Week 10: Aristocracy and Absolutism in the Seventeenth Century

Reading Questions for Day 1

Monday, October 29, 2012

Please read the following sections from Western Civilization, ed. Dennis Sherman and prepare comprehensive answers to the following questions for discussion (TURN IN at the end of that class day):

READ:

1. Conrad Russell, "The Causes of the English Civil War," pp. 60-61.

2. John Locke, "Second Treatise of Civil Government: Legislative Power," pp. 66-67, &

3. George Macaulay Trevelyan, "The English Revolution, 1688-1689," p. 69-70.

QUESTIONS:

I. For document #1 (Russell), do some background reading and answer:

1. According to the author, what were the causes of the English Civil War, and how did those three causes work together?

  

2. Why were Charles I's attempts to enforce English religion on Scotland in 1637 so important.

II. For document #2 (Locke), do some background reading and answer:

3. According to Locke, why do people enter into society?

4. What are the extent and limitations on the legislative power?

5. How does Locke justify these ideas and how are they contrary to monarchical absolutism?

III. For document #3 (Trevelyan), do some background reading and answer:

6. Why was the second revolution a more clear-cut victory for the English Parliament?

7. What factors contributed to the victory of Parliament?

For Long Periods this week: Document-based Question #2

For Reading Day #2: 

Please read the following sections from Western Civilization, ed. Dennis Sherman and prepare comprehensive answers to the following questions for discussion (PREPARE for class discussion):

READ:
1. Introduction to Chapter 5, "Aristocracy and Absolutism in the Seventeenth Century," pp. 63-64,
2. Saint-Simon, "Memoires: The Aristocracy Undermined in France," pp. 65-66, and
3. Visual Sources, "The Early Modern Chateau," pp. 67-68. 

For Reading Day #3 (Friday, November 2, 2012):
Please read the following sections from Western Civilization, ed. Dennis Sherman and prepare comprehensive answers to the following questions for discussion (PREPARE for class discussion):

READ:
1. Secondary source: William Monter, "The Devil's Handmaid: Women in the Age of Reformations," pp. 61-62,
2. Visual primary source: Pieter de Hooch, "Maternal Care," p. 68,
3. Secondary source: Linda Pollock, "Childhood in Early Modern Times," pp. 70-71, and
4. Secondary source: Peter Laslett, "The World We Have Lost: The Early Modern Family, p. 71.