Sunday, May 02, 2004
Undaunted Courage-A review
By
Eli the lesser
After an in-depth reading of “UNDAUNTED COURAGE,” A book authored by Stephen E. Ambrose, one will truly find what seems to be an adventure of peril and extreme courage as lived through the lives of Meriwether Lewis alongside his most worthy and valued friend, William Clark. One will also find that Thomas Jefferson had more in mind than just expansion of the country as well. A thorough study will allow the reader to understand what led up to the commission of this expedition and to what lengths the explorers themselves would go in order to see its successful culmination. This review will in short note, explain in part, why Ambrose wrote the book, what he was trying to say, how well he said it, and show how valuable this work is to any American history class.
Why did Ambrose write the book? According to the author himself, While visiting his Aunt, he came across a copy of Lewis & Clark’s Journal, which she gave to him. After reading the journal, Ambrose and his wife chose to retrace the path that Lewis & Clark made up the Missouri river with his family and some of his students. It proved to be a trek that was of much pleasure and wound up making it many more times. On his next trip he chose to take scholars along in an effort to hear their thoughts and questions. After this trip he had the basis and reason for writing a book. With all his knowledge and wonder about this particular expedition, the book was a natural.
What was Ambrose Trying to say? This question has many answers to it. One thing he was trying to do was raise the level of correct knowledge about the expedition from the questions fielded by his family, students and scholarly associates.
Another thing he did quite well was to clear up some misperceptions concerning Native Americans and their relationship to Lewis & Clark in particular and Indians in general. Society had and still does to a degree, hold on of two views of the Native American. One view is that they were this mystical, all knowing earth dweller in complete unison and tranquility with nature, and in this, had a higher wisdom than most cultured cultures. The other view would be one of a dirty and beastly nature. What Ambrose did so well, was to show a very reasonable and believable view of the society they were. His understanding and knowledge of the journal, comes through very well in this area.
Sacajawea in particular, is represented as being a person of great value and to some degree a hero to for saving the lives of those in the group, as well as, rescuing the journal itself from being lost in a river. A young lady of 15, with a child in tow, her courage and integrity is shown very well in this writing. Ambrose also shows that the natives were neither mystic, nor beastly. Their culture could easily be translated to any other culture in their state of development and locale. They were shown to be nothing more than people. In all their goodness, wisdom, badness and shortcomings, they were totally human. Nothing more, and nothing less.
Ambrose also goes into some depth concerning both Jefferson and Lewis, and how the expedition was of necessity to them both. He follows Jefferson through his political career and discusses in some depth how he felt about Louisiana and the rest of the West. One thing that comes out very well is Jefferson’s intent to not only expand, but to have set the ground for his nation to span from coast to coast. It was also of importance to find a water route to the west coast. Along with this, he pulls in the scientific community and made this quest one of dual purposes. The explorers were to not only find a route northwest, but also, document all they found in way of flora and fauna. The outcome was one of 168 new species of plants, and 128 new birds, fishes, and animals. Jefferson’s wisdom came through in being able to increase his audience of support through having so much to offer in return.
Ambrose also details Clark much as he did Jefferson. His writing follows him from childhood, the military, Jefferson’s personal secretary, and finally expeditionary scientist. As Jefferson had intent of sending a large military force on this trek, Lewis’s wisdom of sending a smaller troop that would make less impact and be received with less threat by the natives would be the realization of the expedition. Also pointed out is the fact that Lewis in his own right was a scientist of impact and well versed in most studies of science of the day. The author also illustrates the Lewis to be a man of great courage when under fire. He tells of how easily and level headed Lewis would deal with life threatening situations that would most likely throw anyone else into a fit of panic. Ambrose, though he could have left the work to deal only within the timeline of the expedition, goes on the detail the years closely following the end of the expedition up to Lewis’s suicide, and the results of his life and journey.
How well did Ambrose communicate his intent? This question will easily be answered by any person who takes the time to invest in reading it. This book is not one that will be a quick read for anyone as it is written in a style that forces one to stop and reflect upon almost every passage they read. In fact, it would be better said if one approached this work in anticipation of going on a quest. One will find themselves quite often imagining themselves as one of any particular character of point during the read. In short, this book is very engaging and will cause growth in anyone who endeavors to read it.
