Assignements A Flashcards
How did the Ancient Greeks and Romans influence today’s society?
How does it differ from todays?
- Institutions: money-based economy, rule of law, open markets, oligarchies/ polis democracies where everybody knows the law (local) BIG state
- Democracy: polis, individual liberty, freedom of thought/ speech, first national consciousness, participation by right of birth, excluding foreigners, slavery, subordination of individual to society
- Culture: city-state culture, idea of free people, no conquering but still nationalism,
- Philosophy: Epicurean: natural laws, rational approach, Stoicism/Epicurean/Platonism/Aristotelism as a basis for Christianity no high regard, questioning society not encouraged to the same extent, philosophy under science and religion
- Art: showing social status, humanism, not accessible for everybody (luxury)
How did the Ancient Greeks and Romans identify?
Concept of Europe at that time?
Greek= superiority complex (Athens), Romans were a conquering Empire (conquering tradition, later Christian mission)
No concept of Europe per se, expansionism and conquering “for the greater good” like Europe nowadays, identity microcommunities
What did they try to say through the Europa myth on a practicable and theoretical level?
Europa myth as an explanation for the territory for the civilizations and “superiority”-complex
When did we start to have an idea of antiquity as base of European identity?
Europe no real identity (imagined community that shares values (Renaissance/ Enlightenment) and history shaped by othering ) –> just economic/ political union (MAASTRICHT TREATY)
What is Renaissance?
• A cultural, artistical, political, intellectual and philosophical historical period, a cultural
movement into the modernity/modern era.
• The renaissance took place between the 15th.-16th. Centuries.
• The base for renaissance ideas was provided by ancient Rome and Greece.
Enlightenment
Period following the renaissance, characterized on an anthropologic view, based on freedom,
dignity and self-thoughts.
• A cultural movement of the 17th´-18th. Century that was more focussed on the self-consciousness and
reason.
• Freedom of knowledge.
• Enlightenment despotism
Humanism
• Human nature was more important than religion.
• Rationalist thought, everything is proved through observation.
• Movement based more on a free individual rather than an influenced one, e.g. the church.
• Strongly characterized by Erasmus from Rotterdam (“prince of humanism“), Erasmus was a
Christian humanist who noted that humanism/civilization was built on christian values/moralities.
• Renewal of the “humanist“ self through self reading body of texts
Secularism
Disassociation from religious concerns.
• The secularization did not immediately develop in European culture during renaissance, many
humanists/scientists where deeply Christian.
Republic of letters
A community of scholars and transcending political divisions and countries borders, which
became more popular during the enlightenment
• New sense of common secular culture. The people remained religious, but where United in as
secular community
How did Europe transition from renaissance to enlightenment?
• Caused through: Schisms, the popularization of Protestantism and a sense of “renewal“.
• Process of creating an “ideal state“.
• Renaissance and enlightenment are interconnected, enlightenment installed the “reason“ in the
renaissance concept of “self“
How did religion influence renaissance?
A. Islam
• During the renaissance islam was an external factor for othering and therefore influenced the
period.
• With islam being an external factor, christianity became a uniting element in Europe.
B. Christanity
• In renaissance times Christianity was the internal “other“.
• With the reconquista Catholicism came back and was a uniting element for the Spanish. 1492
How did the “classical age“ affect renaissance?
In the renaissance the classical age was rediscovered, the core of what renaissance was, was the
conception of “classical rebirth“.
What was the role of scholarisation in europe?
It was important for the founding of institutional education, such as universities.
• It was a part of the causes of secularization.
• It was the start of the democratization of education.
Impact of printing press
Bible could be spread further, which helped the development of Protestantism.
• The encyclopedia could be printed and therefore a source of knowledge was provided which was
automnous and easier to access. Also it was not the clergy or the emperor who published this
knowledge.
What were the major discoveries in europe’s renaissance? What were the impacts?
• Printing press, which was build by Johannes Gutenberg in the 16th century.
