The Second Millenium

[Vince53]

Welcome to 1677.

After being driven out of Sweden, the Danes manage to defeat the Swedish navy and capture several ships. So the Danes get confident and invade Sweden again, and Sweden beats them again.

Calvinists write the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith.

France is having a good year. They beat the Netherlands twice, and the population of Paris reaches half a million.

 

[Vince53]

We return to 1677 to discuss the end of King Philip's War.

Although forgotten by most Americans, the colonial victory in King Philip's War changed the course of world history. As usual, more civilians died than soldiers, and most deaths were from disease, starvation, and cold, rather than from weapons.

Three closely-related events resulted from the warÑ

1) Alarmed at the strength, ability, and organization of the colonists, England began curtailing their rights. When the colonists resisted, the British curtailed them even more (which they had intended to do anyway). A century later, these colonists will successfully revolt.

2) Mistreated by Britain, located on a different continent, having cities of their own, the colonists come to a major realization--they are not Europeans. They aren't united, and they don't live in states, but out of King Philips's War emerge the "Americans."

3) Incredibly, the English fail to learn from the War, but the Americans do.

Correctly using European military tactics, the colonists had held to close formation as they traveled along forest roads. This made it easy for the Indians to ambush them. Meanwhile, the Indians had traveled through the woods while spread out, making ambush nearly impossible.

Europeans used standing armies--well-trained and well-equipped. The Indians used militia--every able-bodied man was taught how to fight. The Americans used both.

Armed with a bow, a brave could reload much faster than a paleface. But once loaded, a musket was far more powerful and accurate than an arrow. Although mostly used against Indians, the Americans realized the value of a well-trained, well-regulated female militia that could rapidly reload single-shot muskets during a battle.

Stressing well-formed military forces, the British continued their successful European method of having their soldiers tightly-bunched together in bright red uniforms. The Indians used hit-and-run tactics. Which is better in the woodlands of America? On a man-per-man basis, the Indians had badly outfought the colonists, losing only because they ran out of manpower. The Americans learned to use cover during a battle and to "melt away" into the woods if their enemy was too strong.

 

[Vince53]

It's not too late for 1688.

England's King James II ends all persecution of Catholics and imprisons the Archbishop of Canterbury for not supporting him. But James' real goal is the restoration of the Catholic Church as the state religion. Five months later, James' Catholic wife has a son (the Heir to the Throne) and the baby is baptized as a Catholic.

The Glorious Revolution. With support from high-ranking nobles, the Netherlands invades England in order to protect Protestantism. France responds by declaring war on the Netherlands, but then invades the Holy Roman Empire (which is mostly Catholic) with a 100,000 man army. This begins the Nine Years War in both Europe and America. Meanwhile, the Dutch capture London. But Edward Lloyd safely opens a coffee shop that becomes a meeting place for merchants, and "Lloyd's of London" is one of the largest financial institutions in the world today.

History’s most famous pilgrim never landed at Plymouth Rock, but John Bunyan enters the Celestial City on August 31. Arguably, his book, “Pilgrim’s Progress,” is the most widely-read book in the English language after the Bible.

Teaching strongly that salvation is only through faith in Christ, Bunyan had another major doctrine—he rejected “easy believism.” If a person is truly born again, that person MUST have a changed life. Bunyan strongly rejected the doctrine that an openly wicked person who had prayed to be saved, with no change in his life, had ever really been saved.

 

[Vince53]

Let's see what happens in 1689.

Alexander VIII begins his 16 month reign as Pope. 79 years old, he was a brilliant lawyer, competent governor, and honest churchman, with a mediocre record as bishop. Strongly supported by France, he dismays their King by condemning all attempts by the French Church to control itself independently of the Papacy. And yet he succeeds, peacefully resolving most of the problems.

But he wrecks the finances of the Catholic Church. He blatantly appoints incompetent relatives to high offices, creates empty offices for friends, and gives generously to the rich (No, that's not a typo). Wanting to help the poor, he lowers their taxes, which makes finances even worse.

In Canada, Iroquois Indians launch a successful attack on a French colony. Allied with the English, the Iroquois and the Canadians were in competition for the profitable fur trade with Europe. The Nine Years War eventually spreads to America, as Various Indians ally with either France or England to raid each other's settlements.



