin are the only Protestants who really get mentioned.

• He also questions whether there is any reason to know who Charles V was.

What is left out of the chapter

The speaker discusses what has been left out of the chapter on Europe between 1500 and 1700.

Europe's Divisions

• The chapter focuses primarily on northwestern Europe, leaving out Eastern Europe, Southeastern Europe, and the Eastern Islamic world.

• Historically, Muslims divided their world into the West (Maghrib) and East (Mushrik), with the West being a land of wonder and legend while the East was solidly known.

• The division between Europe and non-Europe no longer matches up with Southeastern Europe falling under rule.

Questions about Europe

• The concept of what constitutes "Europe" could be questioned in terms of whether it is a geographical or constructed concept.

• The speaker suggests that including other parts of Europe would provide more insight into conflicts between Protestants and Catholics.

Events Left Out

• The St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre in France marked pretty much the end of dynamic Protestantism in France.

• In 1573, there was a document drawn up in Poland-Lithuania called the Warsaw Confederation which had one of the largest populations in Europe.

Poland's Model of Religious Tolerance

This section discusses how Poland became a model of religious toleration in Europe during the late 1500s and early 1600s.

Constitutional Monarchy

• Poland became the first constitutional monarchy in Europe.

• The king was elected by the nobles, who made up 10% of the population.

• Candidates for king had to sell their views to other nobles, and the vote had to be unanimous.

Religious Tolerance

• The kings did not impose their religion on others.

• Unlike anywhere else in Europe at that time, Catholics, Protestants (of various varieties), Jews, and Muslims all lived together peacefully in Poland.

• Muslims were not considered enemies in Eastern Europe as they were in Western Europe.

Relevance Today

• There needs to be a fundamental rethinking about what we need to know today about events that took place between 1500 and 1700.

• Diversifying geography is important but so is asking what we need to know today about Europe.

Technology and War in Europe

The speaker discusses the importance of war and technology in shaping Europe during this period. He argues that while the history of science is often overemphasized, war was a crucial factor in driving technological advancements.

Gunpowder and Warfare

• Gunpowder became important in this period, changing the nature of warfare.

• The development of infantry units armed with heavy guns made knights less relevant.

• Guns gradually became lighter, leading to soldiers carrying two pistols by 1600.

• Soldiers developed a technique known as "cow heel" where they rode their horses towards the enemy.

European Exceptionalism

• Europe becomes the most warlike area on the entire globe.

• The European Union represents half a century of peace, which is the longest period since Augustus at the beginning of the Roman Empire.

Importance of War vs Science

• While science is talked about, it's not clear how important it really is compared to war.

• War is an important technology because it drives new technologies and uses for existing ones.

The Decline of the Knight and Rise of Firearms

In this section, the speaker discusses how the rise of firearms led to a decline in the role of knights in warfare.

The Changing Face of Warfare

• Horse riders carrying firearms became more prevalent in warfare, diminishing the nobility's role as mounted armored warriors.

• Muskets replaced pistols due to their increased accuracy, making horseback riding less of a marker of social status.

• Some armies did not believe in using pistols due to their extreme inaccuracy.

• Infantry formations with long spears called pikes were used against horse riders to create a standoff.

Impact on Knights and Social Status

• Knights continued to exist but their armor became increasingly ceremonial for jousting or parading.

• The decline of knights as mounted armored warriors made horseback riding less of a marker of social status than it had been for the thousand years prior.

• Riding in a cart was considered shameful for noblemen during this time period.

The Knight of the Cart

In this section, the speaker tells an Arthurian story about Lancelot and how he becomes known as "The Knight of the Cart."

Story Summary

• Queen Guinevere is kidnapped by an evil person and knights are sent out to rescue her.

• Lancelot loses his horse while trying to rescue Guinevere and hops on a farmer's cart instead.

• Riding in a cart was considered shameful for noblemen during this time period, making Lancelot known as "The Knight of the Cart."

The Evolution of Vehicles

In this section, the speaker discusses the evolution of vehicles from ancient times to the 15th century.

Early Vehicles

• Prior to 1500 in Western Europe, vehicles were primarily used by farmers and women.

