Tuesday Free Response - European Monarchs and Sciences and Art

Analyze the ways in which European monarchs used both the arts and the sciences to
enhance state power in the period circa 1500–1800.

Arts and science were prevalent in the period from 1500-1800. Monarchs took advantage of using the arts and sciences in order to further their power and their reign. Events such as the Renaissance, Reformation, and Scientific Revolution occurred in Europe. Monarchs used arts and the sciences to advance their state, however; it was the individual artists and scientists who increased state power, rather than the European monarchs themselves.

Artists and architects were hired and paid by prosperous people and European monarchs from the time of the 16^th century to the 19^th century. Artists and the arts brought wealth to the state. It was not the European monarchs creating the masterpieces, but it was the artists themselves. The artists brought power to the state in the sense that the state became more cultured and dynamic. No buildings, churches, or monarch’s homes could be decorated with artwork if it wasn’t for the artists during this time period. Advancements in time such as the Renaissance could not have been possible without the knowledge and talent of these artists, known artists such as Brunelleschi and Leonardo de Vinci. By adding more urbane artwork and architecture, artists during 1500-1800 brought prestige and power to their states.

The scientific revolution was a time of invention and advancement in the sciences. Galileo, who is known as the “father of science,” is one man who helped form science into what it is today. Galileo named moons of Jupiter, furthered inventions with the telescope, and improved science without the help of European monarchs. Other scientists were also involved in the scientific revolution to further the state and state power, such as Descartes. By creating scientific inventions and advancements in their state, they were able to advance state power because their state would then be scientifically further than other states. Being the only state to have a telescope that is improved, of high quality, and invented and enhanced by Galileo would cause a state to be powerful. The inventions and scientific advancements made by European scientists in the time of the 16^th, 17^th, 18^th, and 19^th century improved the power of the states.

Artists and scientists did not intentionally increase their state power. They were doing their jobs, but they made advancements in Europe that brought much change. The European monarchs were not making inventions, making discoveries, or making artwork. They were simply ruling while the artists and scientists did their jobs and furthered the state. Scientists and artists added culture and intelligibility to their states.

Without the contribution of scientists and artists from 1500-1800 major events in Europe would not have occurred. These would be occasions such as the Renaissance and Scientific Revolution. Both of these events improved power and improved Europe, but they would not have been possible without the individual scientists’ and artists’ work and talent. These events in European history, along with other major events that occurred during this time period, enhanced state power. However, the monarchs were not the ones creating the masterpieces or discovering the inventions, therefore; they were not the cause of the increase in state power.

Theses for Other Possible Essays

5. The Thirty Years' War was a monumental war in Europe, but the countries that were involved created that aftermath of it, and they caused it to be such a big turning point in history.