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Nov 2024
1h 5m

Explaining 17th Century Western Europe

Turpentine
About this episode

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch is joined by business development executive and agriculture technology industry entrepreneur Austin Padgett and explore 17th century Western Europe's pivotal transformation. They examine how the Protestant-Catholic divide, parallel to modern political polarization, shaped warfare, science, and economics.

The conversation reveals how the Dutch and English success in breaking monopolies and embracing agricultural innovation set the stage for the Industrial Revolution and modern capitalism.

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FOLLOW ON X:

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HIGHLIGHTS:

The 17th Century: On the Edge of Modernity

The Pike and Shot Era & Military Transitions

Mercenaries and Defensive Warfare

The French Revolution and Mass Conscription

Libertarian Perspective & The Shifting Political Compass

North Europe's Victory Over South Europe

Economic Factors and the Weakening of Monarchies

The Elizabethan Golden Age and the Secular Cycle

The Protestant Reformation and its Impact

Lessons from the 17th Century

The Thirty Years War and its Impact on Europe

Spain's Economic Failures as a Lesson

England and the Netherlands' Breakthroughs

The Scientific, Agricultural, and Social Revolutions

The Political Context of the 17th Century

The Enlightenment and the Thirty Years War's Legacy

Louis XIV's Reign and the Cultural High Point of France

Conclusion and U.S. Political Implications

The Importance of Agriculture


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BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:

"The Global Crisis" by Geoffrey Parker

"The Military Revolution" by Geoffrey Parker

"The Age of Reason Begins" by Will Durant

"The Age of Louis XIV"by Will Durant

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