European History

By: Kierra Bowens  June 10, 2018 Image provided by Google Images The Columbian Exchange, also known as the Grand Exchange, is the widespread transfer of animal, plants, human populations, technology, communicable diseases, ideas, and culture between the American and Afro-Eurasian hemisphere. The Exchange lasted from the 1400's to the 1500's. From the Columbian Exchange, the new and old world gave or received Maize , A major staple food for animals and humans all over the world, Potatoes , which helped to prevent Scurvy , which was a disease, Rice , the catalyst for slave workers-to help care for the rice fields and created the breeding grounds for Malaria ; which still greatly impacts the world, and Smallpox , a horrible disease that killed off 90% of the Native American population. Smallpox , was the most deadly illness brought to the new world from the old world. Today, Smallpox has been eradicated.

What did warfare around this time period look like? At this time, war consisted of "Trench Warfare" . Trench Warfare is described as how "armed forces attack, counterattack, and defend from relatively permanent systems of trenches dug into the ground" (Britannica.com). These trenches would connect to each other and sometimes Citadels , fortresses, that protect a city from high ground. Weapons at this time were mainly cannons and portable guns. Disease was also another huge factor in this type for warfare. Diseases were very rampant in the trenches. In other words, the armed forces that stayed in the trenches, during the war, either were killed, died of starvation, or died from a disease.

The Black Death, also known as the Bubonic Plague, the greatest epidemic that killed a large part (50%) of Europe's population had people, during that time, try many different treatment approaches to try and heal the sick. Some of the treatments were Vinegar and water , Lancing the Buboes, Bleeding, and Sanitation. Here are some of the descriptions for these treatments: Vinegar and Water - A person with the disease would be bathed in Vinegar and Rose Water, Lancing the Buboes- The "boils" that would come, as a result of the disease, would be cut open to allow the infection and disease to leave the body. Then, a mixture that was composed of tree roots and resin was applied to the open wound. Bleeding - Viens of the infected person were cut, specifically the veins that led to the heart, to allow the disease to flow out of the body. Then, a clay ointment was applied to where the cut was made. Sanitation- The streets would be cleaned of a waste, animal and human. All...

During the late 17th century and 18th century (1600's-1700's) an intellectual movement, emphasizing reason and individualism took place. This movement was called the Enlightenment. Some philosophers that heavenly influenced the movement were: Voltaire, Jean Jacques Rousseau, John Locke, Montesquieu, and Thomas Paine. Some of the ideas brought up by these philosophers are: "power is granted by the people and not God" ( Locke) which is now the basis of the United States government. Rousseau came up with the "Social Contract" , which states that everyone, in a community,  has a specific "job" to help their community and country run smoothly. Lastly, Montesquieu introduced the idea, we now call, the "Separation of Powers". This led to the three branches of government: Legislative, Judicial, and Executive.

Childbirth was, and still is, considered a "class act" . In other words, childbirth was seen as "okay" and as a duty for certain classes, whereas, for other classes-usually the lower class-childbirth was discouraged. For example, wealthy people were more encouraged and supported to have children as long as the woman of that class were able to. However, for lower class woman, it was almost frowned upon because they were poor. Even today, having children is encouraged as long as woman have a support system and can afford to have a child. On the other hand, for woman who are not economically "set" and wealthy, having a child is seen as a decision that can possibly ruin their life or as a burden, due to the fact, they may not be able to handle the situation, or the child. Another fact that separates the Renaissance from Modern times, is Marriage. During the Renaissance, women were often married off by the time they reached the age of thirteen. Today, that marr...

Medieval Serfdom Image provided by Google Images Serfdom, conditions where, usually, lower class workers are bound to a landlord and land of the landlord, which they worked. In the Renaissance, farmers were bound to the owner of the farm and the farm land. Therefore, a serf was different from a slave, in that, eventually, the owner would grant the serf their freedom, after their time of work. A slave was forever a slave, never obtaining any land or their freedom. Later, after the peasant revolts, people of the lower classes began to speak out and refused to under the power of landowners, which started the end of Serfdom.

When a person died during this time period (Renaissance), they were usually buried by family in a house for the dead, also known as a Tomb . In the tomb, there would be daily effects, like tools, food, and personal possessions so they-the deceased- would be "set up" for the afterlife. As time went on, tombs seemed to become a way to distinguish between the social classes. For the poor class, they would have, in my opinion, rather bland tombs. On the other hand, the rich, or wealthy, would have their tombs "decorated". To explain further, wealthy deceased would have tombs that captured how their lives were, surrounded by jewels, money, and exotic statues or paintings of themselves. Overall, what was once a universal burial, has became and has now become another way to set people apart, even in death!

Provided by Google Images Let's talk about Food! Food during the Renaissance was made by the most skillful cooks in Europe at the time. The people developed a taste for animal parts like giblets, animal innards, fish and poultry. Dairy products were also used often, along with spices, bread, spices, plants, and fruit to make light, aromatic sauces. Is your mouth watering yet? During this time, water was not the main drink. Since water was usually dirty (and the source of some diseases) the people would drink Ale-beer and wine. Wine was most Popular in Italy and France, whereas, Ale was popular in places like England and Germany.

During the Renaissance Period, woman did not have any political rights and were basically a man's property. Woman, no matter what social class, were expected to perform the same housewife duties and tend to the home. even wealthy woman were engaging in the same duties as woman of lower classes. the common tasks of housewives include: cooking, cleaning, sewing, and entertaining. Woman that did not marry were not able to live alone, they were required to be under the house of the closest male figure, usually a male relative. there are some woman who stepped out of trends, like Isabella d'Este who ran Mantua after her husband, Francesco Gonzaga was captured in battle, but not many woman were that fortunate.