What value does this book hold for any American History class? As should be understood by this point, “Undaunted Courage” is a work that is of great value to any American Classroom. It could almost serve as an almanac of the expedition. The translation of the original journal and applied study comes through very well and is likewise a very inviting read. This book also could serve as a valuable resource when researching the subject presented. If for nothing else, the book’s extensive notes, bibliography, and easily understood index are of much value to any researcher of the period. The work of Ambrose could easily be called one of the best reads and resources for any instructor, student, or classroom.
Eli the lesser
After an in-depth reading of “UNDAUNTED COURAGE,” A book authored by Stephen E. Ambrose, one will truly find what seems to be an adventure of peril and extreme courage as lived through the lives of Meriwether Lewis alongside his most worthy and valued friend, William Clark. One will also find that Thomas Jefferson had more in mind than just expansion of the country as well. A thorough study will allow the reader to understand what led up to the commission of this expedition and to what lengths the explorers themselves would go in order to see its successful culmination. This review will in short note, explain in part, why Ambrose wrote the book, what he was trying to say, how well he said it, and show how valuable this work is to any American history class.
Why did Ambrose write the book? According to the author himself, While visiting his Aunt, he came across a copy of Lewis & Clark’s Journal, which she gave to him. After reading the journal, Ambrose and his wife chose to retrace the path that Lewis & Clark made up the Missouri river with his family and some of his students. It proved to be a trek that was of much pleasure and wound up making it many more times. On his next trip he chose to take scholars along in an effort to hear their thoughts and questions. After this trip he had the basis and reason for writing a book. With all his knowledge and wonder about this particular expedition, the book was a natural.
What was Ambrose Trying to say? This question has many answers to it. One thing he was trying to do was raise the level of correct knowledge about the expedition from the questions fielded by his family, students and scholarly associates.
Another thing he did quite well was to clear up some misperceptions concerning Native Americans and their relationship to Lewis & Clark in particular and Indians in general. Society had and still does to a degree, hold on of two views of the Native American. One view is that they were this mystical, all knowing earth dweller in complete unison and tranquility with nature, and in this, had a higher wisdom than most cultured cultures. The other view would be one of a dirty and beastly nature. What Ambrose did so well, was to show a very reasonable and believable view of the society they were. His understanding and knowledge of the journal, comes through very well in this area.
Sacajawea in particular, is represented as being a person of great value and to some degree a hero to for saving the lives of those in the group, as well as, rescuing the journal itself from being lost in a river. A young lady of 15, with a child in tow, her courage and integrity is shown very well in this writing. Ambrose also shows that the natives were neither mystic, nor beastly. Their culture could easily be translated to any other culture in their state of development and locale. They were shown to be nothing more than people. In all their goodness, wisdom, badness and shortcomings, they were totally human. Nothing more, and nothing less.
Ambrose also goes into some depth concerning both Jefferson and Lewis, and how the expedition was of necessity to them both. He follows Jefferson through his political career and discusses in some depth how he felt about Louisiana and the rest of the West. One thing that comes out very well is Jefferson’s intent to not only expand, but to have set the ground for his nation to span from coast to coast. It was also of importance to find a water route to the west coast. Along with this, he pulls in the scientific community and made this quest one of dual purposes. The explorers were to not only find a route northwest, but also, document all they found in way of flora and fauna. The outcome was one of 168 new species of plants, and 128 new birds, fishes, and animals. Jefferson’s wisdom came through in being able to increase his audience of support through having so much to offer in return.
Ambrose also details Clark much as he did Jefferson. His writing follows him from childhood, the military, Jefferson’s personal secretary, and finally expeditionary scientist. As Jefferson had intent of sending a large military force on this trek, Lewis’s wisdom of sending a smaller troop that would make less impact and be received with less threat by the natives would be the realization of the expedition. Also pointed out is the fact that Lewis in his own right was a scientist of impact and well versed in most studies of science of the day. The author also illustrates the Lewis to be a man of great courage when under fire. He tells of how easily and level headed Lewis would deal with life threatening situations that would most likely throw anyone else into a fit of panic. Ambrose, though he could have left the work to deal only within the timeline of the expedition, goes on the detail the years closely following the end of the expedition up to Lewis’s suicide, and the results of his life and journey.
