The spirit of the age

THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE

17^th century troubled period of religious and political controversies Civil War

10 years England was ruled as a REPUBLIC the COMMONWEALTH

people grew tired of the Puritanism

the Restoration changed the atmosphere

1) the reopening of thatres, important changes: 1) quality of the plays

2) organization of the playhouses

artificial lights, scenery, separation stage/

audience, women

2) many people migrated to the NEW CONTINENT: 1) looking for employment and a better life

standard

2) escaping from religious persecution

3) criminals or vagrants

3) In 1689 TOLERATION ACT - put an end to religious quarreling

BILL OF RIGHT - sanctioned the power of the Parliament

the king ruled not by 'divine right'

but by consent of the Parliament

4) the growing prosperity of the classes in the middle of society (economic status - nobility had         

social status)

5) continuation of the WITCH-HUNT

developement in SCIENTIFIC THINKING

Charles II president of the Royal Society (1662), group of scientists who shared ideas (Isaac

Newton, Christopher Wren)

interests in astronomy (Royal Observatory of Greenwich 1675)

6) new habits meet at the COFFEE HOUSES (London)

a new drink

man used to meet women gathered at home sipping some

tea (higher classes)

lower classes drinking houses (centres of popular culture)

7) falls of the ideals of humanism and chivalry

beginning of a new spirit of INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM and PRAGMATISM (Locke)

Queen Anne

accession of George I (start of the House of Hanover)

Robert Walpole PM

Battle of Culloden

Henry Pelham PM

William Pitt the Elder leading politician

official beginning of the Industrial Revolution (end in 1840)

Boston Tea Party

Declaration of American indipendence

William Pitt the Younger PM

French Revolution