• Starting around 1400, Hungary invented a kind of vehicle called a coach which developed into carriages.

• Technical developments such as brakes, steering mechanisms, suspension and separation between body and chassis occurred in Eastern Europe.

Military Tactics

• Circling the wagons was a military tactic that originated in Eastern Europe in the late 1300s with followers of proto-Protestant leader Jan Hus.

• This tactic involved using wagons as portable forts consisting of a circle or square for protection during battle.

Rise of Carriages

• Carriages were introduced to England by Queen Elizabeth I who imported them from Holland.

• By the early 1600s, London was filled with carriages and their popularity grew rapidly throughout Europe.

• The carriage industry prefigured many technical developments that would occur later such as steering mechanisms.

Implications

• The carriage industry had significant implications for transportation and industrialization.

Evolution of Carriages and Paved Roads

This section discusses the evolution of carriages and paved roads, starting from the 14th century onward. It explains how the size of wheels affected steering and how it was necessary to improve road surfaces for smoother rides.

Carriage Evolution

• In the 14th century, carriages had noticeably smaller front wheels for steering.

• Four-wheel vehicles with same-sized wheels couldn't steer, making them unsuitable for city use.

• Smaller front wheels were introduced in the 1600s to enable steering in cities.

• The diameter of a wheel affects its ability to go over rough surfaces. Smaller wheels require smoother roads.

Paved Roads

• Cities began developing layouts of streets to accommodate vehicles passing through them.

• Vehicle technology and paving technology progressed parallelly. Better vehicles required better pavement.

• Mud was a common problem on unpaved roads until around World War I.

• Carriages became a status symbol that identified their owners.

The Emergence of Four-Wheeled Vehicles

This section discusses the emergence of four-wheeled vehicles in Europe and how they became a symbol of social status and competition.

Four-Wheeled Vehicles as Symbols of Social Status

• Four-wheeled vehicles emerged in Europe in the 1400s, but were initially primitive in design.

• By the 1600s, four-wheeled vehicles had become more sophisticated and were used by elites to display their social status.

• The emergence of these vehicles was due to changes in battlefield technology that allowed knights to ride in them and compete with each other through racing.

• This concept eventually led to modern-day car racing such as NASCAR.

Technological Change and its Impact on Society

• Technological change played a significant role in shaping European society, American society, and even world society.

• Highway systems and roads became important points of definition for cultures.

• The birth of the nation-state at the end of the Wars of Religion led to specifically defined borders between states with border posts and guards.

• Road networks became part of defining characteristics for nation-states.

Unique Characteristics of Four-Wheeled Vehicles

• Four-wheeled vehicles did not exist anywhere else in the world during this time period due to technical complications with steering and friction.

• Other parts of the world preferred two-wheeled vehicles instead.

• Ceremonial four-wheeled vehicles existed such as the Juggernaut temple in eastern India, which had 18 wheels on separate axles.

Four-Wheeled Vehicles and High Status Women

The transcript discusses the history of four-wheeled vehicles and how they were primarily used to transport high status women in Europe. This led to the development of modern motor transport in Europe.

Four-Wheeled Vehicles in Early Modern Europe

• Carriages with engines replaced horse-drawn carriages, which were twice as long.

• Four-wheeled vehicles became popular in early modern Europe because they provided more space on the street.

• There are few images of four-wheeled vehicles from ancient Rome and medieval times, but most depict passenger vehicles for high-status women.

Transportation of High Status Women

• High-status women were difficult to transport, so they were often confined to their homes.

• Sedan chairs carried high-status women in China and Japan.

• In Thomas More's Utopia, officials were issued a vehicle by the town if they had to move a woman of high status.

• European society treated high-status women differently than other societies, leading to technological developments that gave Europe a unique set of technical developments that led to modern motor transport.

Gender Roles and Transportation

• Men typically moved while women stayed at home in most parts of the world.

• Boys were brought along for sex while traveling.

• Secluded European women required an obsolete form of transportation that could not be used efficiently in cities.

Conclusion

• The history of gender overlaps with transportation history and vehicular culture.