How has the concept of power changed since the 16th | Sophie Bray | TEDxTauntonSchool

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we live in a world that is constantly

we live in a world that is constantly changing adapting and rotating we live

changing adapting and rotating we live

changing adapting and rotating we live in a world where philosophy laws are

in a world where philosophy laws are

in a world where philosophy laws are constantly revolving however we rarely

constantly revolving however we rarely

constantly revolving however we rarely get the time to stop and to consider

get the time to stop and to consider

get the time to stop and to consider some of the smaller things that are

some of the smaller things that are

some of the smaller things that are still important that are changing since

still important that are changing since

still important that are changing since the 16th century power has changed

the 16th century power has changed

the 16th century power has changed immensely and therefore it seemed that

immensely and therefore it seemed that

immensely and therefore it seemed that this is a good period to compare power

this is a good period to compare power

this is a good period to compare power now and then in order to analyze this

now and then in order to analyze this

now and then in order to analyze this question the Oxford English Dictionary

question the Oxford English Dictionary

question the Oxford English Dictionary defines power as the capacity ability to

defines power as the capacity ability to

defines power as the capacity ability to direct or influence the course of events

direct or influence the course of events

direct or influence the course of events or the behavior of others

or the behavior of others

or the behavior of others this means that power surrounds us it

this means that power surrounds us it

this means that power surrounds us it encompasses us and is all around for

encompasses us and is all around for

encompasses us and is all around for example I have power over influencing

example I have power over influencing

example I have power over influencing the way you may perceive power after

the way you may perceive power after

the way you may perceive power after this talk I have power over my future as

this talk I have power over my future as

this talk I have power over my future as do you and many more people around the

do you and many more people around the

do you and many more people around the world in order to make this comparison a

world in order to make this comparison a

world in order to make this comparison a bit more centralized I’m going to focus

bit more centralized I’m going to focus

bit more centralized I’m going to focus on three key areas political social and

on three key areas political social and

on three key areas political social and economic power in terms of political

economic power in terms of political

economic power in terms of political power a lot has changed through monarchy

power a lot has changed through monarchy

power a lot has changed through monarchy government and judiciary but firstly

government and judiciary but firstly

government and judiciary but firstly what do these three people have in

what do these three people have in

what do these three people have in common

common

common Theresa May Clemens the seventh and

Theresa May Clemens the seventh and

Theresa May Clemens the seventh and Henry the eighth all had or had the

Henry the eighth all had or had the

Henry the eighth all had or had the ability to influence or direct people

ability to influence or direct people

ability to influence or direct people they’ve all had power however when I ask

they’ve all had power however when I ask

they’ve all had power however when I ask you a slightly different but nonetheless

you a slightly different but nonetheless

you a slightly different but nonetheless similar question what do these people

similar question what do these people

similar question what do these people not have in common

not have in common

not have in common weirdly enough the answer is the same

weirdly enough the answer is the same

weirdly enough the answer is the same power Theresa May has significantly less

power Theresa May has significantly less

power Theresa May has significantly less political power and directly influencing

