Modern History

CHAPTER 2 MODERN HISTORY The next section begins the treatment on modern history as it pertains to the development of the canon. It explains the rise of the Protestant Reformation Movement, the colonization of the world, and the global proliferation of the canon in the larger society and in schools. 1300 – 1700 EUROPEAN RENAISSANCE PERIOD Coming out of the Dark Ages, the European Renaissance Period was marked by the rebirth of art, science, history and philosophy. This period was also characterized by a resurgence of classical learning, investigation, discovery and exploration of other continents often called the “New World.” It also responded to the religious oppression of the Roman Catholic Church and its oppositional stand against science by celebrating the Copernican and Ptolemaic systems of astronomy and science. Additionally, the Renaissance epoch in Europe was now replacing the medieval thinking that the world was flat. For example, the “wheel map,” which was developed by theologians, showed the world as being flat. This map was used for centuries. On an intellectual and theoretical level, Renaissance scholars were postulating that the world was round. The notion of a round earth appealed to adventurers and social thinkers of the time, such as Christopher Columbus, who felt that this implied that there was potentially another route to India and China, by way of sailing west. However, Ptolemy's maps, which were being used by most sailors, did not have the Caribbean or Americas on them because most people did not know of their existence. However, new explorations and the advent of Prince Henry’s Navigation School, led to enhanced maritime skills and mapmaking, which suggested that the earth was round rather than flat. Through the use of the printing press, this period saw a rise in published materials and the sharing of ideas. Equally so, this period also marked the beginning of the Transatlantic Slave Trade and the colonization of the world. During this period, European theology and social and ideological propaganda would span across the entire globe as justification for slavery and hegemonic domination (Gramsci, 1972). 1301 A.D. – Dante Alighieri writes the Divine Comedy ; the concept of purgatory is created. According to Alighieri, after death, purgatory is the place of purifying where the soul enters and is purged before journeying to heaven. Purgatory would be co- opted by the Roman Catholic Church to collect indulgences or money for pardoning sins. This would become a major source of revenue for the Catholic Church. 37 CHAPTER 2 1302 A.D. – Pope Boniface VIII declares that there cannot be any ‘salvation’ without the Roman Catholic Church and the Pope. 1309 – 1378 A.D. During this time period, seven successive popes resided in Avignon in France, rather than in Rome. This shift occurred because of a conflict between France and Rome, Italy regarding control of the papacy. Urban (Rome) and Clement VII (France) – were both popes at the same time; neither would yield power. CONFLICT OVER THE PAPACY 1409 A.D. Council of Pisa – Alexander V named Pope [Prior to this, these three popes battled for the papacy and that battle continued until the Council of Constance in 1417. Urban IV (Rome) and Clement VII (France) and Alexander V] making 3 popes. This council was intended to end the rivalry of the popes. PORTUGUESE PRESENCE AND COLONIES 1415 A.D. – Prince Henry (of Portugal) – commands his army to fight Muslims and capture Ceuta (a city of Spain) from the Moors, who were African descendants who were living in Spain. Many of these people had converted to Islam. • Prince Henry, also called the Navigator, was son of King João I, or John I • He wanted to conquer Africa for economic purposes and to proselytize Africans 1417 A.D. – Prince Henry becomes Grand Master of the Order of Christ – a title and position that was given to him by Pope Martin V – it was an order of the Knights of Templers [also called Free Masons] 1418 A.D. – Prince Henry opens his Navigation School in Portugal. Later, Christopher Columbus is said to have attended this school. Prince Henry’s Navigation School would help to enhance European maritime skills and information. This was the skill set that was central to the European colonization of the world. These are some of the places Portugal entered (partly captured) before any other European nations started colonization: Mauritania 1441; Senegal 1444; Morocco 1458; Cape Verde 1458; Liberia 1460; Nigeria 1472; Congo 1482; Angola 1483; South Africa 1488; Japan 1543 – Portuguese were the first Europeans to enter Japan. • Spices and silk of India, Africa and the Caribbean were of interest to Portugal • The Portuguese seeks to kill and expel all Muslims from their territory 1494 A.D. – Pope Alexander VI divided the Atlantic as colonial territories between Spain and Portugal. He proposed that everything to the West of Brazil belonged to Spain – and everything to the East of Brazil belonged to Portugal. This was known as the Treaty of Tordesillas between Spain and Portugal. As one of the major profit centers of the colonial world, in 1888, Brazil would be one of the last countries to 38.

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