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Period: 600 to 1550
Evolution of the Concepts of Freedom
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630
Benedict and the Order of the Benedictines
The perception of freedom in 7th century Italy was a religious one. Rejecting the stoic Stylitic attempts of achieving enlightenment, the Benedictines also believed in salvation through avoidance of sin, but also through the embracement of good work. Benedict did this through public provision of crops and shelter. It is inferred that an element of subjectivity of freedom was also treasured, as they preserved Greek and Latin manuscripts, even if it challenged church narrative at times. -
670
Muhammad and the Development of Islam
The zeitgeist at the time was finding freedom through religious truth. Islam provided freedom through war in two ways: first, physical war lengthened Islamic soil, hence increasing economic mobility through the empire, and second, ideological freedom was guaranteed, in that those who were admitted to Paradise through war would get an unrestrained amount of physical pleasure. This was first regarded as objective fact, as the burning of Alexandria's library was destruction of contested ideals. -
800
The Rise of Freedom in Monarchy: Charlemagne
Charlemagne illustrated the prominence in monastic liberation: freedom was measured by the economic-political mobility of a nation, while still functioning under a very Christian concept of salvational liberation, as he was Christian and appointed bishops. Through conquering France and German parts, he stressed cohesion through state and deeming himself as the new Roman emperor. Freedom of the state was sustained through military expansion, such as waging war against the Saxons. -
1000
Freedom in Materialism and Economic Production: Serfdom
Proceding the fall of the Holy Roman Empire, the emergence of serfdom led to the emergence of localized states existing purely on the local production of material. This decrease in central political power led to a surge of local economic power. Truth and power were now determined by landowning noblemen, as they withheld money and education from serfs. Freedom, for serfs, was restricted economically, politically, socially, and intellectually due to lack of widespread capitalist exchange. -
1200
Freedom through Capitalist Exchange: Rise of Cities
The crusades was an exchange of culture that ultimately anchored continental trading relations. As cities developed based on trade, they evolved past serfdom. The emergence of the middle class signified that the common man now obtained freedom through a purely capitalistic model, seen in Italian cities and Barbarossa's failure to put them under his rule. However, nobility would also attempt to seize control as the state model was solidified through the Hundred Years War. -
1420
Creation of Humanism and Subjectivity: The Renaissance
In contrast to the feudalism model where the landowner creates a concept of freedom through materialism, the spread of capital exchange meant that no single person could control concepts of truth. Therefore, the Renaissance was prominent in Italian trading states. Along with the revival of Greek and Roman literature due to patronage, freedom was tied to intellectualism, but existed as a subject of debate WITHIN the developed intellectualism (ie is freedom good? Better to be feared or loved?) -
1440
Diffusion of Ideologies; Gutenburg's Printing Press
In the spirit of the Renaissance, Gutenberg's development of the printing press allowed a greater diffusion of ideologies, meaning that middle class was more exposed to alternatives of liberation, from political liberation (Machiavelli, Montaigne) to spiritual liberation (the Bible). This spread of intellectual discourse mirrored the Renaissance concept of humanism, which, however, only could be sustained through capitalism, This would impact the middle class' perception of frredom significantly -
1492
Imperialist Expansion: Poltical-Economic State Unification
The age of exploration was motivated by an attempt to concentrate political power through economic searches of resources. This could be because states no longer wanted city-states to be completely autonomous, or be because of the fear of the rise of other nations (As Spain sent Columbus in fear of France). This surge in exploration caused a strengthening in state power, which would soon be contested by the papists. Freedom, now, was subject to unification through state and religion once more. -
1517
Diversification of Christianity: Luther's Theses
An emerge of state power, as Charles V took the throne, soon was followed by an emergence of religious-political power, as Medici's building of the Church reflected a shift to religiosity, reflected in Italy as in Germany, as churches gather economic-political power through indulgences and land accumilation. Luther's thesis defracted Christianity, making it a much bigger issue as it questioned Catholic truth. New concepts of religious freedom were developed as Catholicism was seen to be corrupt -
1579
Freedom and Persecution in Christianity: Spain and the Low Countries
With state power growing due to exploration, and religious authority growing due to the 95 theses, these two forces dominated the 1500 as King Philip II of Spain emphasized Catholicism as an extension to his political power. The Low Countries burghers, however, contrasted this in that they were locally ruled and protestant. This diversification of rule was a result of a conflicted concept of freedom, and ultimately resulted in a battle, with the Low Countries resulting in victory
