Within this episode, I try to summarize the topics that begin Unit 3: Absolutism and Constitutionalism to help teachers, students, and history enthusiasts grasp the general topics to help contextualize.

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Within this episode, I discuss how I begin Unit 3: Absolutism and Constitutionalism with a two-day activity involving a Socratic Seminar, analysis of secondary sources, and analysis of three primary visual sources about Absolutism. This episode is focused on a particular teaching strategy I use. I hope this episode will be useful for any listener who is hoping to use this in their classroom.

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Within this episode, I explain why I have been away from podcasting for the past three weeks. Secondly, I breakdown how the first nine weeks has gone while being a new parent and moving homes. Lastly, I wanted to end the episode by focusing on the future and what type of episodes are on the horizon.

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Within this episode, we will explore the concluding phases of the Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Counter-Reformation. We’ll delve into the Wars of Religion, including the Dutch Revolts, the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, and the War of the Three Henrys, and examine the Thirty Years' War from its beginning, middle, to end. Finally, we’ll discuss the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, its significance, and its impact on the future balance of power in Europe.

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Quote of the Week:

“Peace is not made at the council tables or by treaties, but in the hearts of men.”

- Cardinal Richelieu, was the chief minister to King Louis XIII of France from 1624 to 1642. His goal was to consolidate state power in France in order to establish an absolute monarchy.

Document/Source of the Week:

"And this peace and amity shall be observed and cultivated with such a sincerity and zeal on both sides, that each party shall endeavor to procure the benefit, honor, and advantage of the other..."

The Peace of Westphalia, 1648.

Within this episode, I describe the turbulent middle years of the Protestant Reformation, focusing on key events like the end of the Diet of Worms, Martin Luther’s excommunication, Henry VIII’s reaction to Luther, his subsequent divorce request from the Pope, his separation from the Catholic Church, the establishment of the Anglican Church, the publication of Thomas More’s Utopia, his subsequent execution, the beginning of the Catholic Counter-Reformation, and the Wars of Religion (Episode 9). We explore how these moments reshaped religious, political, and social structures in Europe.

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Quote of the Week:

“We must remember that Satan has his miracles, too.”

- John Calvin, French Protestant Theologian.

Document/Source of the Week:

"Albeit the King's Majesty justly and rightfully is and ought to be the supreme head of the Church of England."

Henry VIII, King of England, The Act of Supremacy, 1534.

Within this episode, we discussed Jacob Newsom's background, his experience as an educator, his advice for AP teachers, and his teaching philosophy. This was another meaningful conversation that I hope many of you find value in investing your time on this episode. Thank you for your support.

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Within this episode, I discuss the onset of the Protestant Reformation with Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, and John Calvin along with the responses of Pope Leo X. Additionally, I discuss the meaning of indulgences and the overall importance/influence of the Reformation in the short term and long term. I hope that you find value in this introductory overview of the beginning of the Reformation.

Socratic Seminar Debate Questions for Day 1:

What is a "reformation," and why might a group of people feel the need to reform their religious practices or beliefs?

Why might a person choose to challenge a powerful institution, such as the Catholic Church, even at great personal risk?

Can individuals interpret religious texts for themselves, or should interpretation be left to religious authorities? Why?

What role does questioning authority play in societal change?

How do religious beliefs and practices shape the culture and identity of a community?

What might be the consequences, both positive and negative, of breaking away from a long-standing religious tradition?

How do political, economic, and social factors influence religious movements?

Is it ever justified to oppose a religious leader or institution publicly? If so, under what circumstances?

Quote of the Week:

“Here I stand; I can do no other. God help me. Amen.”

Martin Luther, at the Diet of Worms 1521.

Document/Source of the Week:

20. Thus those indulgence preachers are in error who say that a man is absolved from every penalty and saved by papal indulgences.

27. They preach only human doctrines who say that as soon as the money clinks into the money chest, the soul flies out of purgatory.

32. Those who believe that they can be certain of their salvation because they have indulgence letters will be eternally damned, together with their teachers.

45. Christians are to be taught that he who sees a needy man and passes him by, yet gives his money for indulgences, does not buy papal indulgences but God's wrath.

Martin Luther, Ninety-Five Theses, 1517.

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Within this episode, we specifically cover the topics on our study guide for class. I am doing this because I previously missed six days of our Unit 1, so I wanted to provide an opportunity to get the information needed for the test and still be able to do our Socratic Seminar tomorrow.

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Within this episode, I discuss the majority of major topics in the Age of Exploration as well as how they are connected and influence the Commercial Revolution in Europe. This episode concludes my series on covering the Renaissance and Exploration from a broad perspective.

Quote of the Week:

…it was upon these gentle lambs imbued by their Creator with all of the qualities we have mentioned, that from the very first day they clapped their eyes on them the Spanish fell like ravening wolves upon the fold or like tigers and savage lions who haven't eaten for days…

Barthelmeu de las Casas, Spanish Friar and critic of Colonization, Origin of the Black Legend, discussed Spanish treatment of the natives, 16th Century.

Document/Source of the Week:

“...The first object which saluted my eyes when I arrived on the coast was the sea, and a slave ship, which was...waiting for its cargo. These filled me with astonishment, which was soon converted into terror when I was carried on board. I was immediately handled and tossed up. When I looked round the ship too and saw a large furnace of copper boiling, and a multitude ...of black people of every description chained together, every one of their countenances expressing dejection and sorrow, I no longer doubted of my fate; and quite overpowered with horror and anguish, I fell motionless to the deck and fainted…”

“It was not long suffered to indulge my grief; I was soon put down under the decks, and there I received such a salutation in my nostrils as I had never experienced in my life: so that with the loathsomeness of the stench, and crying together, I became so sick and low that I was not able to eat, nor had I the least desire to taste anything. I now wished for the last friend, death, to relieve me; but soon, to my grief, two of the white men offered me eatables; and on my refusing to eat, one of them held me fast by the hands...and tied my feet, while the other flogged me severely…”
Olaudah Equiano, Former African Slave, The Voyage (From “The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano,” describes the young Equiano's entry into a slave ship on the coast of Africa, 1787.

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Within this episode, I focused on connecting the Renaissance to the onset of European Exploration and the beginning/effects of the Reformation in conjunction with exploration and colonization.

Quote of the Week:

“To give light to those who are in darkness and to grow rich, as all men desire to do.” 

– Prince Henry the Navigator, Portuguese Explorer and founder of the School for Navigation.

Document/Source of the Week:

“...all lands, both islands and mainland, found and to be found, discovered and to be discovered...on the western side of the meridian drawn at three hundred and seventy leagues...shall belong to the Kingdom of Castile and Leon [Spain]...and all others on the eastern side shall belong to the King of Portugal.”

Treaty of Tordesillas (1494)

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