Popular Unrest in Europe during the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries

Summary

The article discusses how popular unrest was a common feature in Europe during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The protests were mainly due to economic changes, military conflict, religious changes, and political authority. Peasants and city dwellers joined together to form federated bands, negotiated agreements, and found leaders to mobilize and coerce others to join them. They expressed their grievances regarding land, resources, space, and food, in ways that were not reducible to an economic equation. In this article, it is demonstrated that throughout the period, the state and political authority were implicated in popular protest.

The Causes of Popular Unrest in Europe
The Role of Economic Changes in Popular Unrest
The Role of Military Conflict in Popular Unrest
The Role of Religious Changes in Popular Unrest
The Role of Political Authority in Popular Unrest

The Causes of Popular Unrest in Europe

Questioner: What were the main causes of popular unrest during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries in Europe?

Expert: The causes of popular unrest during this period were multifaceted. There were economic changes in Europe, military conflicts, religious changes, and political authority. Peasants and urban dwellers joined federated bands, negotiated agreements, and found leaders to mobilize and coerce others to join them. The grievances of protesters were primarily related to material things, including land, resources, space, and food.

The Role of Economic Changes in Popular Unrest

Questioner: How did economic changes contribute to popular unrest in Europe during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries?

Expert: The mid-sixteenth century saw the progress of popular insurrection followed through the newsletter service from the banking house of Fugger at Augsburg. Money placed value on precious metals, which could be problematic for Christendom’s belief-community. However, something changed in the sixteenth and first half of the seventeenth centuries when silver became available in unprecedented quantities, and some people grew rich while others grew poor. Economic changes greatly contributed to popular unrest, as it brought about significant disparities in wealth.

The Role of Military Conflict in Popular Unrest

Questioner: How did military conflict contribute to popular unrest in Europe during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries?

Expert: Military conflicts and wars bring massive devastation, destruction, and loss of life. Peasant armies were always defeated, and there were huge losses of life among them. For example, the Bolotnikov Rising in 1606-7 occurred due to the dynastic struggle between Tsar Boris Godunov and pretender to the throne, the pseudo-Dimitri. The protests caused by conflicts and wars were often because of the significant economic and social dislocations caused by war.

The Role of Religious Changes in Popular Unrest

Questioner: How did religious changes cause popular unrest in Europe during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries?

Expert: Religious changes led to significant social and cultural changes, which brought about religious tensions and differences. For instance, in Portugal, a myth persisted that King Sebastian did not die in battle in Morocco in 1578 and was still alive. The myth contributed to popular unrest and uprisings in some communities. The changes brought about by the Reformation, which began in the early sixteenth century, were a significant cause of religious tension and, consequently, popular unrest.

The Role of Political Authority in Popular Unrest

Questioner: How was the political authority implicated in the popular unrest during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries in Europe?

Expert: Throughout the period, the state and political authority were implicated in popular protest, and unrest was premised on supporting legitimate authority and seeking a return to a lost age of community and equity. In some instances, leaders of protests were persecuted, put on trial, and tortured. This fate was meant to discourage others from joining the protest movements and intimidate local notables and leaders. Protest often achieved some of the demands made by the protesters.

Conclusion

In conclusion, popular unrest in Europe during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries was a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that was caused by various factors such as economic changes, military conflict, religious changes, and political authority. Protesters expressed grievances primarily related to material things, but their demands were expressed in ways that were not reducible to an economic equation. The state and political authority were implicated in popular unrest, and unrest was presented as supporting legitimate authority and seeking a return to a lost age of community and equity. Finally, this period saw the belief in a savior or “hidden king” who would miraculously return to deliver the people from their woes.