The Authority Conflict: Machiavelli & Martin Luther
The Authority Conflict Machiavelli and Martin Luther were two of the most profound and controversial historians of the sixteenth century. In The Prince, Machiavelli advocated unconventional measures and instructed the rulers of politically unstable Italy on gaining absolute power and setting aside moral values. Luther's On Christian Liberty considers the corruption of the Holy Roman Church and promotes the split of the secular from the spiritual. He instilled complete authority in the word of God. When comparing the different solutions concerning the problem of authority proposed by these pragmatists in the sixteenth century, it is evident that they agreed to some extent on the evil nature of human beings; however, their concepts of virtue were unique and their solutions were targeted to engage and gain support from different groups and figures of authority. Machiavelli and Luther used separate approaches and had different motives for conveying a similar message about human nature; people are inherently bad. Mankind is more prone to evil than he is to good (Taylor 23). They both agreed that men initially concern themselves with one another as means to satisfy their own desires. Luther quoted Galatians 5:17, "for the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh," to show the struggles men face upon attempting to act moral
There was a sound of thunder, it was the beginning of the nightmare. "James James get up its 9.30, you've got golf today with your dad", "5 more minutes" says James "No you've got to get up" replied Mary, "OK, OK I'm getting up."
English Assignment There was a sound of thunder, it was the beginning of the nightmare. "James James get up its 9.30, you've got golf today with your dad", "5 more minutes" says James "No you've got to get up" replied Mary, "OK, OK I'm getting up." It was Sunday and James had to go to golf lessons with his dad. James never liked golf, he wasn't a sporty sort of person, he doesn't enjoy school and doesn't have many friends. Mary and John are always trying to get James into clubs and hobbies but nothing ever worked out. Something seems to go wrong with every club he tries. He broke his foot at the bowling club, got into a fight at the football club and fainted at the chess club. James kept himself to himself. However, John, his dad, is trying to get James into golf even though James doesn't enjoy it at all. As James got up he opened his curtains hoping for rain to cancel the golf, but it was very sunny especially for late January in Newcastle. James knew it was going to be another one of those days when he goes out to experiment new hobbies with his patronising dad who looks down on James. John is a very sporty man and wishes his son was a little bit more like him. James gets dressed and goes downstairs. "Ready then son" John shouts, "Yeah dad" James replies. See you in a couple of hours Mary" says John, "enjoy yourselves" she replies, "don't worry we will" John replies. As
What was the Irish Potato Famine?
What was the Irish Potato Famine? The Famine, 1845-1852, had far-reaching consequences which would not only shape Irish History, but would end with over one million of the population dead and would influence the country's foreign relations for many years to come. Known as 'Black 47' and 'An Gorta Mór', the instigator of widespread starvation, disease, death and mass emigration was the failure of the potato crop in 1845; the instigator but not the sole cause. This article will examine the history of Ireland which led up to the Famine, the political climate at the time and the reasons why one crop - the simple potato - brought the country to its knees. Historically, it could be persuasively argued that Ireland's problems began many years before the onset of the Famine; specifically, the invasion by the English at the end of the twelfth century. The invaders, led by King Henry II succeeded in claiming the eastern and southeastern coasts for England, possibly assisted by infighting among the Irish leaders themselves. Henry divided the land into ten regions, giving each region to ten of his principal followers. This meant that each part of the land now had two owners - the rightful, native owner and the English invader. The English believed that the Irish were barbarians and as such they concurred that these 'wild men' had no right to the land. Laws were quickly drawn up in
The battle of Kinsale was one of the main factors that eventually caused 'the downfall of the last of the Gaelic Lordships and the end of the old Irish world.'
The battle of Kinsale was one of the main factors that eventually caused 'the downfall of the last of the Gaelic Lordships and the end of the old Irish world.'1 So much lay to be gained and lost by both sides at the time of the battle in 1601. There were problems between the English and Irish before the battle and after the English victory Irish fighting morale was dead. The main figures involved in the battle were the English, native Irish and the Spanish. England saw Ireland as a colony to be controlled, while the Native Irish were eager to return to their traditional ways of life and independence without interference. The battle of Kinsale was one of many concerning the difference of opinion within Ireland. English victory did not only defeat the Irish but it killed some of the oldest Irish traditions and ways of life, before the battle the Irish were strong and independent up until the battle they held a proud attitude towards their victories. A different nation and attitude developed from the defeat; suddenly a determined nation was giving up. Would the English have been defeated if the course of events leading up to the battle had been different? Hugh O'Neill and Hugh O'Donnell led their own and other allied armies against the English in a vicious Nine Years War prior to the battle of Kinsale. Both O'Neill and O'Donnell had their own personal motives
Why Were Some of the English Poor Laws passed between 1531 and 1598 Controversial?
Why Were Some of the English Poor Laws passed between 1531 and 1598 Controversial? Poverty was an endemic problem in early modern British society. There was no single cause responsible for the increase in the number of people considered to be poor, rather it was the result of many economic and social factors. For instance, during the sixteenth century the population rose dramatically, increasing from three to four million (a growth of twenty five percent) during the reign of Elizabeth I alone. This growth in population was not matched by a growth of employment opportunities. Inflation was also running high in both England and Scotland, which meant that as prices rose, (the cost of a basket of consumer goods rose sixfold between 1500 and 1640) wages could not reflect these increases. On average crops would fail every three years, which again had the effect of pushing up food prices and more and more arable land which could have being used for crops was being enclosed, for products such as wool. Disease was also rampant and on a micro level, death of the wage earner, old age and illness to name few, were causes of poverty. This time period also witnessed a change in perception towards the poor and in the means of dealing with poverty. From 1531 to 1598 there was no fewer than eleven Acts of Parliament passed in relation to the poor. The purpose of this essay is to examine
Long day's journey into night, the"Tyronian" tragedy.
