Response # 10

Voltaire’s treatment of non-European cultures is indicative of his disdain for the idea of European superiority and arrogance. Candide depicts El Dorado as the ideal society to challenge that idea that just society is a Christian society. El Dorado is an egalitarian society in comparison to Europe there is no clergy or noble class and the you address the king as an equal. El Dorado does away with society of orders and rejects the idea of divine rule. The old turk represents the happiness of living a modest life and challenges Europe’s insatiable desire for power and wealth. Candide criticizes the false sense of moral superiority of Christian morality and see’s their moralizing call to civilize savages facade for their colonialist policies.

Response #9

The Church’s role in scientific innovation is a tale of a double edged sword and with complicated legacy. It is easier to bash the Church as anti-science but it was religious institutions that formed the first universities in Europe and encouraged scholars activity. This is the extent that the Church contributed to scientific innovation but they did suppress ideas that threatened their power and authority. The Church’s political situation was main factor that caused it suppress scientific innovation because these new innovations proved their world view to be inaccurate. The Church was facing a political disorder and compounding that science that hurt their doctrine would have been troubling for maintaining their power and authority in Europe. 

Response #8

Personally I think Louis 14th declared himself the “sun king” because his enormous ego and warped perception of reality. Barring my personal opinion it makes sense politically to associate a leader with divine figure like Apollo and develop religious underpinning to your rule. Louis 14th chose the sun because he could argue his place at the center of the God’s divine order and light that blesses the French people. Combining a king with the divine creates a new level of power that can go unquestioned because questioning the king is questioning God’s will. This course has proven again and again that questioning  God’s will during this time usually does not end well and this allows kings with “Divine” authority to rule with little criticism. 

Response #7

This week in class we discussed the voyages of discovery and the age of European exploration. The question pertaining to Renaissance humanism role in this new era of discovery is interesting because it is consequence of this new world view. Renaissance humanism sought to focus on issues pertaining to the material world and humanity rather than the religion. It started to value the human experience and the renewed interest in the material world led explorers to find new routes to the east for trade. Humanism tapped into the innate desire humans have to explore the unknown and shifted the focus from the mysteries of the divine to the mysteries of the world in front of them. 

Response #6

During section we discussed the life of Benedetta Carlini and I thought the second investigation into her vision was interesting. The second investigation into Benedetta was conducted by the Vatican instead of her own convent. This was crucial because Benedetta’s convent was new and a having their own mystic would have elevated its status. The Vatican on the other hand was facing mounting criticism from the Protestants for their mystical aspects and viewed Benedetta as a threat to the Church rather than an asset. I thought interesting how each investigation had their own bias and each outcome played into their own interests. 

Response #5

This week in class we discussed the Protestant Reformation and the splinter movements that usurped Church authority. The most significant reformers were Martin Luther and Erasmus who agreed and disagreed on many issues. Both saw the Catholic Church as corrupt and failed institution failing to live up to the glory God. They both advocate reforms that would radically change how the Church would function and Luther left the Church over these issues. The primary difference between these two men were there opinions on free will with Erasmus advocating that peasants have free will while luther argued that they are tied to the land and do not have a legitimate basis to revolt. 

Response #4

This week in class we covered the festival of Carnival the importance social role it plays for peasants. Carnival is the holiday leading up to Lent that peasants are allowed to indulge in their vices and enact a ritualistic justice against the elite culture by mocking them. They would fake mass services lampooning and ridiculing the church and its power. What is significant about this holiday was that it was a social safety valve that allowed the masses to voice frustrations at the elite class without engaging in a full revolt. It gave a sense of justice that allowed them to endure their brutal existence the rest of the year.

Response #3

This week in discussion section we covered Machiavelli's the Prince, a guide on how to govern. Machiavelli wrote it while in political exile for his enemy Lorenzo Medici, who was responsible for his exile. It is widely accepted that Machiavelli wrote the book to win political favor but the brutal nature of the ideas expressed in this book make wonder if the book was written sarcasm, if so why? Machiavelli makes a distinction between leaders of fortune and virtue and it is interesting that his idea of political virtue is often in direct opposition to the Judeo-Christian definition of virtue. This makes me wonder how pious a rule can really be and remain in accord with the Machiavellian definition of virtuous?   

Response #2

When reading Giovanni and Lusanna, the social customs of time peaked my interest. The concept that marriage had to be public in order for it have legitimacy is fascinating. Why is it that privacy was not valued during this time Florence? Also the fact the marriages were arranged during this time interests me because it makes assume marriage during this time social duty that individual does to benefit their own family and the public nature of marriage makes it useful for political or business posturing. I want to know why elite families use the instruments of the church like marriage to advance their own agenda? 

Response #1

This week in class we covered the Black Death and I thought the question pertaining to the Jews being scapegoated for the Black Death was interesting.  The Black Death was not seen as public issue but as a moral judgment from God showing his dissatisfaction with European society. People’s response to this idea manifested in several ways with some people repenting through self-flagellation and others blaming the Jews because they were ones who killed Christ, fun fact it was the Romans that actually executed him. Anti-Semitism was popular and the Jews could be blamed and due their marginalized position in society they could not fight back. It was a way for Christians to absolve themselves of their responsibility for the plague.