Parliament overthrows King James II and declares William of Orange, ruler of the victorious Netherlands invaders, as King of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Along with his wife, William and Mary will rule brilliantly. Fearing a Catholic take-over, most British support their new Monarchs. William will wage successful war against France, allying himself with Catholics and Protestants as the need arises. Between them, Britain and the Netherlands will rule the Atlantic. He grants freedom of religion to Dissenters and loosens restrictions on Catholics (which Parliament opposed).


Meanwhile, James II, supported by France, will invade Ireland, but the Irish resist him.

 

[Vince53]

It's 1690, and we return to a world embroiled in war.

Wanting revenge for last year’s attack on a French settlement in Canada. About 160 Canadians and 100 Indians allies launch a surprise attack on an English settlement in New York that had nothing to do with the attack. About 60 settlers are killed, and a few dozen are taken away to be adopted by the Indians.


The Massachusetts Puritans respond by invading Canada. They lay siege to Quebec before being driven off.



Parliament forgives the followers of deposed King James II. Meanwhile, England's new King, William of Orange, leaves the government in his wife's competent hands and leads an army against James' invaders in Ireland. But while he's gone, the French Navy defeats a combined English-Dutch navy, allowing a French invasion of England. But William defeats James and hurries back, and the French invaders flee England before William arrives.


The British East India Company founds Calcutta as a trading post. With 4.5 million inhabitants today, it is the third most important economic city in Asia.


Turkey captures Belgrade, Yugoslavia.


And the planet Uranus is discovered.

 

[Vince53]

Let's get ready for 1691.

1691

After five months of debate, the Cardinals elect a compromise candidate, and Innocent XII begins his nine year reign as Pope. Innocent immediately bans nepotism and abolishes the office of Cardinal-Nephew, in which a young nephew of the Pope was given vast authority. He tries to ban the sale of Church offices and cut down on corruption, demanding that Church officials live simpler lives.

He has a hospital built in the Papal palaces, erects various charitable and educational buildings, and finishes constructing the Italian House of Commons building, which is still in use.


Impeachment, nothing. New York hangs their governor for treason. He had seized southern New York, ruling it for two years, before a new governor, backed by a British army, could capture him.


England grants religious freedom to Irish Catholics after defeating forces loyal to deposed King James II. The Irish armies disband, and England immediately breaks the treaty.


Ahmed II begins his unsuccessful four year reign over the Ottoman Empire. His reign is marked by military defeats from the Habsburgs. He has brief success before being defeated in one of the bloodiest battles of the century. He does execute several dozen corrupt officials and reform the tax code.


China conquers Mongolia.

 

[Vince53]

1692 is just about due.

The Salem Witch Trials become an American legend. Twenty people (one of whom was a prostitute) are executed, five more die in prison, and over a hundred are jailed. Years later, the community will do public penance, as they acknowledge that these people were all innocent.

During this same time period, over 500 people were executed for witchcraft in Europe. It is not surprising that the United States (which did not yet exist) had a witch hysteria--it is amazing that we only had one. The Baptists in Rhode Island stop their own witch hunt when judges demand two or at least three eyewitnesses before anyone can be executed.

One of history's most famous examples of mass hysteria, the Salem Witch Hunt helped shape the American doctrines of the right to a fair trial and freedom of religion. It thoroughly discredited the testimony of dreams, visions, hysterical fits, magic, and spirits.


On Halloween Day, 2001, the state of Massachusetts overturned the verdicts.

 

[Vince53]

On another forum, Aleshanee posted a courteous disagreement of my summary of the results of King Philip's War. I remind readers that courteous disagreements are not offensive.

there are a few problems with your dissertation of history here....... actually more than a few..... but i;ll start with the ones i know most about personally.............

for one ...... it was the invention and introduction of the rifle into the americas that enabled english colonists to put the guerilla battle tactics of the indians to use against the british later on in rough terrain......not the musket.......... musketry tactics and rifle tactics are entirely different..... and while they might be more powerful the accuracy of muskets is deplorable when compared to an archer who knows how to use a bow...... that is something i have not only witnessed myself but also proven........... the black powder and sillouette range just happens to be adjacent to the archery range where i live.....i have watched black powder shooters with everything from brown bess muskets... to trap door springfields and ball and cap revolvers plink away at iron targets...... the ones firing rifles are truly impressive....... but the people with muskets are lucky to hit a standard sillouette at 25 yards...... and even luckier if they can hit a man sized target at 50........... with a 50 pound draw long bow and upper body strength most men would be ashamed of to have themselves...... but which works very well for me.....i can put arrows on a man sized target at 100 yards 7 out of 10 times on the average.... and i can unload a quiver of 12 into the target before most of them can reload their black powdered boom stick even once.....