political power and directly influencing

political power and directly influencing England than Henry the eighth did in

England than Henry the eighth did in

England than Henry the eighth did in influencing England’s politics and is

influencing England’s politics and is

influencing England’s politics and is the same with Queen the Queen today in

the same with Queen the Queen today in

the same with Queen the Queen today in the 16th century government and

the 16th century government and

the 16th century government and Parliament had less power than today

Parliament had less power than today

Parliament had less power than today Henry the eighth was the supreme head of

Henry the eighth was the supreme head of

Henry the eighth was the supreme head of the church created laws and had supreme

the church created laws and had supreme

the church created laws and had supreme power over England

power over England

power over England so much though that in 1539 the

so much though that in 1539 the

so much though that in 1539 the Reformation Parliament had enacted the

Reformation Parliament had enacted the

Reformation Parliament had enacted the proclamation by the crown Act

proclamation by the crown Act

proclamation by the crown Act this gave Henry eight power to legislate

this gave Henry eight power to legislate

this gave Henry eight power to legislate to write by degree and therefore he

to write by degree and therefore he

to write by degree and therefore he gained more power over Parliament

gained more power over Parliament

gained more power over Parliament however nowadays we scrutinize in

however nowadays we scrutinize in

however nowadays we scrutinize in question Teresa made use of this same

question Teresa made use of this same

question Teresa made use of this same clause that was accepted in the

clause that was accepted in the

clause that was accepted in the sixteenth century and so surely the way

sixteenth century and so surely the way

sixteenth century and so surely the way we perceive and view power has immensely

we perceive and view power has immensely

we perceive and view power has immensely changed if we were questioning the use

changed if we were questioning the use

changed if we were questioning the use of the same clause furthermore if we

of the same clause furthermore if we

of the same clause furthermore if we compare Parliament today to what it was

compare Parliament today to what it was

compare Parliament today to what it was we can see that actually the role of the

we can see that actually the role of the

we can see that actually the role of the monarch in Parliament has been greatly

monarch in Parliament has been greatly

monarch in Parliament has been greatly reduced Henry the Eighth had a lot more

reduced Henry the Eighth had a lot more

reduced Henry the Eighth had a lot more power than the who are queen today and

power than the who are queen today and

power than the who are queen today and so much so that angle now enjoys a

so much so that angle now enjoys a

so much so that angle now enjoys a constitutional monarchy whereby the

constitutional monarchy whereby the

constitutional monarchy whereby the Queen is considerably less judicial

Queen is considerably less judicial

Queen is considerably less judicial legislative and executive powers than

legislative and executive powers than

legislative and executive powers than before her powers have been reduced down

before her powers have been reduced down

before her powers have been reduced down to nonpartisan functions and so we must

to nonpartisan functions and so we must

to nonpartisan functions and so we must question the fact what is the rule

question the fact what is the rule

question the fact what is the rule rolled the Queen now is she just a

rolled the Queen now is she just a

rolled the Queen now is she just a judicial a visual image of England a

judicial a visual image of England a

judicial a visual image of England a memory of the past and present to live

memory of the past and present to live

memory of the past and present to live on in the future when this sense the

on in the future when this sense the

on in the future when this sense the power of the monarchy has affected

power of the monarchy has affected

power of the monarchy has affected England greatly as the role she plays in

England greatly as the role she plays in

England greatly as the role she plays in Parliament has changed significantly

Parliament has changed significantly

Parliament has changed significantly from that of Henry the eighth another

from that of Henry the eighth another

from that of Henry the eighth another key example of how power has changed is

key example of how power has changed is

key example of how power has changed is the decline of imperialism as you can

the decline of imperialism as you can

the decline of imperialism as you can see from the map the 16th century

see from the map the 16th century

see from the map the 16th century boasted many powerful empires the French

boasted many powerful empires the French

boasted many powerful empires the French colonial empire the Habsburg Empire the

colonial empire the Habsburg Empire the

colonial empire the Habsburg Empire the kibou Empire the sava fid dynasty the

kibou Empire the sava fid dynasty the

kibou Empire the sava fid dynasty the Mughal Empire and the Ottoman Empire but

Mughal Empire and the Ottoman Empire but

Mughal Empire and the Ottoman Empire but the list goes on if we compare to the

the list goes on if we compare to the

the list goes on if we compare to the equivalent today we have trading blocks

equivalent today we have trading blocks

equivalent today we have trading blocks and I’m not saying that’s less trading

and I’m not saying that’s less trading

and I’m not saying that’s less trading blocks now but the power that trading

blocks now but the power that trading

blocks now but the power that trading blocks have is considerably different to

