Big Picture Questions
- Discuss the Protestant Reformation and its causes. How did these changes
contribute to the end of religious unity of western Christendom? How did these
changes contribute to the intermittent conflict that dominated Europe for
over a century?
- Compare and contrast absolute monarchies with the development of constitutional
monarchies. What led to the dissolution of these centralized powers? How did
religious dissent contribute to this outcome?
- Consider the development of capitalism. What is its meaning? What changes
in global political and technological capabilities led to this new form of
economic hegemony? What was the outcome of the control of capital passing
into private hands?
- Western science went through a profound revolution during this period. Discuss
some of the new discoveries and the intellects that contributed to this revolution.
How did the Scientific Revolution have an impact on the daily lives of the
individual? What would you consider the most profound discovery or philosophy
that emerged from this period?