How well did Ambrose communicate his intent? This question will easily be answered by any person who takes the time to invest in reading it. This book is not one that will be a quick read for anyone as it is written in a style that forces one to stop and reflect upon almost every passage they read. In fact, it would be better said if one approached this work in anticipation of going on a quest. One will find themselves quite often imagining themselves as one of any particular character of point during the read. In short, this book is very engaging and will cause growth in anyone who endeavors to read it.
What value does this book hold for any American History class? As should be understood by this point, “Undaunted Courage” is a work that is of great value to any American Classroom. It could almost serve as an almanac of the expedition. The translation of the original journal and applied study comes through very well and is likewise a very inviting read. This book also could serve as a valuable resource when researching the subject presented. If for nothing else, the book’s extensive notes, bibliography, and easily understood index are of much value to any researcher of the period. The work of Ambrose could easily be called one of the best reads and resources for any instructor, student, or classroom.
In Discussion of the Protestant Reformation of the 16th Century
By
Eli the lesser
In discussions of the Protestant Reformation of the16th Century, an understanding of the actions and attitude of the Roman Catholic Church, societal and political direction, key Religious figures such as Erasmus, Luther, Calvin, and King Henry VIII of England, as well as the impact of one invention, the Guttenberg Printing press, is crucial in understanding how the Protestant Reformation found its success.
The Roman Catholic Church had just moved to a lower position of political and financial influence, and in an effort to raise money had been practicing simony that in essence was nothing less than the sale of church offices for profit and political gain. Also the Church had begun to offer indulgences up for sale, which would either gain a release from purgatory or absolution from sin, as a means of raising capitol to build a new basilica for Pope Julius. It soon became obvious to many that the Church had become corrupt and in this its authority would soon come under fire.
Europe during this time was going through what is known as the Renaissance that pushed individuals and society to challenge all forms of conventional thought and belief, including Religion. This was also a time that saw the rise of nation states as the result of decentralization from the authority of the papacy. As regions became distinct states they began to display distinct attitudes toward religion and the timing was right for change. Prior to this, the Pope held a certain amount of leverage in the fact that if a king chose not to follow his lead, the threat of excommunication from the Church served as a strong motivator to bring him back into line. As the papacy lost its control over the nations others rose to expose the corruption as well as introduce what they saw as Christian liberty and how it should be applied. Others simply saw a break from the Church as a means to achieve their personal ambitions.
The humanist, Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536), a Dutch intellectual and priest (though he never served in the capacity of a priest), saw many of the problems within the Roman Catholic Church and began to attack it in the form of satirical and humorous writings such as, “Praise of Folly,” in which he mocked the church officials in their corruption. He saw these officials often playing upon the superstitions of the parishioners as a means of control and that they would charge for priestly service, and this, he saw as immoral. He pointed out the true focus of Christianity in that it was to follow Christ and felt that the current church was not on course. The intent of Christ was being ignored and thought people should focus on the Sermon on the Mount to set their ethical standards. He saw morality to be the highest pursuit and anything else was nothing more than a diversion to what man should strive for. While he didn’t mean to break from the church or cause it harm, he did want to see it operate, as he understood it should. Erasmus never quite chose to totally support the church or the Protestants, what he did, was set out a process of thought that would prove to fuel the protestant reformation.
While Erasmus had people looking at church officials and their practice in a more critical light, the German, Martin Luther (1483-1546), had his own mess to untangle. In his early twenties, Luther was studying to become a lawyer when he was the recipient of a lightening strike and in surviving, proclaimed to St. Anne that he would enter a monastery, which he did. In study, he found that the Church’s attitude of works being essential to salvation, he felt he fell short. To him, it didn’t seem to matter how much work he did, he still felt that he lacked what it took to gain passage to Heaven. While trying to find answers to his problem of justifying grace for the undeserving, he had his personal epiphany in 1515 in what he called his, “Tower experience.” He came across Romans 1:17 in the Bible and found a different understanding to his problem. He read it as to say that his redemption could be justified by faith alone, an understanding that went against the church’s stance, yet offered a reason for his admittance into Heaven. Now that he was liberated and armed, all he lacked was a cause, which would soon present itself.
