The Baroque Era
The Baroque period, 1600-1750, describes the style or period of European music at that time. The term Baroque was derived from a Portuguese word meaning "a pearl of irregular shape." The word Baroque was initially used to imply strangeness, abnormality and extravagance, applying more to art than music. It is only in the 20th century that this term has been employed to refer to a period in music history. In this paper I will discuss different historical events and important issues that played a big role during the Baroque era.
The Bodleian Library, which is located at Oxford University, became the first public library in Europe in 1602. It is currently the second largest library in England, and it is entitled to receive one free copy of every book published in England. The creation of the Bodleian Library marked the point in history when learning began to become available to a larger segment of society instead of just the aristocracy. The English first settled the city of Jamestown, Virginia in 1607. Jamestown was the first colony in America. It is also the sight of the House of Burgess, which was a model for other legislatures throughout the colonies. If the English had not started the colonization when and where they did, we might not be speaking the same language as we do today. A group of English settlers established the colony Jamestown along the Jamestown River in Virginia. This is known as the first English settlement in the New World. However, it is also known as the last colony due to its mysterious disappearance. It is thought that the winter was too harsh for the unprepared settlers and in an attempt to find a better climate, they met their deaths.
Most historians think the first telescope was made in 1608 by a Dutch optitrcian named Hans Lippershey. Before this time, even as far back as the 1200’s, scientists experimented with magnifying lenses. Lippershey was refused a patent for his instrument. After hearing of Lippershey’s invention, Galileo, the Italian astronomer, in 1609 built his first telescope. His most powerful instrument magnified objects on thirty-three times. In 1619 the southern colonies divided their land into several plantations. Slaves were needed to work the land and for the first time in history Africans arrived in Virginia and began to work on the plantations.
The Mayflower was a small but sturdy ship. In early Septeraber 1620 it brought thirty-five pilgrims to the New World and landed at Plymouth. These Pilgrims wanted to start a new life where they were not persecuted for their religion and beliefs. They settled the Plymouth settlement. It was the first colony set up by people who wanted religious freedom. The well accepted theories of Aristotle and Paracelsus were supplanted in 1661 when Irish-born scientist Robert Boyle published a landmark work called “The Skeptical Chymist.” Boyle rejected both the classical elements of earth, air, fire, and water, and the medieval elements of salt, sulfur and mercury. In place of these theories Boyle accepted a mechanical philosophy that is the basis of our modern understanding of chemistry. From this time, chemistry began to unit into a scientific discipline, leaving behind its roots in alchemy.
In 1670 an English doctor named Thomas Willis rediscovered the connections between sugar in urine and diabetes. This original idea was lost many years ago. Dr. Willis was born in 1612. He helped the medical field recognize the connections in the sugar to help people. In 1681 the Dodo Bird became extinct. The Dodo bird inhabited the Mascarene IslanRAB in the Indian Ocean. They were flightless and slow birRAB because they did not have any predators. The Mascarene IslanRAB became a Dutch colony and it has been theorized that the colonists killed them off because of dogs, rats, and hunting.
The steam engine was invented in 1690. It could be used in a train or a boat. The steam engine allowed for boats to move against the current. On March 1, 1692, hearings began for the Salem Witch Trials in Salem, Massachusetts. By the middle of May a hundred people were awaiting trial. The royal governor had appointed a special seven-meraber court. The defendants, chained, had no counsel. By Septeraber 22, twenty-seven people had been tried and convicted. Nineteen had been hanged, and one was pressed to death by stones. Fifty people had confessed, and a hundred were awaiting trial in prison. Two hundred other people had been touched by accusations. Cotton Mather delivered a sermon against mass convictions, resulting in the rescue of the hundred people that were awaiting trial.
In 1706 Benjamin Franklin was born. Franklin invented bifocal glasses, the Franklin stove, and helped to shape the American Revolution. In 1750, Johann Sebastian Bach died. His fame rested heavily on his playing and improvisation. Historically, his death concluded the Baroque era.