• The maritime travels and discoveries, e.g. Columbus in 1492, also better ships where constructed
for that matter.
• Mercator and cartography.
• Compass.
• Steam engine.
• Telescope/astronomy.
• Artillery.
Impacts:
• Intellectual and cultural development of Europe.
• Economic development was reached through war (artillery).
• The discovery of the Americas were crucial to the development of trade and the further
development of Europe.
• Slave trade, colonization, race theories.
• The europeans started to discover the world because they wanted tea. The europeans still had a
feeling of inferiority so they wanted what the Indians had.
• Culture exportation.
• When the europeans met the natives from other continents they became aware of their own
civilization and the values provided by the enlightenment.
WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF NATIONALISM?
concept of nation of peoples. different origins, comes from different nations.
there were two different nationalism: ones that looked toward the past ex. french; one looked toward the future ex. italian. The French fought against tyranny: individual right against autoritism. The Italians struggled against foreign domination.
CIVIC NATIONALISM
includes all the people that live for the political idea of the state and its a community of equal people not basing on race or gender. Everybody that has a duty and rights in that country is a citizen (individual & state)
ETHNIC NATIONALISM
xenophobia, (individual & heritage) national community that defines the individual. the citizen share the same culture and identity
HOW DID ROMANTICISM AND ENLIGHTENMENT AFFECT NATIONALISM?
romanticism: defined the ehtnic nationalism. collect heritage and is based on traditional costumes and individualism. better understood by the masses because relied on feelings.
enlightenment: defined civic nationalism. cosmopolitanism, relied on reason. freedom of creating an idea (=nationalism) ex. French revolution. self interest and convenience that brings wealth and control over a region.
HOW DID REVOLUTIONS IMPACT EUROPE?
Industrial revolution: Culture changed from a market economy based on agriculture to an economic and more technology based culture. created the working class. and unity between people in the same class living in poverty (=collectivism, finding also in nationalism) beginning of Capitalism French revolution: overthrow of the ancien regime and spread of French culture. cultural arrogance, some regions were suppressed. secularism: shift from church power to state power. beginning of modern democracy and abolished of Feudalism
WHAT IS NATIONALISM?
right of people who define themself as people and occupy a territory and have a right to define themselves a citizen of that territory.
WHAT WERE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE NATIONALISM?
Social darwinism and xenophobia. Creation of an empire. independence movement and independence of colonies. improvement in welfare and weaponry. A politically divided europe. ex. prussia: stability and wealth. this would have not been possible if nations were not under the same power. national languages and national anthem. creation of patriotich and terrorism movements.
What is imperialism? What is the difference between imperialism and colonialism ?
IMPERIALISM : Country with nation inside Expansionism Exchange of goods/raw materials Political control more theoretical COLONIALISM territorial control ( exploring) more practical
What are the consequences of imperialism ?
Acculturation Exploitation/ slavery Discontent riots – fall of Imp. Expansionism Transport Distraction of their political problems “unification” of nations Berlin congress Peace and Conflict for Europe (fashoda incident) Global economy Superiority complex (led to Racism) Imposition of European values Creation of nation-states Depopulation/population rising within natives New institutions/facilities/law / education/religion Imperialism in India Revolutions for example in Ethiopia Exploiting of local “Warlords” Abolition of slavery trade Exploit /steal of natural resources Collaboration with AF lords Colonized economy (Huge Gap) Conflict within natives Advantages of slave trade Rural capitalism Weapons upgrade –( militarisation ) Imposition of Europe
How was the trade triangle established?
only posible bc of Industrialization 1 CONQUEST 2 Slavery 3 Institutionalization 4 Transfer of Power (Europeans to locals) -Trade: Raw materials Tobacco Cotton Sugar Gold Ivory
How did totalitarianism define European modernity?
