The
Hundred Years War, 1339-1453, was really a complicated series
of smaller wars which affected most of western Europe. This
series of conflicts saw the first widespread use of firearms.
Gunpowder, already known in China, was introduced in Europe,
probably from Asia. But unlike the Chinese, who only made limited
use of the explosive, the Europeans soon used a whole range
of new weapons from large siege cannon to knock down castle
walls, to medium guns mounted on ships to small handguns. Cannons
were part of a social revolution going on in Europe. The many
semi-independent nobles lost much of their power. Once secure
behind their stone-walled castles against all but the largest
armies, a few cannons could now knock down those walls.
At the same time, the growing use of foot-soldiers armed with
hand guns-- primitive muskets--marked the end of the medieval
armoured knight as the champion of the battlefield. Usually,
only kings or rich trading cities had the money needed to raise
armies equipped with cannons and muskets.
Other technological inventions included the printing press using
movable type. Invented around 1450 in three places, the Netherlands,
Germany and Bohemia (the Czech Republic), the new printing presses
made it easier to manufacture books. It also allowed for the
creation of newspapers. Ideas and important events could now
be carried across Europe.
The magnetic compass, which was apparently invented at about
the same time in both Europe and China, came into common use.
In 1517, Martin Luther, a German monk, writes against what he
sees are abuses in the Roman Catholic church. His thoughts lead
to a religious revolution called the Reformation resulting in
a new form of Protestant Christianity ("protestant"
comes from protest), which breaks all ties with the Pope and
the Catholic clergy. The Protestants are not one church, but
break into a number of sects such as the Lutherans, Calvinists
(called Huguenots in France) and Baptists.
In 1568, the provinces of the Netherlands revolt against the
rule of Spanish Habsburg family. This results in an 80-year
war, eventually becoming part of the 30 Years War. At the end
in 1648, the Dutch Republic breaks free of Spanish rule and
becomes the first modern republic in Europe.
The 30 Years War, 1618-1648, is considered one of the worst
of the so-called Wars of Religion that resulted from the Reformation,
and is among the worst wars in world history. A third of the
population of Germany is thought to have died.
Erasmus (1476-1536) the Dutch humanist, and the French satirist
Rabelais (1495-1553) are among the most famous writers of the
16th century. The next generation produced William Shakespeare
(1564-1616), considered the greatest playwright and poet in
the English language. Among the greatest works ever written
are plays such as Hamlet or Macbeth. There are some scholars,
however, who say Shakespeare was a made up name, and that it
is uncertain who he really was.
Rembrandt van Rijn, Jan Vermeer and Frans Hals are three of
the greatest names of the Golden Age of Dutch painting in the
1600s. Rembrandt's most famous painting is a group portrait
commonly called The Nightwatch, but its real title is The Militia
Company of Captain Banning Coq. According to legend, the painting
was not liked when it was unveiled because it showed everybody
all mixed up, just the way a group of soldiers would appear,
instead of a stiff row of heads--much like the typical class
photograph of today. This is not true, and the painting was
actually well liked.
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