E.H. 'A Little History of the World' 30. Terrible Times
TLDRThe chapter 'Terrible Times' from 'A Little History of the World' by Gombrich recounts the devastating Thirty Years' War, which began with the Defenestration of Prague in 1618 and continued for three decades, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. The conflict initially centered around the struggle between Catholics and Protestants, but evolved into a broader power struggle among European nations. The narrative highlights the brutality of war, the rise and fall of commanders like Wallenstein, and the intervention of Sweden and France. The chapter also touches on the post-war period marked by famine, disease, and the rise of witch hunts, reflecting the deep-seated superstitions and fear of the time. However, amidst this turmoil, the chapter also celebrates the scientific advancements and the pioneering work of Galileo Galilei, who faced persecution for his heliocentric theories but laid the groundwork for the mathematical understanding of nature's laws, which underpins modern technology.
Takeaways
- π The Thirty Years' War was a period of religious conflict between Catholics and Protestants that led to widespread confusion and suffering.
- π The Habsburg Emperors sought to reestablish Catholic Church sovereignty but initially allowed Protestant services, which later led to revolt.
- πΊοΈ The Defenestration of Prague in 1618 marked the beginning of the Thirty Years' War, which lasted for thirty years and resulted in massive destruction.
- π° The war evolved into a brutal conflict with soldiers looting, killing, and causing havoc, driven by the expectation of plunder rather than religious faith.
- π€¬ The commanders, such as Wallenstein, gained significant power and influence, leading to tensions with the Emperor and contributing to the war's complexity.
- πΈπͺ Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden entered the war to support Protestantism and nearly tipped the balance until his death in 1632.
- π«π· France, despite being Catholic, joined the war against the Habsburgs, aiming to weaken their power and elevate France's status in Europe.
- πͺ The war resulted in a massive loss of life and devastation, with Germany's population severely reduced and the land left in ruins.
- π§ The post-war period was marked by a rise in superstition and witch hunts, fueled by fear and the desire to find scapegoats for the suffering.
- π’ Despite the dark times, the scientific method and mathematical laws of nature were still pursued by individuals like Galileo Galilei, leading to significant discoveries.
- βοΈ Galileo's heliocentric model, which stated the Earth moved around the Sun, was controversial and led to his trial before the Inquisition, but his ideas ultimately prevailed.
Q & A
What was the primary cause of the Thirty Years' War?
-The primary cause of the Thirty Years' War was religious conflict between Catholics and Protestants, with the Habsburg Emperors of Germany seeking to reestablish the sovereignty of the Catholic Church throughout their empire.
What event is known as the Defenestration of Prague, and what was its significance?
-The Defenestration of Prague refers to the incident in 1618 where discontented Protestants threw three of the Emperor's Catholic councilors out of a window at a Prague Castle. It marked the beginning of the Thirty Years' War.
How did the war evolve over time?
-Over time, the war evolved from a religious conflict into a broader struggle for power among European nations. It became a dreadful massacre with ill-paid soldiers from various countries rampaging through the land, looting, and killing.
Who was Wallenstein, and what was his role in the war?
-Wallenstein was a poor country nobleman serving as a commander on the Emperor's side. He led his armies into North Germany to capture Protestant towns and nearly decided the war in favor of the Emperor and the Catholic Church due to his skill and strategy.
Why did Sweden, under Gustavus Adolphus, enter the conflict?
-Sweden, led by its powerful and pious Protestant ruler Gustavus Adolphus, entered the conflict to rescue the Protestant faith and establish a mighty Protestant Empire under Sweden's leadership.
What was France's motivation for joining the war, and how did it differ from the initial religious cause?
-France, a Catholic nation, joined the war not for religious reasons but to exploit the general confusion and weaken the Habsburg rulers, who were the dominant powers in Europe. France aimed to elevate itself to become Europe's greatest power.
What was the outcome of the Thirty Years' War in terms of religion and territorial control?
-The Peace of Westphalia in 1648, which ended the war, left religious and territorial divisions largely unchanged. What had been Protestant remained Protestant, and the lands controlled by the Emperor, including Austria, Hungary, and Bohemia, remained Catholic.