blocks have is considerably different to

blocks have is considerably different to that of empires the trading blocks we

that of empires the trading blocks we

that of empires the trading blocks we have today expand the world just as much

have today expand the world just as much

have today expand the world just as much as empires such as the European Union

as empires such as the European Union

as empires such as the European Union APEC Asian CARICOM NAFTA Mercosur and

APEC Asian CARICOM NAFTA Mercosur and

APEC Asian CARICOM NAFTA Mercosur and the list continues however if we compare

the list continues however if we compare

the list continues however if we compare say the Habsburg Empire which is a

say the Habsburg Empire which is a

say the Habsburg Empire which is a powerful

powerful

powerful during the sixteenth century with the

during the sixteenth century with the

during the sixteenth century with the equivalent of the European Union we can

equivalent of the European Union we can

equivalent of the European Union we can see that actually the European Union has

see that actually the European Union has

see that actually the European Union has less power over the trading nations than

less power over the trading nations than

less power over the trading nations than that of the empires in the Habsburg

that of the empires in the Habsburg

that of the empires in the Habsburg Empire during the sixteenth century

Empire during the sixteenth century

Empire during the sixteenth century citizens were in a lot less control of

citizens were in a lot less control of

citizens were in a lot less control of their lives than today

their lives than today

their lives than today politics was corrupted and religion was

politics was corrupted and religion was

politics was corrupted and religion was corrupted and society was often run by

corrupted and society was often run by

corrupted and society was often run by potent aristocrats or monarchs one of

potent aristocrats or monarchs one of

potent aristocrats or monarchs one of the most famous aristocracies being the

the most famous aristocracies being the

the most famous aristocracies being the house of Medici the house of Medici was

house of Medici the house of Medici was

house of Medici the house of Medici was an Italian banking family that ruled

an Italian banking family that ruled

an Italian banking family that ruled Florence for many years and in the 16th

Florence for many years and in the 16th

Florence for many years and in the 16th century Cosimo the first also expanded

century Cosimo the first also expanded

century Cosimo the first also expanded the empire to increase to the Grand

the empire to increase to the Grand

the empire to increase to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany the perspective of

Duchy of Tuscany the perspective of

Duchy of Tuscany the perspective of power in the 16th century can clearly be

power in the 16th century can clearly be

power in the 16th century can clearly be evidenced through niccolò machiavelli

evidenced through niccolò machiavelli

evidenced through niccolò machiavelli ‘s the prince where he stated it is much

‘s the prince where he stated it is much

‘s the prince where he stated it is much more safe to be feared than to be loved

more safe to be feared than to be loved

more safe to be feared than to be loved evidently this unequivocal quote shows

evidently this unequivocal quote shows

evidently this unequivocal quote shows that actually power was desired in the

that actually power was desired in the

that actually power was desired in the 16th century whereas now it was required

16th century whereas now it was required

16th century whereas now it was required and needed in order for a world to

and needed in order for a world to

and needed in order for a world to rotate not only has the political

rotate not only has the political

rotate not only has the political structure of the monarch and Parliament

structure of the monarch and Parliament

structure of the monarch and Parliament power changed but also from a more

power changed but also from a more

power changed but also from a more global perspective the structure of

global perspective the structure of

global perspective the structure of nations as you can see from the graph

nations as you can see from the graph

nations as you can see from the graph between 1800 and 2011 the number of

between 1800 and 2011 the number of

between 1800 and 2011 the number of democracies has greatly increased

democracies has greatly increased

democracies has greatly increased although this does not explicitly

although this does not explicitly

although this does not explicitly represent the 16th century

represent the 16th century

represent the 16th century it shows the actual trend in the

it shows the actual trend in the

it shows the actual trend in the democracies and in my opinion

democracies and in my opinion

democracies and in my opinion democracies we mean we have more power

democracies we mean we have more power

democracies we mean we have more power we have more via vote and we have more

we have more via vote and we have more

we have more via vote and we have more free speech in what we desire and this

free speech in what we desire and this

free speech in what we desire and this means that surely we have more power

means that surely we have more power

means that surely we have more power over our nation and the course of events

over our nation and the course of events

over our nation and the course of events we have the power to vote of freedom

we have the power to vote of freedom

we have the power to vote of freedom speech and many more rights that allow

speech and many more rights that allow

speech and many more rights that allow us as Democratic citizens to say what we

us as Democratic citizens to say what we

us as Democratic citizens to say what we want these human rights are essential to