In 1517, Pope Julius, in his desire to demolish St. Peters basilica and construct a new and more elaborate one to replace it, had authorized a Dominican monk, Johann Tetzel to offer grace for sale through indulgences (certificates for forgiveness of sins both past and future, as well as, remission from purgatory), as a means to raise capitol for this endeavor. In this, Luther found offense to the gospel and refused to give absolution to the holders of these certificates, and went on to pen 95 theses explaining how indulgences were wrong and on October 31 of the same year, nailed them to the door of the Wittenburg castle church. Thanks to the new technology of the Guttenburg moveable type printing press, Luther’s theses saw rapid spread and support over the next two years, which proved to empower his mission. In 1520 he goes on to write, “An Address to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation,” that gives the state and not the pope, primacy. In the, “Babilonian Captivity he only accepts two of the seven sacraments held by the church to be of any value. The Eucharist and baptism are all he allows authority. In, “The Liberty of the Christian Man,” he points out that faith and not works is the key to salvation. He puts forth the thought that man is predestined versus the catholic view that it is mans free will to do works to earn salvation. In his direct attack on the church and papacy he has finally become the focus of claims of heresy.
In 1521 Luther is called to the Diet of Worms to debate his issues with church officials, but in reality, was nothing more than an effort to make him recant all he had been teaching. On April 6, Luther who twice refused due to the fact that the Pope nor any church official could not prove him biblically wrong, left without submission and was kidnapped and taken to Wartburg where Frederick of Saxony offered him protection. As it turns out, the princes of northern Germany accept Luther due to the fact that his mission offers them a total release from the papacy and ultimately nullifies the threat of excommunication. Money that normally would be sent to the church will be used to strengthen the state. Luther is finally allowed freedom from persecution by the church when the Catholic King Charles V, needs the support of the German Princes and their army in defense from Turkish Muslim invasion. The Princes agree with the condition that he convinces the Pope to leave Luther alone, which he does.
Luther now has freedom to pursue his mission, who states that Christ is the head of the church, not the Pope; there is no need for any priest as people belonging to the priesthood of all believers had equal access to God, and the Bible only documents the two sacraments of the Lord’s Supper and baptism.
In the meantime, John Calvin (1509-1564) of France was trying to convince the King to show tolerance toward the protestant reformation without success. In 1536, he published the, “Institutes of the Christian Religion,” which proved to identify him as a religious dissenter and ended up forcing him to run to Geneva for protection. There he tried to enact his reforms upon an unruly community and ended up getting banished in 1538.
In 1541, Calvin was invited back to help organize and establish the reformed protestant religion that he accepted with condition of some authority. As his plan is instituted it is seen that he has little tolerance for any deviance from his standards and in fact pushes a simple, plain, hardworking and obedient lifestyle. Persons were required to report those seen in sin regardless of the degree of involvement. While this was limiting to the citizens it also allowed some prestige as they were billed as the new model of the, “New Jerusalem”. This lifestyle of no indulgence also had the result of an increase of personal wealth due to saving and investing as was required of any good Christian. This new protestant religion that was to become known as Presbyterian, gained strength alongside that of Luther and his followers, the Lutherans, would eventually spread worldwide. While reformation for the sake of religious liberty was a strong force to deal with, another reason existed which would prove to cause yet another break.
King Henry VIII (1491-1547), of England found his reasons to take his kingdom and walk away from the Pope as well. Henry wanted to have his marriage with Catherine of Aragon Nullified due to the fact that she bore him no male heir to the throne. The Roman Catholic Church who did not allow divorce offered him no support and would put him in a position of becoming excommunicated from the church. In 1531, probably while viewing Germany’s break from the church, he decides to totally remove it from England and establishes the Church of England, appointing himself as its head. In this he now had permission from the church (his own permission) to divorce his wife and move on to pursue five more marriages.
In closing, it can be seen that many different elements were vital for the success of the Protestant Reformation. Church corruption and greed when finally exposed by a few brave and convicted people to a society in personal growth and exploration would and could be changed, if not within, then from without. The individual in this timeframe was in the process of self-identification and growth. They were moving into towns, getting access to text, which was before limited only to the elite. Were becoming literate and in this, began to question that which did not make sense.