How did the war impact the population and society in Germany?
-The war had a devastating impact on Germany, with barely half the population surviving. Those who did were destitute, and many emigrated to America or joined foreign armies. Society was left in a state of despair, with widespread fear and superstition.
What was the role of Cardinal Richelieu in the war, and how did he succeed?
-Cardinal Richelieu, the intelligent Minister of France, guided his country's involvement in the war to weaken the Habsburgs and elevate France's status. He secured several German fortresses and towns near the Rhine for France, making him the only true victor in the war.
How did the fear of witchcraft and sorcery intensify after the Thirty Years' War?
-The fear of witchcraft and sorcery intensified as a form of madness that infected many people, leading to widespread persecution. Thousands were accused, tortured, and burned, often based on personal grievances or suspicions rather than actual evidence.
Who was Galileo Galilei, and what was his contribution to the understanding of nature?
-Galileo Galilei was an Italian scientist who applied mathematical calculations to understand natural phenomena. He observed, analyzed, and described the movements of celestial bodies, supporting the heliocentric model that the Earth moves around the Sun, which was a significant departure from the geocentric model endorsed by the Church.
How did Galileo's trial before the Inquisition reflect the conflict between science and religion at the time?
-Galileo's trial before the Inquisition exemplified the conflict between scientific inquiry and religious dogma. Despite evidence supporting the heliocentric model, his ideas were deemed heretical and in contradiction to the Bible. Galileo was forced to recant his views to avoid execution, illustrating the risks associated with challenging established religious beliefs.
Outlines
π° Terrible Times: The 30 Years War
The first paragraph describes the tumultuous period of the 30 Years War, which was marked by religious conflicts between Catholics and Protestants. The Habsburg Emperors of Germany, despite their limited power, aimed to reestablish Catholic dominance but faced a significant revolt in Bohemia in 1618, known as the Defenestration of Prague. This event catalyzed a brutal war that lasted for thirty years, involving mercenaries whose primary motivation was plunder. The narrative highlights figures like Wallenstein, a commander on the Emperor's side, and Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, a key Protestant leader. The war evolved into a complex conflict with various European powers, including France, seeking to capitalize on the chaos. The paragraph concludes with the mention of the war's continuation despite key events and figures.
π Post-War Devastation and the Rise of Superstition
The second paragraph discusses the aftermath of the 30 Years War, which resulted in a peace agreement that essentially restored the religious and territorial statuses quo ante bellum. Despite the war's end, Sweden lost much of its influence, and France secured some gains under Cardinal Richelieu's strategic guidance. The devastation was profound, with the population severely reduced and the survivors destitute. This led to mass emigration to America and enlistment in foreign armies. Amidst the despair, a rise in superstition and fear of witchcraft and sorcery took hold, particularly in Germany. The narrative describes how the fear of the supernatural led to the persecution of innocent people, often women, accused of witchcraft. This period saw thousands executed under the guise of witch hunts, which were fueled by the widespread belief in the power of the devil and magic. The paragraph also contrasts this with the scientific pursuits of individuals who continued to apply rational and mathematical principles to understand the natural world.
π The Power of Mathematics: Galileo's Legacy
The third paragraph celebrates the power of mathematics and its application to understanding the natural world, as exemplified by the work of Galileo Galilei. Galileo's observations and writings on the heliocentric model of the solar system, which posits that the Earth and other planets revolve around the Sun, were controversial and at odds with the geocentric model endorsed by religious authorities. Despite the risk of being labeled a heretic, Galileo's work laid the foundation for a deeper comprehension of nature's mathematical laws. The paragraph emphasizes that these laws are consistent and repeatable, forming the basis of modern technology and scientific advancements. It concludes by acknowledging the bravery of those who pursued scientific inquiry in the face of significant danger and prejudice.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Thirty Years War
π‘Defenestration of Prague
π‘Habsburg Emperors
π‘Gustavus Adolphus
π‘Cardinal Richelieu
π‘Wallenstein
π‘Superstition and Witch Hunts
π‘Galileo Galilei
π‘Mathematical Laws of Nature
π‘Renaissance
π‘Inquisition
Highlights
The 30 Years War was a dreadful era marked by confusion and violence between Catholics and Protestants.
