HIS-1700 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Early Modern Europe, Environmental History, Syphilis
Document Summary
Economic & social change in early modern europe: populations, money, and. Teleological: idea that people are progressing in a positive, forward motion. The whig interpretation is paired with teleological views. By 1600, european population surpasses number alive at the time of the black death (1340s); nearly doubles between 1450 and 1620. Increased commerce in foodstuffs: age of marriage rises, growing migration from countryside to cities. The switch between personal to material items, is the introduction of a money economy: the rich began to have multiple rooms in a house instead of one whole room. People own more things (material culture: people begin to leave wills. Prosperity breeds hunger for more (land, money, possessions, etc. : the beginning of forks, gloves, etc. Fueled by technology: sails (multi-mast ships), improving navigation techniques, and guns. Supported by investments of princes and merchants. Consistent with interests of state and church. Stimulated by hunger for land, gold, and trade goods.