While some may credit the Protestant Reformation to the efforts of Erasmus, Luther, Calvin, and even Henry VIII, I rather place the impetus upon the Roman Catholic Church itself. Had they not taken up the role of ruler and controller, had adhered only to that which was taught by the Christ they proclaimed, and not encroached upon the liberty of its followers, reformation would not have been necessary. They were reformed by force from without, and later by choice, from within.
Eli the lesser
In discussions of the Protestant Reformation of the16th Century, an understanding of the actions and attitude of the Roman Catholic Church, societal and political direction, key Religious figures such as Erasmus, Luther, Calvin, and King Henry VIII of England, as well as the impact of one invention, the Guttenberg Printing press, is crucial in understanding how the Protestant Reformation found its success.
The Roman Catholic Church had just moved to a lower position of political and financial influence, and in an effort to raise money had been practicing simony that in essence was nothing less than the sale of church offices for profit and political gain. Also the Church had begun to offer indulgences up for sale, which would either gain a release from purgatory or absolution from sin, as a means of raising capitol to build a new basilica for Pope Julius. It soon became obvious to many that the Church had become corrupt and in this its authority would soon come under fire.
Europe during this time was going through what is known as the Renaissance that pushed individuals and society to challenge all forms of conventional thought and belief, including Religion. This was also a time that saw the rise of nation states as the result of decentralization from the authority of the papacy. As regions became distinct states they began to display distinct attitudes toward religion and the timing was right for change. Prior to this, the Pope held a certain amount of leverage in the fact that if a king chose not to follow his lead, the threat of excommunication from the Church served as a strong motivator to bring him back into line. As the papacy lost its control over the nations others rose to expose the corruption as well as introduce what they saw as Christian liberty and how it should be applied. Others simply saw a break from the Church as a means to achieve their personal ambitions.
The humanist, Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536), a Dutch intellectual and priest (though he never served in the capacity of a priest), saw many of the problems within the Roman Catholic Church and began to attack it in the form of satirical and humorous writings such as, “Praise of Folly,” in which he mocked the church officials in their corruption. He saw these officials often playing upon the superstitions of the parishioners as a means of control and that they would charge for priestly service, and this, he saw as immoral. He pointed out the true focus of Christianity in that it was to follow Christ and felt that the current church was not on course. The intent of Christ was being ignored and thought people should focus on the Sermon on the Mount to set their ethical standards. He saw morality to be the highest pursuit and anything else was nothing more than a diversion to what man should strive for. While he didn’t mean to break from the church or cause it harm, he did want to see it operate, as he understood it should. Erasmus never quite chose to totally support the church or the Protestants, what he did, was set out a process of thought that would prove to fuel the protestant reformation.
While Erasmus had people looking at church officials and their practice in a more critical light, the German, Martin Luther (1483-1546), had his own mess to untangle. In his early twenties, Luther was studying to become a lawyer when he was the recipient of a lightening strike and in surviving, proclaimed to St. Anne that he would enter a monastery, which he did. In study, he found that the Church’s attitude of works being essential to salvation, he felt he fell short. To him, it didn’t seem to matter how much work he did, he still felt that he lacked what it took to gain passage to Heaven. While trying to find answers to his problem of justifying grace for the undeserving, he had his personal epiphany in 1515 in what he called his, “Tower experience.” He came across Romans 1:17 in the Bible and found a different understanding to his problem. He read it as to say that his redemption could be justified by faith alone, an understanding that went against the church’s stance, yet offered a reason for his admittance into Heaven. Now that he was liberated and armed, all he lacked was a cause, which would soon present itself.