Melissa King ENG140Y Drama Essay February 10, 2003 Long Day's Journey into Night, The "Tyronian" Tragedy In Eugene O'Neill's agonizingly autobiographical play Long Day's Journey into Night, readers are introduced a dismal family situation. Drugs, death, illness and failure lace each conversation, and regret flows almost as unreservedly as the alcohol. In such a tragedy, one would expect to have a clear idea of with whom the blame lies. In this piece of drama, however, there is a distinct inability to do so. Eugene O'Neill persistently manipulates the emotional responses of the reader. This manipulation keeps partiality off balance and uncertain. O'Neill accomplishes this by allowing readers to sympathize with one family member. Once sympathy is established for one particular character, that character promptly says, or does, something that loses the reader's alliance, along with the alliance of whichever character he or she is berating at that particular moment. This results in the reader's inability to discern who, precisely, is culpable for the Tyrone family's situation. The idea of assigning culpability in Long Day's Journey Into Night is almost humourous. Even if one wanted to, it would be difficult to sort through years of built up anger, layer upon layer of repression, and huge amounts of guilt in each character; for each character is at fault for one thing or
Hooker's Apology of The Church of England.
Hooker's Apology of The Church of England. This document is a first hand document : it's indeed an excerpt taken from Richard Hooker's book Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity (Book IV) published in 1593. As far as the historical context is concerned, 1593 is the year when the new Prayer Book was created, less rigidly protestant than the second Edwardian one. There was a deliberate choice to put things in a way allowing several interpretations of the basic rituals (then different from the 6 Articles), and to retain many details commonly associated to Catholicism ; such as priestly vestments, kneeling at communion, the sign of the cross at baptism, the use of the marriage ring. Thus, this book was an answer to almost 25 years of criticism of the existing religious order, by people nicknamed Puritans (that we can rightly described as radical protestants). Their argument was that the contemporary Church of England should be reformed on the model of Calvin's reformed Church in Geneva, to restore primitive Christianity. Among the aspects examined by those people, one of the main issues was the question of ceremonies : they claim several ceremonies should be remove from the Book Of Common Prayers, because they were innovations, corruptions, which prevented the Church of England for being really Christian. Therefore, this text is build up like a defence to those assertions : it
'The divisions within Northern Ireland society have as much to do with class as religion or nationality' Discuss.
3rd December 2003 'The divisions within Northern Ireland society have as much to do with class as religion or nationality.' Discuss The history of Northern Ireland, a state created in 1921, has not been a peaceful one, and the study of the country has been as turbulent - it could be said that there is a 'meta-conflict'; a conflict about the conflict. The causes of these troubles are varied, and it is far too simplistic to reduce it to just a religious one - although the Protestant faith is now synonymous with unionism, and Catholicism with nationalism, there are in fact many reasons for the divisions within the society. The conflict has become one of national identity, class and political and economic equality, as well as, some have argued, culture. These are all endogenous, i.e. internal, explanations for the fractious nature of Northern Irish life in recent decades, but others have placed the blame on external - exogenous - sources, claiming the behaviour of Great Britain or Ireland (or both) are responsible for the current situation. The roots of these divisions are buried under centuries of conflict, betrayal and mistrust, and, whilst religion played an important part, it was part of a wider economic and political battle. It is important to take these into account, but one of the problems facing Northern Ireland is the sheer amount of unresolved history that
How did the reign of Elizabeth transform the Tudor state?
British History 1400-1750 Inderjeet Johal How did the reign of Elizabeth transform the Tudor state? Elizabeth I came into succession when the state was in complete turmoil. Mary I had left the Tudor state in complete shambles. It was left 'weak in strength, men and money and riches, and the queen was poor and the realm exhausted'. In 'England under the Tudors' by GR Elton and John McGurk, Elton writes of the chaotic country left by Mary I. Inflation was increased by famine, plagues and harvests; this led to exploitation of lands, and land being sold on the open market. The more profit made by producers for the use of their lands, the more landowners wanted for rent. This led to conflict within the country, and so when Elizabeth came to the throne, it was important that she took power and matters into her own hands so the country wouldn't crumble. Mary and previous rulers had left the state virtually bankrupt, and England was in need of some sort of religious mediation. Within the reign of Elizabeth, the queen introduced 'The Elizabethan Settlement of 1559', restoring a moderate Protestant state. Her reign transformed the state into one which at first brought about stability; she cut down on inflation and reduced England's debt, whilst also tackling religious opposition. By the end of her reign however, there was conflict and opposition with the Parliament and other
Why did witch hunting become so intensive in late sixteenth century England?
Tessa Eaton Why did witch hunting become so intensive in late sixteenth century England? During the late sixteenth century much was blamed on magic, and those accused of it. In a biblically aware society thy believed evil had to be rooted out. "Do not allow a sorceress to live"1 Bad weather, the death of live-stock, a bad harvest or spoiled butter were many problems blamed on witches, and "cunning folk" or "wise women" were called upon to counter act such curses. There were two types of magic in these times: high magic (black magic) and low magic (white magic). Low magic was generally accepted, as it was used by the cunning folk; while high magic was a capital offence. Why then did the numbers of accused witches increase? Lotherington suggests that witch-hunts were due to the fear of women. He says witches tended to be women past childbearing2, so were of no benefit for their community, and around eighty-percent of those accused of witchcraft were women3. Paul Thomas4 agrees with Lotherington that it was mainly women who were persecuted; large numbers of women were hanged after being accused of maleficium (doing of harm to people or property) by their neighbours. Thomas says that the witch-craze was a "broyle against old women"5. Contemporary evidence supports this, for example George Gifford6, a Protestant priest from Essex, who wrote two books on witchcraft, in