- Mid 20th century (WWI -> Cold War)
- Inspired by French Revolution
- Anti-fascism
- Anti-communism
- Democracy could emerge
- “ideal societies” aspiration -> excuse for violence => unachievable
- Unemployment
- War/armament
- Alternative to liberal democracy
Creation and development of ideologies - Depression in society -> new societal order -> violence -> societies could only be established through war
- Looking for a sense of belonging
Communism
- Workers
- Central-plan program
- Socialism
- Revolution and destruction of capitalism
- Leveling societal disparities
Fascism
- Industrialist support
- State control
- Not elected
- Capitalist
- Control of unions and population
- One ethnicity
- Homogenization of society/ethnicity
- Greatness of the nation
Nazism
- Anti-Semitism
- Aim of elimination of Jewish people
Concept ‘New World’
- Integration
- Wilson: 14 points (completely ignored after WWI)
= problematic -> self determination
-> Germany as a power in Europe - Elite
- Germany blamed for WWI -> disagreement Treaty of Versailles, harsh conditions for Germany
Fascism
- Scientific race journal -> perfect race -> ethnic cleansing
- Ethnic nationalism
- Transnational
Communism
- Universalism
- International workers movement -> eg. Popular Front
- What consequences did the off-rising ideologies have? (World Wars)
- WWI + WWII
- > nationalism (panslavism)
- > destroying industrial Europe
- Imperialism
- Genocide
- Revolution (socialist, November Revolution (Germany))
- Colonialism (exploitation of resources)
- Creation of EU structure
- > ECSC -> EC -> EU
- UN
- > League of Nations
- > Warsaw-Pact
- Switch of power
- Cold War -> nuclear threat
- Communism vs liberalism
- Appeasement
- NATO
- Destruction of population and cities/material goods
- Human rights
- Council of Europe
- New states
- Emancipation of women
- Women work-force
- Suffragette
- Socialist women -> workers and voters
Is European integration a new pathway towards modernity?
- ECSC -> national cooperation
- Treaty of Elysee
- Globalization
- Community to protect themselves from super-powers
- Solidarity movements
- Peace -> anti-fascist/communist values
- > new solution
What is European integration ?
- Spread of European values
- Cooperation between European countries
- After WWI there was a project of European unification
- European integration was a counter idea of the fascist and communist regimes and to overcome the destruction that fascism had left after WWII
Aims of the European integration
- Reconstruction of Europe + Transformation of the political community
- Bring peace and prosperity
- After 1989 – to overcome social and political differences between the East and West and find a common ground
Consequences of EU Integration
It started from liberal democracy
Treaty in Paris : the European Coal and Steel community (Collaboration between France and Germany to create another superpower within Europe to compete against the United States and USSR to prevent another war )
Then, came the Marshall plan
(European Economic Community), and the Treaty of Rome ( Euratom) = Free trade and economical collaboration –> Common institutions – Supranational
Difference with other institution ( countries giving up their sovereignty )
Maastricht Treaty 1991; Special because it marked the official start of the European identity
- The creation of a common currency
- Expansion of politic area
- Creation of the European Bank
- 4 freedoms
CONSEQUENCES:
- Schengen area
- abolition of customs
- Agricultural policy
What were the challenges and how did they affect West and East?
Integrating West and East ideas
West more developed than East
There were still countries that had colonies
Systematic and social integration
Economic and political and cultural differences
Social policy still not integrated on european level
Challenges – systematic – Social
No common social policy
Positive and negative integration
Oil crisis West overcame this crisis thanks to Euratom
East this was the main point for the downfall of the communist regime
West had liberal democratic countries and the East had to destroy system to achieve independence
Political unity
From communism to capitalism in the East
Eastern countries had now the option of choosing
Countries under the Soviet Union fought for social and political freedom while the West strive for economical freedom.
Gaulle feared that Britain would be part of the European integration because they would’ve helped the ‘USA to be more influencal in Europe’.
Conflict within western countries —– they did not have the same goals. e.g.: the Velvet revolution fighted for solidarity European integration strived for economic freedom
Lack of social integration