The Baroque period, 1600-1750, describes the style or period of European music at that time. The term Baroque was derived from a Portuguese word meaning "a pearl of irregular shape." The word Baroque was initially used to imply strangeness, abnormality and extravagance, applying more to art than music. It is only in the 20th century that this term has been employed to refer to a period in music history. In this paper I will discuss different historical events and important issues that played a big role during the Baroque era.
The Bodleian Library, which is located at Oxford University, became the first public library in Europe in 1602. It is currently the second largest library in England, and it is entitled to receive one free copy of every book published in England. The creation of the Bodleian Library marked the point in history when learning began to become available to a larger segment of society instead of just the aristocracy. The English first settled the city of Jamestown, Virginia in 1607. Jamestown was the first colony in America. It is also the sight of the House of Burgess, which was a model for other legislatures throughout the colonies. If the English had not started the colonization when and where they did, we might not be speaking the same language as we do today. A group of English settlers established the colony Jamestown along the Jamestown River in Virginia. This is known as the first English settlement in the New World. However, it is also known as the last colony due to its mysterious disappearance. It is thought that the winter was too harsh for the unprepared settlers and in an attempt to find a better climate, they met their deaths.
Most historians think the first telescope was made in 1608 by a Dutch optitrcian named Hans Lippershey. Before this time, even as far back as the 1200’s, scientists experimented with magnifying lenses. Lippershey was refused a patent for his instrument. After hearing of Lippershey’s invention, Galileo, the Italian astronomer, in 1609 built his first telescope. His most powerful instrument magnified objects on thirty-three times. In 1619 the southern colonies divided their land into several plantations. Slaves were needed to work the land and for the first time in history Africans arrived in Virginia and began to work on the plantations.
The Mayflower was a small but sturdy ship. In early Septeraber 1620 it brought thirty-five pilgrims to the New World and landed at Plymouth. These Pilgrims wanted to start a new life where they were not persecuted for their religion and beliefs. They settled the Plymouth settlement. It was the first colony set up by people who wanted religious freedom. The well accepted theories of Aristotle and Paracelsus were supplanted in 1661 when Irish-born scientist Robert Boyle published a landmark work called “The Skeptical Chymist.” Boyle rejected both the classical elements of earth, air, fire, and water, and the medieval elements of salt, sulfur and mercury. In place of these theories Boyle accepted a mechanical philosophy that is the basis of our modern understanding of chemistry. From this time, chemistry began to unit into a scientific discipline, leaving behind its roots in alchemy.
In 1670 an English doctor named Thomas Willis rediscovered the connections between sugar in urine and diabetes. This original idea was lost many years ago. Dr. Willis was born in 1612. He helped the medical field recognize the connections in the sugar to help people. In 1681 the Dodo Bird became extinct. The Dodo bird inhabited the Mascarene IslanRAB in the Indian Ocean. They were flightless and slow birRAB because they did not have any predators. The Mascarene IslanRAB became a Dutch colony and it has been theorized that the colonists killed them off because of dogs, rats, and hunting.
The steam engine was invented in 1690. It could be used in a train or a boat. The steam engine allowed for boats to move against the current. On March 1, 1692, hearings began for the Salem Witch Trials in Salem, Massachusetts. By the middle of May a hundred people were awaiting trial. The royal governor had appointed a special seven-meraber court. The defendants, chained, had no counsel. By Septeraber 22, twenty-seven people had been tried and convicted. Nineteen had been hanged, and one was pressed to death by stones. Fifty people had confessed, and a hundred were awaiting trial in prison. Two hundred other people had been touched by accusations. Cotton Mather delivered a sermon against mass convictions, resulting in the rescue of the hundred people that were awaiting trial.
In 1706 Benjamin Franklin was born. Franklin invented bifocal glasses, the Franklin stove, and helped to shape the American Revolution. In 1750, Johann Sebastian Bach died. His fame rested heavily on his playing and improvisation. Historically, his death concluded the Baroque era.