want these human rights are essential to

want these human rights are essential to our society in the equivalent in the

our society in the equivalent in the

our society in the equivalent in the sixteenth century was almost irrelevant

sixteenth century was almost irrelevant

sixteenth century was almost irrelevant to daily life now it is not just

to daily life now it is not just

to daily life now it is not just political power that has changed but

political power that has changed but

political power that has changed but also social power as I’ve mentioned the

also social power as I’ve mentioned the

also social power as I’ve mentioned the Medici family were profound in Italian

Medici family were profound in Italian

Medici family were profound in Italian politics they were also extremely

politics they were also extremely

politics they were also extremely powerful wealthy and they were able to

powerful wealthy and they were able to

powerful wealthy and they were able to attain religious power as well with

attain religious power as well with

attain religious power as well with three popes from the Medici family Pope

three popes from the Medici family Pope

three popes from the Medici family Pope Clements our servants was around during

Clements our servants was around during

Clements our servants was around during the Reformation on the 16th century

the Reformation on the 16th century

the Reformation on the 16th century sermons the seventh or otherwise moments

sermons the seventh or otherwise moments

sermons the seventh or otherwise moments Giulia the Giuliano de Medici was the

Giulia the Giuliano de Medici was the

Giulia the Giuliano de Medici was the present during the Reformation and

present during the Reformation and

present during the Reformation and therefore he shows that actually as a

therefore he shows that actually as a

therefore he shows that actually as a family they were in theory a

family they were in theory a

family they were in theory a monopolistic family controlling religion

monopolistic family controlling religion

monopolistic family controlling religion politics and culture evidently religion

politics and culture evidently religion

politics and culture evidently religion was essential people’s lives in the 16th

was essential people’s lives in the 16th

was essential people’s lives in the 16th century and thus the Pope had vast

century and thus the Pope had vast

century and thus the Pope had vast amounts of power for example in 1513

amounts of power for example in 1513

amounts of power for example in 1513 Giovanni Medici was able to persuade the

Giovanni Medici was able to persuade the

Giovanni Medici was able to persuade the Pope to return the power of the Medici

Pope to return the power of the Medici

Pope to return the power of the Medici in Florence but it was not just the

in Florence but it was not just the

in Florence but it was not just the Medici that had power both in politics

Medici that had power both in politics

Medici that had power both in politics and religion on the 3rd of November

and religion on the 3rd of November

and religion on the 3rd of November 15:34 Henry the eighth passed the act of

15:34 Henry the eighth passed the act of

15:34 Henry the eighth passed the act of Supremacy by the house of parliament

Supremacy by the house of parliament

Supremacy by the house of parliament thereby transferring potestas

thereby transferring potestas

thereby transferring potestas jurisdiction as’ or the right to

jurisdiction as’ or the right to

jurisdiction as’ or the right to exercise jurisdiction over the church to

exercise jurisdiction over the church to

exercise jurisdiction over the church to the crown this made Henry the eighth

the crown this made Henry the eighth

the crown this made Henry the eighth power to be head of the supreme church

power to be head of the supreme church

power to be head of the supreme church and this ultimately reduced the power of

and this ultimately reduced the power of

and this ultimately reduced the power of the Pope evidently the monarch had rule

the Pope evidently the monarch had rule

the Pope evidently the monarch had rule and rulers had much more power than much

and rulers had much more power than much

and rulers had much more power than much more power over the nation’s and

more power over the nation’s and

more power over the nation’s and different types of power in the

different types of power in the

different types of power in the sixteenth century

sixteenth century

sixteenth century now religion in politics is a lot more

now religion in politics is a lot more

now religion in politics is a lot more separate rather than being intertwined

separate rather than being intertwined

separate rather than being intertwined and combined in the 16th century

and combined in the 16th century

and combined in the 16th century religion more people’s lives the church

religion more people’s lives the church

religion more people’s lives the church owned land taxes and could change if you

owned land taxes and could change if you

owned land taxes and could change if you went to hell or heaven after purgatory

went to hell or heaven after purgatory

went to hell or heaven after purgatory or surfy believed for example the Pope

or surfy believed for example the Pope

or surfy believed for example the Pope own extensive lands in France and

own extensive lands in France and

own extensive lands in France and southern Italy and central Italy but

southern Italy and central Italy but

southern Italy and central Italy but power also meant wealth and corruption

power also meant wealth and corruption

power also meant wealth and corruption in some sense many popes lavish their

in some sense many popes lavish their

in some sense many popes lavish their families and would build up armies to

families and would build up armies to

families and would build up armies to fight for them however now religion has

fight for them however now religion has

fight for them however now religion has a much more appropriate point in our

a much more appropriate point in our

a much more appropriate point in our lives and actually religion has been

lives and actually religion has been

lives and actually religion has been separated up into much more different

separated up into much more different

separated up into much more different religions for example the Reformation of

religions for example the Reformation of

religions for example the Reformation of the sixteenth century allowed different

the sixteenth century allowed different

the sixteenth century allowed different people to have different views in

people to have different views in

people to have different views in separate religions 16th century society

separate religions 16th century society

separate religions 16th century society was very different to today laws were

was very different to today laws were

was very different to today laws were nothing like they were today and people

nothing like they were today and people

nothing like they were today and people were ruled by food

were ruled by food

were ruled by food Lord’s human rights were miss speck in

Lord’s human rights were miss speck in

Lord’s human rights were miss speck in society people were often owned and this

society people were often owned and this

society people were often owned and this meant that as humans they had a lot less

meant that as humans they had a lot less

meant that as humans they had a lot less power in affecting and influencing their

