The General Crisis facts for kids
The General Crisis is a term some historians use to describe a time of big problems and conflicts around the world. This period mainly happened from the early 1600s to the early 1700s. It involved many parts of Europe and, some say, the whole world.
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What Was the General Crisis?
Since the mid-1900s, historians have talked a lot about this "General Crisis." They don't all agree on what it was, what caused it, or where it happened. Some even say there was no single "General Crisis" at all. They believe the problems were separate and not connected.
- Economic problems in Europe: The idea of a crisis started with historian Eric Hobsbawm in 1954. He thought the 1600s had a necessary economic crisis. He believed this crisis helped lead to modern times.
- Wider problems in Western Europe: Another historian, Hugh Trevor-Roper, used the term "General Crisis" in 1959. He saw it as more than just economic issues. He thought it was a crisis between society and the government. Trevor-Roper said that in the mid-1600s, there were big problems in politics, money, and daily life in Western Europe. These problems came from changes in population, religion, and government.
- He believed events like the English Civil War and the Thirty Years' War were all part of this same big problem.
- Trevor-Roper thought the main cause was a fight between the powerful central governments (the "Court") and the traditional local leaders (the "Country").
- A global crisis with climate change: Later, historian Geoffrey Parker expanded the idea. In 2013, he suggested the General Crisis was global. He argued that a period of global climate change, called the "Little Ice Age," made these problems much worse.
Historians still debate these ideas. Hobsbawm focused on money and society. Trevor-Roper focused on the government. Parker added the idea of climate change.
Signs of Trouble Around the World
Some historians, like Hobsbawm, Trevor-Roper, and Parker, believe the 1600s was a time of crisis. They think it helps us understand the wars, politics, and economies of that century.
The Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) showed how terrible wars could be for everyone. The 1640s, in particular, saw more governments collapse around the world than almost any other time.
- The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, which was the largest country in Europe, almost disappeared.
- The Spanish Empire had many parts break away.
- In Britain, there were rebellions in England, Scotland, Ireland, and even in the American colonies.
- Many wars happened around the world in the mid-1600s.
- The problems weren't just in Europe. For example, the Ming dynasty in China, which was the most populated country, also collapsed.
China's Ming dynasty and Japan's Tokugawa shogunate had very different systems. Yet, they both faced big problems in the mid-1600s. These problems were similar to those happening elsewhere. Some historians, like Frederic Wakeman, suggest that climate change and China's role in the global economy helped cause the Ming dynasty's fall.
Colder Weather and Its Impact
The General Crisis seems to have happened during a period called the Little Ice Age. This was a time when the Earth's temperatures were colder, especially in the 1600s. Scientists have found that this period also had less sun activity and more volcanic eruptions. These things can make the Earth cooler.
Many people in the Northern Hemisphere died during the mid-1600s. Geoffrey Parker thinks that the colder weather might have been a reason for this.
Fewer People
During this time, the number of people in Europe and China dropped a lot. Historians believe this was due to several factors. Parker suggests that wars, climate change, and people moving around were the main reasons.
- Europe was at war for most of the 1600s. Many countries had very few years of peace. For example, Poland had only 27 years of peace, and France had only 11.
- The population of Germany dropped by 15% to 30% during the Thirty Years' War.
- The colder weather also caused major crop failures in Europe. This meant less food.
- When crops failed, many people moved to cities. But cities couldn't always support so many people. This led to food shortages and other problems.
Major Conflicts and Wars
Many conflicts and wars are seen as examples of the General Crisis:
- The Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) in Europe.
- The English Civil War (1642–1651) in Britain.
- The Fronde (1648–1653) in France.
- Revolts against the Spanish rulers in Portugal, Naples, and Catalonia.
- The collapse of the Ming dynasty in China.
Why Some Historians Disagree
Not all historians agree that a "General Crisis" happened. They argue that the idea doesn't hold up when you look closely.
For example, the Dutch Republic was actually doing very well economically during this time. This period is known as the Dutch Golden Age.
Historian Anthony F. Upton said in 2001 that protests were common in Europe. He argued that these protests were usually about local problems. They didn't try to overthrow the whole government. Even when protests grew in the 1630s and 1640s, they stayed focused on local issues. They didn't join together into bigger movements. Most people didn't challenge the idea of having a king or queen. They just wanted things to go back to how they used to be.
For instance, the Portuguese Restoration War (1640–1668) just wanted to replace one royal family with another. The French princes leading the Fronde were shocked when King Charles I of England was executed in 1649. They didn't want to get rid of kings entirely.
Historian Denis Shemilt pointed out in 2000 that ideas like the "General Crisis" can be easy to teach. They help students make connections between different events. However, he also said it can be hard for students to question these big ideas later. This is because it takes a lot of detailed knowledge to challenge them. So, historians need to be careful when creating such broad ideas. They must make sure the stories they tell are accurate and easy to understand.
See also
In Spanish: Crisis del siglo XVII para niños
- Crisis of the Late Middle Ages – a time of big social changes and population shifts
