Question 1
In his book, Machiavelli explored the concept of whether a prince should be loved or feared . He concluded that since the two cannot exist simultaneously, then it is better for a ruler to be feared and not loved ( Halsall , 1996). He , therefore , recommended that the principal responsi bility of any leader was to control and run the state and thus , a leader needs to command complete obedience from his subjects. He further recommended cruelty for military use. For instance, according to him , the presence of a good military signifies the presence of good laws . In this regard, he cited that “ the presence of sound military forces indicates the presence of sound laws” ( Halsall , 1996). However, he felt that Princes should avoid being hated or despised since the people’s allegiance is a better defence than building a fortress .
Question 2
Christopher Columbus was determined to travel from the W est to the E ast so as to confirm whether the earth was flat. He , therefore , sourced for financing from various avenue s so as to see him through the 10 , 000 nautical miles distance. F irst , he approached King John II of Portugal seek ing funding for his intended voyage, but the king declined his request. S ubsequently , Columbus was rejected in both Venice and Genoa. After several years, his dream came true in 1492 when King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain agreed to s ponsor his voyage. It is believed that by supporting Columbus, the King and Queen hoped to improve their status and gain power in society. Hence, in 1492 , Columbus assembled his three ships; Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria, and set off to the unknown land. With regard to the natural world that he saw, Columbus reported that “I discovered many islands inhabited by numerous people. I took possession of all of them for our most fortunate King by making public proclamation and unfurling his standard, no one making any resistance” ( Halsall , 1996). Regard his encounter with the native people, Columbus cited that “they are destitute of arms, which are entirely unknown to them, and for which they are not adapted; not on account of any bodily deformity, for they are well made, but because they are timid and full of terror” ( Halsall , 1996). He also felt that the native people were “fearful and timid, guileless and honest” ( Halsall , 1996).
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Question 3
During her reign as the Queen of England between 1558 and 1603, Queen Elizabeth presented herself as the glittering symbol of the nation's destiny. She , therefore , periodically used speeches to assert her courage and majest y to unify the nation . This approach helped her to establish her religious position in the speeches of 1559 and 1583. Also, r ather than issuing executive orders and decrees, Elizabeth used speeches t o publicly announce decisions during her reign . Further, i n the speeches , she made stern and harsh policies that were bound to attract rebellion and revolt look simple and harmless. This aided in unifying the people to fight against the Spanish Armada in 1588. Hence, whenever Elizabeth wanted to make a public announcement or a major decision affecting the monarch, she cunningly incorporate d such aspects in her speeches. This is consistent with Machiavelli’s advice to the prince in that while exuding authority in her speeches , the Queen also pursued the people’s love.
Question 4
In the Starry Messenger, one of the discoveries that Galileo made was that t he physical appearance of the moon was exactly like that of the earth ( Drake, 1957 ; Bard College, 1610). It lighted patches in the night sky such as the Milky Way and resolved into stars when viewed with the telescope . He also argued that Jupiter had four moons of its own. In this discovery, Galileo did not adhere to the scientific method nor follow Roger Bacon’s recommendations on experimentation. Bacon emphasized the use of empirical methods in experimentation . Galileo’s observations of the universe differed from those of Columbus in that while the former sought to explore the earth’s form in the context of other components of the universe, the latter aimed at proving that the Earth was round as an independent entity in the universe . Galileo’s findings conflicted with the religious beliefs of the medieval and early modern Europe. Subsequently, he was condemned by the papal inquisition for advancing the theory that the Earth revolves around the Sun.
Question 5
Saint- Simon liked and hated Louis XIV at the same tine . He liked him for his approach to leadership and his policies but seemed to dislike his associates and close friends. For instance, h e describe d his natural talents as being below mediocrity and felt that he benefited himself by keeping a close association with able and witty people. H e also thought that Louis XIV was jus t and kind-hearted. According to Saint- Simon, God had given Louis XIV all that was required to make a good king . However, his faults emanated from the people that surrounded him. Saint- Simon also note s that the king’s mind was occupied with small things rather than the great and that he often found delight in small details. Thus, Louis XIV reigned in a manner inconsistent with the rule of Machiavelli’s prince. To defend Louis XIV’s powers, Bishop Bossuet argued that the government was divine (“ Bishop Jacques,” n.d) . He also argued that God was responsible for giving all Kings their powers. This way he defended the divine-right monarchy.