power in affecting and influencing their

power in affecting and influencing their own lives however today we have a lot

own lives however today we have a lot

own lives however today we have a lot more human rights such as the European

more human rights such as the European

more human rights such as the European Convention on Human Rights such as

Convention on Human Rights such as

Convention on Human Rights such as article 8 which gives us the right to

article 8 which gives us the right to

article 8 which gives us the right to respect our own family lives or other

respect our own family lives or other

respect our own family lives or other acts that live give us the right to life

acts that live give us the right to life

acts that live give us the right to life and freedom of speech so today we have

and freedom of speech so today we have

and freedom of speech so today we have greater control of our own lives and

greater control of our own lives and

greater control of our own lives and that’s the course of events in our lives

that’s the course of events in our lives

that’s the course of events in our lives finally from an economic point of view

finally from an economic point of view

finally from an economic point of view economic power has changed through both

economic power has changed through both

economic power has changed through both society and politics in the 16th century

society and politics in the 16th century

society and politics in the 16th century a key difference in economic power was

a key difference in economic power was

a key difference in economic power was the way and attitudes in monopolies

the way and attitudes in monopolies

the way and attitudes in monopolies monopolies were surrounded in the 16th

monopolies were surrounded in the 16th

monopolies were surrounded in the 16th century most notably by Venice as a

century most notably by Venice as a

century most notably by Venice as a monopolistic trading power this pushed

monopolistic trading power this pushed

monopolistic trading power this pushed up power prices due to their market

up power prices due to their market

up power prices due to their market dominance however nowadays there are

dominance however nowadays there are

dominance however nowadays there are still monopolies and many around the

still monopolies and many around the

still monopolies and many around the world

world

world however monopolies are normally

however monopolies are normally

however monopolies are normally restricted nowadays by legislation such

restricted nowadays by legislation such

restricted nowadays by legislation such as the Competition Act of 1998 or the

as the Competition Act of 1998 or the

as the Competition Act of 1998 or the Enterprise Act of 2002 thereby making

Enterprise Act of 2002 thereby making

Enterprise Act of 2002 thereby making cartels illegal this means that actually

cartels illegal this means that actually

cartels illegal this means that actually power is being perceived differently as

power is being perceived differently as

power is being perceived differently as we’re trying to target and reduce power

we’re trying to target and reduce power

we’re trying to target and reduce power nowadays we’re in the 16th century it

nowadays we’re in the 16th century it

nowadays we’re in the 16th century it was allowed to occur and it was normal

was allowed to occur and it was normal

was allowed to occur and it was normal it was usual in order to answer this

it was usual in order to answer this

it was usual in order to answer this question of how power has changed it

question of how power has changed it

question of how power has changed it only seems right to question if the

only seems right to question if the

only seems right to question if the change of power is good or bad in my

change of power is good or bad in my

change of power is good or bad in my opinion it is good less power means less

opinion it is good less power means less

opinion it is good less power means less corruption less ask aristocrats and more