The Habsburg Emperors of Germany had limited power and sought to reestablish Catholic Church sovereignty.
The Defenestration of Prague in 1618 was a pivotal event that signaled the start of the 30 Years War.
The war evolved into a brutal massacre with ill-paid soldiers looting and killing across the land.
Religious faith was overshadowed by the expectation of plunder, leading to alliances based on convenience rather than belief.
Wallenstein, a commander on the Emperor's side, gained significant power and influence through his military strategies.
Sweden's entry into the war under Gustavus Adolphus aimed to rescue the Protestant faith and establish a Protestant Empire.
France joined the war not for religious reasons but to exploit the chaos and elevate its own power in Europe.
Wallenstein's ambition grew to the point of considering himself a rightful sovereign, leading to his eventual murder in 1634.
The war continued for 14 more years after Wallenstein's death, causing widespread destruction and suffering.
The Peace of Westphalia in 1648 ended the war but left Germany devastated with a significant loss of population.
Cardinal Richelieu was the only true victor, securing several German fortresses and towns for France.
The post-war period saw a rise in superstition, fear of witchcraft, and the persecution of alleged witches.
Despite the chaos, some individuals continued to pursue scientific inquiry, discovering the mathematical laws of nature.
Galileo Galilei's observations and theories on the heliocentric model of the solar system were deemed heretical by religious authorities.
Galileo's forced recantation of his heliocentric theory did not prevent the spread of his ideas and methods.
The application of mathematical calculation to natural phenomena was seen as a form of magic that could predict and control nature's behavior.
The chapter concludes by emphasizing the importance of mathematical laws in understanding and manipulating the natural world.
Transcripts
a little history of the world by eh
Gombrich chapter 30 terrible times if I
wished I could write many more chapters
on the wars between Catholics and
Protestants but I won't it was a
dreadful era events soon became so
confused that people no longer knew why
or against whom they were fighting the
Habsburg Emperor's of Germany ruling now
from Prague now from Vienna had no real
power outside Austria and part of
Hungary they were pious men who wished
to reestablish the sovereignty of the
Catholic Church throughout their empire
nevertheless they did for a while allow
Protestants to hold religious services
until one day a revolt broke out in
Bohemia in 1618 discontented Protestants
through three of the Emperor's Catholic
councilors out of a window at a Prague
Castle they landed in a pile of manure
and so came to little harm nevertheless
this event known as the diffence tration
of prague gave the signal for a dreadful
war to begin which lasted for thirty
years thirty years just imagine if
someone heard about the defense tration
at the age of ten they would have to
wait until they were forty to experience
peace yes they experienced it for a note
for in no time the war had turned into a
dreadful massacre as hordes of ill paid
soldiers from countries far and wide
rampaged through the land looting and
killing the expectation of plunder was
what drew the vilest and most brutal men
of all nations into the ranks of these
armies religious faith was long
forgotten Protestants fought and
Catholic armies Catholics and Protestant
ones friends and foe suffered alight
from their opacity whether they pitched
their tents they did wherever they
pitched their tents they demanded food
and above all drink from local peasants
and if a peasant refused to give them
what they wanted they took it by force
or they killed him in the improbable
patchwork of rags they're great and
they're great plunder their great plumed
hats in their in their improbable
patchwork of rags and they're great
plumed hats
swords dangling from their belts and
pistols at the ready they rode around
burning killing and tormenting the
defenseless peasant
out of sheer wickedness and depravity
nothing could stop them the only person
