The 17th Century England

The 17th century is a time of significant political events and social upheavals which are marked by the Civil War. After Queen Elizabeth I died, James I has become the King of England in the early 17th century. He translated the Bible as the King James Version which has published in 1611.

After his death, Charles I who believes in the divine right of the kings ascended the throne. King Charles I has not agreed with parliament to pay taxes, and tensions have arisen between the king and parliament. The Civil War has broken out in 1642. England has separated as Parliamentarians and Royalists. In 1645, Oliver Cromwell created the New Model Army to raise the power of Parliamentarians. Charles, I made agreements and negotiations with other armies against the parliamentarians in 1647. After parliament has decided on his trial, Charles I has been executed for high treason in 1649. 

The 17th century which is also called the Scientific Revolution is an age of developments and expansion of science. Francis Bacon offers that experiment, methodical observation, and great reasoning are the main keys to interpreting natural phenomena and the world. Bacon’s new scientific method spreads to Europe by the late 17th century. Robert Boyle who is known as the first modern chemist invents the 17th-century modern chemistry law which is known as Boyle’s law. Isaac Newton who is known as the inventor of calculus formulates the theories of universal gravity and the law of motion and publishes Principia Mathematica in 1682. Galileo Galilei who is a great scientist of the 17th century Scientific Revolution invents the telescope in 1608 and develops the microscope with more lenses.  

In the 17th century, the life and status of the society improve and get better than in the 16th century. England becomes more affluent thanks to the tobacco, coffee, tea, iron, and coal trade which are essential parts of 17th-century England. Additionally, there are class distinctions that affect people in every part of life like in social life and education. Class distinctions have three types in the 17th century: upper class, middle class, and lower class. Every type of social class has a different life from others. 

During the 17th century, English literature is reshaped, and important writers and poets come up. The English prose represents the science, religion, social life, and politics of the time. The masterpiece of prose of the century is “The Pilgrim’s Progress” written by John Bunyan in 1678. John Milton who is the owner of the masterpiece “Paradise Lost” written in 1667 is the great poet of the first half of the 17th century. John Dryden is the great poet of the second half of the 17th century, and he shows his superiority in satire with “Absalom and Achitophel” written in 1681. What’s more, there are two main types of poetry of the 17th century: Cavalier poetry and Metaphysical poetry. Cavalier poetry is a literary movement created by poets who are supporters of Charles I. The main basic features of Cavalier's poetry are to use of “Carpe Diem”, which means seize the day, imagery, and figurative language. The main themes of Cavalier's poetry are love, social life, nature, and war. Cavalier poets are Robert Herrick, Thomas Carew, Sir John Suckling, Richard Lovelace, and Edmund Waller. Metaphysical poetry is a literary movement created by Samuel Johnson. The main features of metaphysical poetry are to use conceit, metaphors, irony, paradox, wit, close meaning, complex sentences, allusion, and strange imagery. Metaphysical poetry focuses on religion, love, faith, and spirituality. 

The 17th century experienced wars, throne changes, the execution of Charles I, the Civil War, religious differences, and political changes. All these events and changes make the 17th century become an age of development, exploration, science, and individualism.