corruption less ask aristocrats and more

corruption less ask aristocrats and more of a democratic society as citizens we

of a democratic society as citizens we

of a democratic society as citizens we can have more say in the course of our

can have more say in the course of our

can have more say in the course of our events in our nation we have more power

events in our nation we have more power

events in our nation we have more power we can reduce the power of those above

we can reduce the power of those above

we can reduce the power of those above us and this means that actually we have

us and this means that actually we have

us and this means that actually we have a more equal society to this day there

a more equal society to this day there

a more equal society to this day there are still nations that have leaders with

are still nations that have leaders with

are still nations that have leaders with unquestionable amounts of power but

unquestionable amounts of power but

unquestionable amounts of power but these nations are undeveloped and

these nations are undeveloped and

these nations are undeveloped and isolated from the world they represent

isolated from the world they represent

isolated from the world they represent how there’s too much power available

how there’s too much power available

how there’s too much power available things are not always good

things are not always good

things are not always good that actually power can be almost

that actually power can be almost

that actually power can be almost destructive in the sense in 1887 Lord

destructive in the sense in 1887 Lord

destructive in the sense in 1887 Lord Acton wrote a letter to Bishop Mandel

Acton wrote a letter to Bishop Mandel

Acton wrote a letter to Bishop Mandel Creighton with his concerns regarding

Creighton with his concerns regarding

Creighton with his concerns regarding the more problem of writing about the

the more problem of writing about the

the more problem of writing about the corruption of popes in religious history

corruption of popes in religious history

corruption of popes in religious history in one of his letters he stated power

in one of his letters he stated power

in one of his letters he stated power tends to corrupt and absolute power

tends to corrupt and absolute power

tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely great men are almost

corrupts absolutely great men are almost

corrupts absolutely great men are almost always bad men even when they exercise

always bad men even when they exercise

always bad men even when they exercise influence and not Authority ultimately

influence and not Authority ultimately

influence and not Authority ultimately this shows that having power is not

this shows that having power is not

this shows that having power is not necessarily a good thing

necessarily a good thing

necessarily a good thing and then it can sometimes reduce the

and then it can sometimes reduce the

and then it can sometimes reduce the influence of those that need influence I

influence of those that need influence I

influence of those that need influence I believe that in the 16th century a lot

believe that in the 16th century a lot

believe that in the 16th century a lot less people had more power but now more

less people had more power but now more

less people had more power but now more people have less power the more power we

people have less power the more power we

people have less power the more power we have as citizens the more ability we

have as citizens the more ability we

have as citizens the more ability we have to say what we think is democratic

have to say what we think is democratic

have to say what we think is democratic people and thus we are able to make our

people and thus we are able to make our

people and thus we are able to make our society more equal and more free thank

society more equal and more free thank

society more equal and more free thank you very much whistling