In 1517, Pope Julius, in his desire to demolish St. Peters basilica and construct a new and more elaborate one to replace it, had authorized a Dominican monk, Johann Tetzel to offer grace for sale through indulgences (certificates for forgiveness of sins both past and future, as well as, remission from purgatory), as a means to raise capitol for this endeavor. In this, Luther found offense to the gospel and refused to give absolution to the holders of these certificates, and went on to pen 95 theses explaining how indulgences were wrong and on October 31 of the same year, nailed them to the door of the Wittenburg castle church. Thanks to the new technology of the Guttenburg moveable type printing press, Luther’s theses saw rapid spread and support over the next two years, which proved to empower his mission. In 1520 he goes on to write, “An Address to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation,” that gives the state and not the pope, primacy. In the, “Babilonian Captivity he only accepts two of the seven sacraments held by the church to be of any value. The Eucharist and baptism are all he allows authority. In, “The Liberty of the Christian Man,” he points out that faith and not works is the key to salvation. He puts forth the thought that man is predestined versus the catholic view that it is mans free will to do works to earn salvation. In his direct attack on the church and papacy he has finally become the focus of claims of heresy.
In 1521 Luther is called to the Diet of Worms to debate his issues with church officials, but in reality, was nothing more than an effort to make him recant all he had been teaching. On April 6, Luther who twice refused due to the fact that the Pope nor any church official could not prove him biblically wrong, left without submission and was kidnapped and taken to Wartburg where Frederick of Saxony offered him protection. As it turns out, the princes of northern Germany accept Luther due to the fact that his mission offers them a total release from the papacy and ultimately nullifies the threat of excommunication. Money that normally would be sent to the church will be used to strengthen the state. Luther is finally allowed freedom from persecution by the church when the Catholic King Charles V, needs the support of the German Princes and their army in defense from Turkish Muslim invasion. The Princes agree with the condition that he convinces the Pope to leave Luther alone, which he does.
Luther now has freedom to pursue his mission, who states that Christ is the head of the church, not the Pope; there is no need for any priest as people belonging to the priesthood of all believers had equal access to God, and the Bible only documents the two sacraments of the Lord’s Supper and baptism.
In the meantime, John Calvin (1509-1564) of France was trying to convince the King to show tolerance toward the protestant reformation without success. In 1536, he published the, “Institutes of the Christian Religion,” which proved to identify him as a religious dissenter and ended up forcing him to run to Geneva for protection. There he tried to enact his reforms upon an unruly community and ended up getting banished in 1538.
In 1541, Calvin was invited back to help organize and establish the reformed protestant religion that he accepted with condition of some authority. As his plan is instituted it is seen that he has little tolerance for any deviance from his standards and in fact pushes a simple, plain, hardworking and obedient lifestyle. Persons were required to report those seen in sin regardless of the degree of involvement. While this was limiting to the citizens it also allowed some prestige as they were billed as the new model of the, “New Jerusalem”. This lifestyle of no indulgence also had the result of an increase of personal wealth due to saving and investing as was required of any good Christian. This new protestant religion that was to become known as Presbyterian, gained strength alongside that of Luther and his followers, the Lutherans, would eventually spread worldwide. While reformation for the sake of religious liberty was a strong force to deal with, another reason existed which would prove to cause yet another break.
King Henry VIII (1491-1547), of England found his reasons to take his kingdom and walk away from the Pope as well. Henry wanted to have his marriage with Catherine of Aragon Nullified due to the fact that she bore him no male heir to the throne. The Roman Catholic Church who did not allow divorce offered him no support and would put him in a position of becoming excommunicated from the church. In 1531, probably while viewing Germany’s break from the church, he decides to totally remove it from England and establishes the Church of England, appointing himself as its head. In this he now had permission from the church (his own permission) to divorce his wife and move on to pursue five more marriages.
In closing, it can be seen that many different elements were vital for the success of the Protestant Reformation. Church corruption and greed when finally exposed by a few brave and convicted people to a society in personal growth and exploration would and could be changed, if not within, then from without. The individual in this timeframe was in the process of self-identification and growth. They were moving into towns, getting access to text, which was before limited only to the elite. Were becoming literate and in this, began to question that which did not make sense.
While some may credit the Protestant Reformation to the efforts of Erasmus, Luther, Calvin, and even Henry VIII, I rather place the impetus upon the Roman Catholic Church itself. Had they not taken up the role of ruler and controller, had adhered only to that which was taught by the Christ they proclaimed, and not encroached upon the liberty of its followers, reformation would not have been necessary. They were reformed by force from without, and later by choice, from within.
