Crash Course European History: Seventeenth Century Crisis

Introduction

• Lecturer: John Green
• Focus on the "Seventeenth Century Crisis"
• Themes include climate change and war.

The Little Ice Age

• Began in 1300, intensified after 1570.
• Global cooling, average drop of 0.5 degrees Celsius.
• Effects:
  • Decreased harvests, leading to famine
  • Hypothermia, reduced birthrate
  • Instances of cannibalism
• Causes not primarily human-driven; could be volcanic, orbital, or solar cycles.
• Contrast with modern climate change, which is human-driven.

Economic Hardships: Price Revolution

• Increase in prices for food and goods.
• Causes:
  • Population growth
  • Inflation due to influx of precious metals from the Americas.
• Led to economic distress despite apparent wealth influx.

The Thirty Years War (1618-1648)

• Devastating war primarily in Central Europe.
• Death toll from war and starvation.
• Major participants: Holy Roman Empire, France, Sweden, Denmark, England.

Origins

• Triggered by religious conflict.
• Ferdinand II (Catholic) vs. Protestant Czechs.
• Defenestration of Prague: Key event, symbolic of religious tensions.

Progression of the War

• Protestant Frederick V vs. Catholic Hapsburgs.
• Ferdinand II rewarded Catholic allies with lands.
• Protestant lands reclaimed for Catholic Church.
• Danish King Christian IV entered to counter Hapsburgs.
• Albrecht von Wallenstein's military campaigns.

Escalation and Brutality

• Involvement of multiple European powers (Netherlands, Spain, Italian states, France, Sweden).
• War atrocities, including torture, rape, and civilian casualties.
• Siege of Magdeburg as a notable example of brutality.

End of the War

• Assassination of Wallenstein.
• Social and political disintegration, reports of cannibalism.
• Peace of Westphalia (1648): Ended war, marked a shift to pragmatic governance.

Conclusion

• The war highlighted the immense human cost.
• Up to 50% population loss in heavily affected areas.
• Despite devastation, modern science began to flourish.

Next Lecture Preview

• Upcoming focus on more positive developments.

This lecture provided insights into the interconnected crises of the 17th century, highlighting the impacts of climate, economy, and prolonged warfare on European society. The Peace of Westphalia serves as a pivotal point in shifting from religious to more political and economic driven policy-making.