they would obey was their commander and
if he won their affection they followed
him with blind devotion once that's
cooked one such commander on the
Emperor's side was Wallenstein a poor
country nobleman of immense ambition and
ability he led his armies up into North
Germany to capture the Protestant towns
thanks to his skill and strategy the war
was nearly decided in favor of the
Emperor and the Catholic Church however
a new country entered the conflict
this was Sweden under its powerful pious
Protestant ruler Gustavus Adolphus his
aim was to rescue the Protestant faith
and found a mighty Protestant Empire
under Sweden's leadership the Swedes had
retaken North Germany and were marching
on Austria when in 1632
the 14th year at this dreadful war
Gustavus Adolphus fell in battle
nevertheless many of his battalions
reached the outskirts of Vienna and
wrought havoc there France also joined
the war now you might think that the
French being Catholics would have sided
with the Emperor against the Protestants
of North Germany and Sweden but the war
had long stopped being about religion
each country was out to get what it
could from the general confusion and
because the to have and because the two
Habsburg rulers the Emperor of Germany
and the king of Spain were the dominant
powers in Europe the French under the
guidance of their exceptionally
intelligent Minister Cardinal Richelieu
hopes to exploit the situation to make
it to make Francis Europe's great to
make France here ups greatest power so
that's why Frances soldiers fought
against those of the Emperor
meanwhile wallenstein as the Emperor's
general was at the height of his power
his army worshipped him and his fierce
soldiers fought for him and for the
fulfillment of his aims rather than for
the Emperor or the Catholic faith being
indifferent to both the effect of this
was that Wallenstein increasingly saw
himself as the rightful sovereign
without him and his troops the Emperor
was powerless so he took it upon himself
to hold talks with the enemy about a
possible peace agreement and ignored all
the Emperor's commands the Emperor
decided to arrest him but in 1634 before
he could do so wallenstein was murdered
by an English captain
would once been his friend however the
war continued for 14 more years becoming
increasingly wild and confused whole
villages were burned towns plundered
women and children murdered robbed in a
bet
robbed and abducted there seemed to be
no end to it the soldiers seized the
peasants livestock and trampled their
crops famine disease and roaming packs
of wolves made westward made wastelands
of great structure of great stretches of
Germany and after all these years of
appalling suffering the envoy's of
various rulers finally met in 1648 and
after interminable and complicated
discussions agreed on a peace which left
things more or less as they had been in
the first place before the 30 Years War
had begun what had the prot what had
been Protestant would remain Protestant
the lands the Emperor controlled Austria
Hungary and Bohemia would remain
Catholic with the death of Gustavus
Adolphus Sweden had lost most of its in
most of the influence that had gained
and only held on to a few strips of
conquered land in North Germany and on
the Baltic coast Cardinal Richelieu and
voyeurs were alone in succeeding to
secure a number of German fortresses and
towns near the Rhine for France which
made the wily French Minister the only
true victor in a war which hadn't even
concerned him Germany was devastated
barely half the population had survived
and those who had were destitute and
many left and made their way to America
while others tried to enlist in foreign
armies since they didn't know anything
about fighting on top of all this misery
and despair a terrible madness began to
infect a growing number of people the
fear of evil spells of sorcery and
witchcraft people had also been
superstitious in the Middle Ages and had
believed in all sorts of ghouls and
ghosts as you remember but it was never
as bad as this things had begun to get
worse during the time of the power and
splendour loving popes the time we know
is the Renaissance when the new st.