but put much more powerful bow in the hands of a man....or woman built for it.... who trains with it every day and capable of putting heavier arrows into targets even further away.....and musketeers better beware..... ....unless... they are a substantial number of musketeers.... well disciplined and lined up in the classic 18th century battle formations .... 3 or more lines ... and under astute command ....alternately firing falling back to reload while the next line advances to fire then stepping forward to and fire again.... and putting volley after volley of heavy lead balls downrange all in the same direction ........ skirmishers with long range rifles could indeed stand off under cover and out of range and pick such formations apart..... as long there was no cavalry to run them down.....this is why they chose rough terrain to bring this kind of battle to their enemy....... terrain often dictates tactics when it comes to warfare........ and some weapons are more suited to one type of terrain that others.........men with muskets hiding in rough terrain trying to pick off individual targets on their own would be swept clear and destroyed as soon as the column of musket bearing infantry turned their attention to them and began firing volleys in their direction...... unless the terrain was such that it forced the invading army to break ranks and separate.... as was often the case in the american wilderness.....

but with a rifle.... such men hiding in the bush could pick out individual targets of high value... such as the enemy officers.... thus destroying the enemies command....... and that is not only what the american colonists did with regularity but is also one of the tactics that is credited with enabling them to win the battles in the early days of it........... once command of a column of infantry firing muskets was removed discipline fell apart and their fire became disorganized and poorly directed......making it possible for militia to come at them effectively from all sides....... which is exactly what the colonist did whenever possible........... but i think if you study it further you will find that later on in the american revolution once the continental army was established washington and his infantry went back at the british with the same proven european battle field tactics the british had originally brought to the americas..... and used the determination of men defending their own homes to win the day against european conscripts who by that time had decided they would rather be some place else.......rifles were still relatively rare and hard to come by at that time in history..... skirmishers with rifles were used by both sides in major battles.... and with deadly effect on winding roads and where there was close cover..... but on the open battle field muskets and musketry tactics still ruled the day.........

but whether the english learned much from kings phillips war or not......... if you check history you will find americans that marched on the battle field later didn;t learn all that much either......at least not at first........ and when they did learn the lesson was very costly......... the american civil war was fought for the most part using the same old european battle tactics designed for muskets....... except by the year 1860 most all of the combatants on both sides were armed with rifles ....... and the death toll on both sides was appalling......

throughout history battle tactics have changed when weapons have changed...... but depending on the terrain... nature and capabilities of an enemy sometimes those old tactics have to be revisited.....no single tactic works under all conditions or in every situation...... that is the lesson armies and their commanders have had to learn and relearn through out history..... and unfortunately the lesson usually comes through tragic experience rather than study......

 

[Vince53]

It's 1693, and it's here for free.

In the most powerful earthquake in Italian history, Mount Etna erupts on the island of Sicily. It destroys about 70 towns and cities, kills about 60,000 people, and sends tidal waves throughout the Mediterranean Sea.

England's rulers, William and Mary, found the College of William and Mary in Virginia. It is America's second-oldest college and has provided an education to several prominent American leaders.

France is having a great year. They capture territory in the Holy Roman Empire, defeat a Dutch-English navy, and defeat a Dutch-English army led personally by William of Orange.

A church split in Switzerland produces the Amish religion. Known for their rejection of modern technology (They drive horse-drawn buggies). There are about 241,000 of these peaceful baptists today, concentrated in the northeast United States.

 

[Vince53]

Welcome to 1694.

The HMS Sussex was an eighty-gun British ship that only had two decks, causing it to be unstable. It was carrying ten tons of gold coins when it was caught in a storm off Gibraltar. The Sussex sank, along with 12 of the ships it was escorting, in one of the worst disasters in the history of the Royal Navy.

The Bank of England, the eighth oldest bank in the world, is established.

England's Queen Mary dies, leaving her husband, William of Orange, as the sole ruler.

