Rise of Modern West – I

TABLE OF CONTENTS

UNIT I-TRANSITION FROM FEUDALISM (TO CAPITALISM)

CHAPTER 1- CONCEPTS OF FEUDALISM; REGIONAL VARIATIONS.

Introduction, Concepts of feudalism- Origin of Feudalism, Meaning of  feudalism, Characteristics of feudalism, Feudalism and regional variations

CHAPTER 2- THE CRISIS OF FEUDALISM…

Introduction, Reasons for the feudal crisis- A demographic collapse, Role of Guilds, Agricultural depression, Lust of lords to increase their incomes and living standards, Commercial expansion, and division of labour, Peasants revolt, Capitalist commodity production, The Rise of Nation-state. The emergence of the nation-state.

CHAPTER 3- ECONOMIC CRISIS: COMMERCIAL DECLINE, DECAY OF TOWNS AND EPIDEMICS.

Introduction, Commercial Decline, Middle ages expansion, Decay of towns, Growth of big cities, Epidemics- Plague, Black Death, Effects of Blach death.

CHAPTER 4- THE TRANSITION DEBATE: MAURICE DOBB, PAUL SWEEZY; MARC BLOCH, GEORGES DUBY; THE BRENNER DEBATE..

Introduction, Maurice Herbert Dobb, Views of Maurice Dobb on Transition of feudalism to capitalism, Paul Marlor Sweezy, Maurice Dobb, and Paul Sweezy: Debate, Marc Leopold Benjamin Bloch, Marc Bloch’s views on feudalism, Georges Duby, Georges Duby and the feudal revolution of 11th century, Robert Paul Brenner, Robert Paul Brenner and his debate on transition, Conclusion

 

UNIT-II GEOGRAPHICAL EXPLORATIONS AND EARLY COLONIAL EXPANSION

CHAPTER 5- FACTORS AND MOTIVES BEHIND VOYAGES AND EXPLORATIONS.

Introduction, The Reasons and motivations of voyages and geographical explorations- Motives for overseas discoveries,Crusades, Renaissance, Religious Desire, The fall of Constantinople, Economic motives.The Role of explorers in changing the world-  Portuguese Explorers, Spanish Explorers, French explorers, British Explorers. The Atlantic crossing and important Geographical discoveries, Significance of exploration

CHAPTER 6- THE CONQUESTS OF THE AMERICAS.

Introduction, The Discovery of America, Spanish conquistadors and plundering of the new world-  Greed for gold, The Mayans in Mexico, Aztecs in central Mexico and the Cortes, The Incas, Occupation of Brazil. Exploration of North America, Colonization of America 1600- 1763-British colonies in America, French colonies in America, Spanish and Portuguese colonies, The Dutch  and English rivalry

CHAPTER 7- BEGINNING OF THE ERA OF COLONIZATION..

Introduction, Colonial evolution, Colonial Empires of Early modern Age, Colonial South Africa, Colonial India

CHAPTER 8- MINING AND PLANTATION; THE AFRICAN SLAVES.

Introduction, Mining in  America, England, Development of mine companies, Origin of slavery, Slaves in plantation, Colonialism, and Atlantic  slave trade, The expansion of the slave trade, Conclusion

 

UNIT III- RENAISSANCE

CHAPTER 9- ORIGINS AND IMPACT. 

Introduction, The Renaissance background, What does the term ‘Renaissance denotes?, Renaissance: Origins and impacts, Why Renaissance began in Italy only?, Causes of Renaissance- Impact of Crusades, Reintroduction of new Classical learnings, The Printing Press, New wealth and the Black Death, Fall of Constantinople, Economic and commercial prosperity, The rise of Mongolian Empire. The main aspects of Renaissance

CHAPTER 10- HUMANISM IN RENAISSANCE.. 

Introduction, What is  Humanism?, Universities and humanism, Italian Humanists, Women in Renaissance society

CHAPTER 11- RE-DISCOVERY OF CLASSICS. 

The rediscovery  of classical literature– Italian literature, French literature, French literature, Other languages literature, The rediscovery of classical antiquity, Print culture

CHAPTER 12- ITALIAN INFLUENCE ON ART, ARCHITECTURE, CULTURE, EDUCATION, AND POLITY; NORTHERN RENAISSANCE..

Introduction, Influence on Art- Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael Santi. Impact on Architecture- Filippo Brunelleschi, Lorenzo Ghiberti, Giotto, Donatello, Masaccio, Lorenzo de Medici. Impact on Sculptor, Impact on education, Impact on Science, Impact on Polity- Machiavelli. Conclusion.

 

UNIT IV. REFORMATION IN THE 16TH CENTURY: ORIGIN AND IMPACT

CHAPTER 13- MARTIN LUTHER, JOHN CALVIN, ZWINGLI 

Introduction, Debates within Christianity Meaning of Reformation, Causes of reformation- Corruption in the Church, Economic causes, Political Causes, Immediate cause.  Martin Luthar ( 1483- 1546)  and Reformation Movement- Early life, Foundation of  the Protestant  Reformation, Diet of Worms, Peasants revolt ( 1524), Expansion of Lutherianism Treaty of Augsburg, Treaty of Augsburg,John Calvin and Calvinism- Beliefs of Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli Beliefs of Calvin- Beliefs of Ulrich Zwingli

CHAPTER 14- THE RADICAL REFORMATION: ANABAPTISTS, HUGUENOTS. 

Introduction, The Anabaptists, Munster in Germany and Anabaptists, Huguenots, Main thoughts of Huguenots,  conclusion

CHAPTER 15- ENGLISH REFORMATION AND THE STATE.. 

King Henry VIII, Edward VI and Reformation, Mary Tudor and her policies, Elizabeth I

CHAPTER 16- THE COUNTER REFORMATION.. 

Introduction, The Catholic Reformation, The Counter-Reformation, Papal Activities for Reformation, The Council of Trent, Outcomes of the Council of Trent, Society of Jesus, Results of Counter-Reformation

 

UNIT V- ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY

CHAPTER 17- A SHIFT OF ECONOMIC BALANCE FROM THE MEDITERRANEAN TO THE ATLANTIC.. 

Introduction,Period of economic expansion, Economic upheaval and great price inflation, Causes of inflation, Effects of inflation on poor, Economic stagnation- after 1600

CHAPTER 18- AGRICULTURAL REVOLUTION.. 

Introduction, Expansion of agriculture Agricultural Revolution- Open field system, Enclosure movement, Scientific farming,  New agricultural techniques, Impact  of Agriculture  Revolution

CHAPTER 19- COMMERCIAL REVOLUTION; INFLUX OF AMERICAN SILVER AND THE PRICE REVOLUTION. Introduction, Capitalism: Characteristics, Mercantilism; The medieval origins, Capitalism and Mercantilism; a commercial revolution