Friday, October 26, 2007
The readings for today are among the most difficult we've had. The most important thing is to keep from getting bogged down in detail. For the Greengrass selection (Reactions to the Reformation, beginning with The Italian peninsula), I'd like you to pay particular attention to section 6.3.4. (Reformation ideas in the Italian peninsula and their repression); 6.4.4. (Elements of political chronology in the Spanish peninsula), especially the development of the monarchy's campaign of persecution through the inquisition; and in the sections on eastern Europe, the references to invading Turks.
Take a look at the map on the second page of the Volker Press article, just to get a sense of the geography of the Empire. Then try to break down the elements of the narrative on the basis of his sectional divisions. Several questions can help you get oriented:
- Section 1: What were the sources of strength in the Empire? What were the sources of fragmentation? How were emperors selected?
- Section 2: Exactly what was the "House of Austria"? We can talk about what relationship this bears to our current understanding of Austria as a nation-state. Again, what were the forces working in favor of consolidation, and what were the forces of division? We will see in this section and the next how emperors tried a number of strategies to create unity, including institutions for taxation and for the expression of military power.
- Section 3: What efforts did Maximilian make to consolidate power in the monarchy? Where was he most successful? Who were Charles V's parents, and what was his inheritance? How did he come to be elected?
- Section 4: What effect did the Reformation have on Maximilian's legacy of consolidation of power? What events served to weaken the hold of Ferdinand, Charles's brother, in Austria?
- Section 5: How did Charles attempt to reverse the Reformation in the aftermath of the Schmalkaldic War? Why was he unsuccessful? Why did he eventually abdicate and withdraw?
Laurel Carrington carringt@stolaf.edu
Most recent update: October 24, 2007
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