 

[Vince53]

Things will get better for England in 1695--maybe.

England allows freedom of the press and also states that a soldier is required to disobey an illegal order.

In Virginia,k William and Mary College begins their five-year construction of the Wren Building, the oldest continually-used college building in the United States.

In India, the Mughal Empire had a 62-gun merchant ship named "The Exceeding Treasure," with about 450 musket-armed guards onboard. A fleet of English priates captures the ship, stealing 500,000 gold and silver pieces, along with other treasure.

Holland begins floating low-interest loans to foreign governments, a profitable venture that they continue to this day.

Flush with their massive victories over Poland, Russia declares war on the Ottoman Empire.

 

[Vince53]

It's 1696!

A two year famine kills 1/3 of Finland.


Peter the Great becomes sole ruler of Russia for the next 29 years. He will expand Russia's borders and bring in European technology that will revolutionize his sprawling, backwards nation. Brutally suppressing all dissent, he has to put down some rebellions and he loses some wars. But he eventually builds a navy so powerful that he is able to seize valuable ports from both Sweden and Turkey.


Connecticut builds "The Farm Highway," which is still in use.


Portugal executes some Jews who had pretended to convert to Catholicism while secretly practicing Judaism.

 

[Vince53]

1697 has now arrived at the boarding gate!

China conquers Tibet and resettles large portions of the population.


A French author publishes a collection of folk tales, fairy tales, etc., entitled "Mother Goose Tales."


The last independent Indian kingdom in Mexico falls to Spanish conquerors.


The fifteen year old "Swedish Meteor" begins his 21 year reign over Sweden. Overwhelmed by enemies (a lot of people had legitimate grievances against Sweden), this brilliant military leader loses more wars than he wins, simply because he is constantly outnumbered by nations allied against him. During his reign, the Swedish Empire ended, and the Russian Empire expanded.


Augustus the Strong begins his 36 year reign over Poland. A muscular man who gained the throne through diplomacy, he started off by defeating the Turks and then losing almost every war afterwards. Even Sweden defeated him. By the time he was done, Poland was practically under Russian control.

 

[Vince53]

Folks, we've been having trouble connecting with the internet here in Mexico, and I apologize. I intend to continue posting a new article every day.

1698!

Wanting to force Russia to modernize, Peter the Great imposes a tax on beards.

England hires Captain Kidd as a privateer against France. A privateer is a legal pirate, licensed to seize enemy shipping and keep the price for selling it. After three years, Britain hangs him for piracy and murder.

Oman, (which still exists as a nation on the southeast coast of the Arabian peninsula) captures a large section of southeast Africa.

Thomas Savery, an English inventor, patents the first successful steam engine (He didn't invent the steam engine). It powered a water pump, used successfully in draining mines and tunnels.

 

[Vince53]

Things are fine in 1699! I hope.

The Great Turkish War ends in a massive defeat for Turkey. The Ottoman Empire is forced to return large parts of central Europe.


The "Shooters" were elite Russian soldiers who protected Moscow as well as serving in other areas. They rebel in Moscow, and about 350 of them are tortured to death.


Lubeck, Germany, expels all Jews.


In a secret meeting, Russia, Poland, Denmark, and Saxony agree to divide Sweden among themselves. Next year, they will begin The Great Northern War. After 21 years, a defeated Sweden will lose its empire but will still exist as a nation. Russia will replace Sweden as the dominant power in northeastern Europe.

 

[Vince53]

Welcome to the Eighteenth Century.

One of the dominating events of the eighteenth century will be the steady decline of Turkey, Russia, and the American Indians. All three will decline for the same reason—the failure to grasp new technology. Turkey will develop an increased kinship with Europe that lasts to this day.


The French Revolution will galvanize the “Enlightenment,” but fearing its excesses, most European governments will unite against it.
Poland will disappear, as the once mighty empire that had defeated both Russia and Turkey will be divided among its neighbors.


The United States will alter the course of governments with its proclamation that governmenr exists only for the benefit of the people, and that government has no right to rule without its people’s consent.


Despite losing its Thirteen Colonies, Britain will steadily rise as the world’s greatest empire, conquering large parts of India and expanding its control of Canada.


There are about 950 million people in the world, about 1/8 of what it is today.


