Today we will look more closely at the economic and political changes that took place in Europe after the Middle Ages that eventually caused the Industrial Revolution to start in England. We will be using Chapter 7 of Why Nations Fail to do this. We will also be working on our discussion skills and our ability to understand secondary and primary sources.
Question of the Day
Why did Europeans get richer in the centuries after the Middle Ages?
Focus Questions
What was the Commercial Revolution and how did it increase economic freedom in Europe?
How did historical events in England lead to more inclusive political institutions there?
The vocabulary below is related to the work you are doing today and would be worth using in your paragraph. In a few classes you will have write an assessment in which you have to identify three of these that I will choose. Here is an example of an ID:
Alps: The Alps are a mountain range in southern Europe (France, Italy, Austria, and Switzerland). They were significant to European society between 1300 and 1750 because they were one of the physical landforms that made it difficult for Europe to be politically centralized under one government. Europe’s decentralization was a key to its economic development.
Historical Connection: Physical geography is important to the development of civilizations. Just as the Alps influenced the development of Europe, we have studied that the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers had an impact on the development of settlements and life in Mesopotamia.
Inclusive political institutions
Inclusive economic institutions
Feudal common field system
Manorialism
Serfdom
Feudalism
Putting-out system
Enclosure movement
Three-field system
Markets
Capitalism
Middle class
Black Death
Wages
Free labor
Magna Carta
Model Parliament
Elizabethan Bargain
English Civil War
Glorious Revolution
English Bill of Rights
You should have read one or more sections of Chapter 7 from Why Nations Fail by Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson (in Blackboard).
Assignment: For this assignment you had a choice.
Option #1: Read only section one (3 pages) and explain on a notecard at the beginning of next class why Acemoglu and Robinson told the story of William Lee.
Option #2: Read sections one and two (9 pages) and explain on a notecard at the beginning of next class why Acemoglu and Robinson believe Europe became wealthy in this time period.
Option #3: Read sections one, two, and three (16 pages) and explain on a notecard at the beginning of next class why Acemoglu and Robinson believe Europe became wealthy in this time period.
Option #4: Read sections one and two, three, and four (27 pages) and explain on a notecard at the beginning of next class why Acemoglu and Robinson believe Europe became wealthy in this time period.
Option #5: Read the entire chapter (30 pages) and explain on a notecard at the beginning of next class why Acemoglu and Robinson believe Europe became wealthy in this time period.
1: Scored discussion on the reading. You should use what you learn today to improve the quality of your paragraph.
2: Analyze these two works of art. You should use what you learn today to improve your paragraph next time. There is no reason to spend time learning about these before class. We'll do all of the work in class.
Identifications Quiz: You will have to provide an ID for three of the terms in the vocabulary list above at the beginning of class. I will choose the three terms. In the ID you should explain the significance of the term given the time, place, and culture that we are studying now (The Commercial Revolution and the Rise of Nation States).
Paragraph: You will use your notes, today's reading, the documents to respond to this question: Why did Europeans get richer in the centuries after the Middle Ages?
Podcast
Readings
If you want to learn more about this topic and be able to write about it and participate more effectively in discussions, complete this reading ("The Invention of the Printing Press and its Effects"), this one ("The Economic Recovery of Europe"), and this one ("The Birth of Banking").
This article discusses the role of free markets, capitalism, and the growth of the middle class in Venice in the 1300's. It also makes a connection to modern America.
Videos: Try these Crash Course videos too.