Peter's Church was being built and
indulgences were sold those popes
weren't pious but that only made them
all the more superstitious they were
afraid of the devil in every conceivable
form of magic and each of the popes on
the period or in
here and each of the Pope's of the
period around 1500 whose names we
associate with the most wonderful works
of art was also responsible for chilling
decrees calling for witches and
sorcerers to be hunted down without
mercy especially in Germany you may ask
how it is possible to hunt down
something that isn't there and never was
and that is precisely why it was so
terrible if a woman wasn't liked in her
village perhaps because she was a little
odd or made people feel uncomfortable
anyone could suddenly say that woman is
a witch she's the cause of all those
hailstorms we've been having or she gave
the mayor his bad back and in fact both
an Italian and German people still use
the expression witch hunt or witch hurt
when talking about a backache when the
woman would be then the woman would be
arrested and interrogated they would ask
her if she was in league with the devil
naturally she would be horrified and
Inayat but then they would torture her
and torment her for so long and in such
a dreadful way the half-dead with pain
she would admit to anything in her
despair and that was it
now she had confessed to being a witch
and she would be burned alive often well
she was being tortured they would ask if
there were other witches in the village
making magic with her and in her
weakness she might blurt out any name
that came into her head in the hope the
torture would stop then others in their
turn would be arrested and tortured
until they confessed and were burned the
year of the devil and witchcraft were
ripe during the dreadful period after
the 30 Years War in Catholic and
Protestant districts alike thousands and
thousands of people were burned the few
Jesuit priests who protested against the
madness were powerless to stop it people
in those days lived in a state of
constant fear of the unknown of magical
powers and the works of the devil only
this fear can begin to explain the
atrocities inflicted on so many
thousands of innocent people what is
most remarkable however is that at a
time when people were at their most
superstitious there was still some who
had not forgotten the ideas of Leonardo
da Vinci and the other great Florentines
people who went on using their eyes in
order to see and make sense of the world
and it was they who discovered the real
magic magic
lets us look into the past and into the
future and enables us to work out what a
star billions of miles away is made of
and to predict precisely when an eclipse
of the Sun is due and from what part of
the earth that will be visible this
magic was arithmetic of course these
people didn't invent it for merchants
had always been able to add and subtract
but they became increasingly aware the
number of things in nature they're
governed by mathematical laws how a
clock with a pendulum 981 millimeters
long needs exactly one second per swing
and why this is so they called these the
laws of nature Leonardo da Vinci had
already said nature doesn't break her
own laws and so it was known with
certainty that if you take any natural
event and measure and record it
precisely you will discover that given
the same circumstances the result will
always be the same no matter how often
it is repeated indeed it cannot be
different this was an extraordinary
discovery and a far greater magic than
anything this was an extraordinary
discovery and a far greater magic than
anything the poor witches were accused
of for now the whole of nature the Stars
and drops of water falling stones and
vibrating violin strings was no longer
just one incomprehensible tangle that
made people fearful and uneasy if you
knew the correct mathematical formula
you had a magic spell for everything you
could say to a violin string to make an
A you must be this long and this tight
and moved backwards and forwards 435
times in a second and the note the
string made would prove it the first man
to understand the extraordinary magical
power of applying mathematical
calculation to things in nature was an
Italian called Galileo Galilei she was
devoted he had devoted many years to
observing analyzing and describing such
things when one day someone denounced
him for writing exactly what Leonardo
had observed but had not explained what
he had written was this the Sun does not
move on the contrary it is the earth
which moves around the Sun together with
the planets this discovery had already
been
by a Polish scholar named Copernicus
after many years of calculation it had
been published in 1543 not long after
Leonardo's death and shortly before his
own but the theory had been denounced as
unchristian and heretical by Catholic
and Protestant priests alike they
pointed to a passage in the Old
Testament in which Joshua the great
warrior asks God not to let dusk fall
until his enemy is destroyed an answer
to his prayer we read the Sun Stood
Still and the moon stayed until the
people had avenged themselves on their
enemies if the Bible says the Sun Stood
Still people argued then the Sun must
normally be in motion and to suggest the
Sun did not move was therefore heretical
and contradicted what was written in the
Bible
so in 1632 when he was nearly 70 years
old Galileo who had devoted his whole
life to scholarship was brought before
the religious tribunal known as the
Inquisition and made to choose between
being burned as a heretic or announcing
his theory about the movement of the
earth around the Sun he signed a
declaration saying that he was adopted
that he was but a poor sinner for he had
taught that the earth moved around the
Sun in this way he avoided being burned
the fate of so many of his predecessors
nevertheless when he signed the
Declaration he is said to have muttered
under his breath and yet it moves
none of these fixed ideas was in the end
able to prevent Galileo's ideas and
methods and all the discoveries he made
from influencing and inspiring people in
ever-increasing numbers and if today
thanks to mathematical formulas we can
make nature do whatever we want so that
we have telephones airplanes computer
and computers and all the rest of our
modern technology we should be grateful
to all those who like Galileo
investigated nature's mathematical laws
at a time when it was almost as
dangerous to do it was almost as
dangerous a thing to do as it was to be
a Christian in Nero's day and that is
the end of the chapter
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