The second half of the century will be marked by a population explosion that will nearly double the world population. An agricultural revolution, especially the introduction of the American potato to Europe, along with improved vaccines to cut the mortality rate, are the main reasons. Stronger governments decrease the number of civil wars. And stronger governments enforce better sewage and garbage regulation, decreasing the spread of epidemics.

 

[Vince53]

Merry Christmas to all my Amigos!

Clement XI begins his twenty year reign as Pope. A brilliant statesman and peacemaker, he was quickly ordained a priest, said one Mass, was promoted to cardinal, and then made Pope, all within a few hours.


The Jesuits in China wanted to allow Chinese Catholics to continue honoring their ancestors, while the Dominicans and Franciscans wanted to ban the practice. Clement forbade the practice, but it was overturned in 1939.


The last Albanian Pope, Clement supported archaeology, and he saved many of Rome’s ancient sites, including the catacombs. An honest man, he only appointed one family member to high office, and only because the man really was competent. He also added many eastern Christian manuscripts to the Vatican library.


Despite his diplomatic skills, he was unable to bring Catholic Europe to peace with itself, and European wars (for which he was not to blame) dominated his Papacy.

Hundreds of impoverished European Jews arrive in Jerusalem. The small local community can’t support them, the Turks mistreat them, and they finally scatter throughout Israel. But they do survive.


Canada's west coast is hit by one of the greatest earthquakes in history, destroying Indian villages and sending a tidal wave to Japan.


Having antagonized everybody, Sweden finds no allies as The Great Northern War begins. Yet an English-Dutch fleet backs the Swedes as they quickly invade Denmark. Quickly defeating everyone else, Sweden will lose its empire and Russia will begin a massive decline as the two bleed each other for the next two decades.


The first written record of a piano is recorded.

 

[Vince53]

Welcome to 1701!

While remaining part of the Holy Roman Empire, three German states unite to form Prussia, with Berlin as its capital.

Dartsedo was a small but important town on the trade route between China and Tibet. Tibet had seized the town, and not wanting to interrupt profitable trade, the Chinese had tolerated Tibet's rule. But this year a Chinese force captures the town and slaughters most of the Tibetan men inside.

Seven European nations unite against Spain and France, as the two nations have begun uniting through royal marriages.

England hangs Captain Kidd and bans Catholics from inheriting the Throne. When their Catholic King dies, his supporters insist that his son, "The Old Pretender," is King. And an English scientist invents a drill for planting seeds in rows.

Upset at all the alliances against them, Sweden invades Poland.

 

[Vince53]

1702 is a great year for England.

William of Orange dies, leaving England to his sister-in-law, Queen Ann. Ann is the wife of the King of Norway and Denmark, but she dies without an heir. And the Netherlands returns to being a republic. Thus, the union of these nations falls apart.

But England wins some decisive victories against France and Spain. And in Georgia, Spain and its Indians allies are defeated by England and its Indian allies. And although they can't hold onto it, the English plunder St. Augustine, in Spanish Florida. They establish Delaware as an American colony and even begin printing England's first daily newspaper. So England has a very good year.

Having invaded Poland last year, Sweden captures Warsaw.

 

[Vince53]

It's 1703!

Two years after their master had been forced to commit suicide for striking a Court official who had insulted him, 46 samurai kill the Court official. The 46 samurai had been disgraced with the title “ronin” (leaderless) and had spent two years as civilians while preparing revenge. Their leader had pretended to become a drunk, and on one occasion, a nobleman had kicked and spat on him.

After taking revenge, they had peacefully surrendered and were ordered to commit suicide. Quickly honored as some of Japan’s greatest heroes, they were buried together in a monastery. As admiring crowds viewed their burial site, the nobleman who had kicked their leader stepped from the crowd, knelt on the grave of the man he had insulted, and killed himself. Sympathetic monks buried him with the 46 ronin, and to this day they are revered as heroes and good examples by the Japanese.


Italy is struck by two major earthquakes.


French soldiers in Alabama celebrate Mardi Gras, and the tradition continues in America.


Iceland does the world's first complete census, even counting the livestock. There are 50,358 Icelanders. 58% of the women never marries, as cohabitation was common, and the fear of famine prevented many men from wanting to marry.


A major hurricane kills 8,000 people in southern England, most of them at sea.