Question 6
According to John Lock’s ‘state of nature,’ “all men are free to order their actions and dispose of their possessions and persons, as they think fit, within the bounds of the law of nature ” ( Locke, 1954 ). He also argued that the law is governed by reason . Locke held onto the belief that the principal function of any government was to help all its citizens to attain equal natural rights. In this regard, a civil government was obligated to protect and subsequently defend all its citizens. Lock e rejected the notion that some individuals were inherently born to rule over others just because they came from a higher social class. With regard to governance, Locke emphasized that even a monarchy ought to reign only with th e consent of people . Thus, where people showed resistance, the monarch should be changed ( Locke, 1954 ) . This would be a core component of a just government. Locke’s perceived wayward and radical beliefs made him a prime target for most British m onarchs, especially those that emphasized on the need for citizens to stay in their place and keep off from government activities. In this regard, Machiavelli’s Prince , Louis VIX and Bishop Bossuet would not agree with Locke.
Question 7
Jean-Jacques Rousseau describes the state of nature as being a hypothetical and prehistoric time and place where people can live free of the corrupt society. Rousseau is remembered for his words “ m en are born free, yet everywhere are in chains” (“ Jean Jacques Rousseau , n.d) . According to Rousseau, a civil government may take different forms, including monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy . However, regardless of the form taken, the main and only legitimate political authority of any government is the authority consented to by the people who have agreed to such government . This is by entering into a social contract for the sake of their mutual preservation. He argues that a just government should be ruled by the people and the only primary function of such a government would be to implement what has been approved by the citizens. In this regard, a ny government that acts on its own and does not seek the majority opinion and consent serves an illegal purpose and does so against the will of the citizens. Machiavelli’s prince, Louis VIX and Bishop Bossuet would not agree with Rousseau . However, Locke would be in agreement.
Question 8
Captain Cook remains one of the most renowned astronomer s and explorer s in history. He describes his journey from Rio de Janeiro as a ‘ success .’ This is due to the wealth of scientific data it unearthed about plant and animal species, including thousands of plants never seen in England ( Horwitz, 2002) . This was documented in the amazing drawings of Sydney Parkinson and Alexander Buchan, the expedition’s artists, who had both died on the voyage. Cook further acknowledges having recorded all his observations of the life and customs of various indigenous people such as the Polynesians of Tahiti, the Maori of New Zealand, and the Aborigines of Australia ( Horwitz, 2002). Moreover, h e also came back with accurate charts, which were immediately used to improve the mapping of the Pacific Ocean . Cook’s findings differ from both Columbus and Galileo’s accounts and findings in that they were backed by tangible evidence which was critical in enriching the previously help knowledge. These findings are related to the Hereford Mappa Mundi and the 1768 Mercator projection due to the vital role they played in advancing knowledge in later years, particularly due to the evidence they provided. For instance, the Hereford Mappa Mundi is recognized as the largest medieval map that exists to date.
Question 9
Arranging the documents from the oldest to the most recent reveals an organized pat t ern through which history developed. For instance, it is evident from the document s that astronomers depended on previous findings and discoveries initially made by their colleagues to build on their explorative missions. T he documen ts also reveal a coordinated approach to historical development. Although the people mentioned in the different document s c o me from different regions and eras , their activities were vital in advancing historical development in different but very critical ways. Once a discovery was made, it was evaluated and documented to avoid duplicate efforts into an already discovered concept. Thus, the differences in discoveries would suggest the incremental nature of historical development. On the other hand, Machiavelli and Bishop Bossuet would disagree with Galileo’s statement while Locke and Rousseau would agree with it.
References
Bard College (1610). Bard Immediate Decision Plan: Galileo’s The Starry Messenger. Retrieved from https://people.rit.edu/wlrgsh/Galileo.pdf
Bishop Jacques-Benigne Bossuet: The Divine Right of Kings (n.d).
Retrieved from http://www.iupui.edu/~histwhs/H114.dir/H114.webreader/H114.read.a.Bossuet.html
Drake, S. (1957). Discoveries and opinions of Galileo . Garden City, N. Y: Doubleday.
Halsall , P. (1996). Medieval Sourcebook: Christopher Columbus Extracts from Journal. Retrieved from https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/source/columbus1.asp
Halsall , P. (1996). Medieval Sourcebook: Niccolo Machiavelli: The Prince [excerpts], 1513 . Retrieved from http://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/source/prince-excerp.asp
Horwitz, T. (2002). Blue latitudes : Boldly going where Captain Cook has gone before . New York: Henry Holt.
Jean Jacques Rousseau The Social Contract ( 1762 ) (n.d). Retrieved from https://history.hanover.edu/courses/excerpts/165rous-sc.html
Locke, J. (1954). The second treatise of government . New York: Liberal Arts Press.
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