+ Chapter 1 Renaissance Europe Origins of a Western Worldview + What is a Renaissance? Renaissance means rebirth + Florence, Italy. The birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. + What we will learn How can changing societal structures affect a societys worldview? How do beliefs, values and society impact change in Medieval Europe? What is the Renaissance? How are peoples attitudes and values shaped by the way a society is organized? What are the main features of the worldview that emerged during the Renaissance? Values, society and beliefs + Think for a second What would happen if half of Canadas population suddenly died of a disease. How would think affect our society? Think individually, then discuss with the people around you. + A Changing Society Focus Question: How are peoples attitudes and values shaped by the way that a society is organized? + Times of Change Middle Ages: European society was organized in a system called feudalism. Feudalism was a hierarchy: people were ranked above one another based on their importance. The level you were born into- expected to stay in that level for entire life. Feudalism was based on land, loyalty, and duty. + Times of Change Nobles or knights swore oaths of allegiance to the king In exchange for fighting for the king, they received rights to land called manors The Church owned land, and became very important to medieval people in practical and spiritual aspects of their lives + Medieval Country Life Most people were peasants Lived in rural villages on a manor and assigned land to harvest In exchange for use of land, peasants gave a some of what they produced to the lord of the manor (noble) Peasants were illiterate (couldnt read or write) and uneducated + Medieval Country Life Some peasants were freemen who rented land from the lord or worked for pay Most peasants were serfs; they werent allowed to leave the manor without the lords permission + Town Life Most medieval towns were farm communities, built around a monastery Peasants worked based on their abilities, learned trades, or worked for wealthy merchants as servants/laborers Production of goods and trade in towns was organized by cooperative organizations called guilds (know this term!) + Guilds Guilds controlled prices of goods, set standards of quality, and decided who would be admitted to the craft as a trainee or apprentice. Took care of members and their families (illness or injury) Children would live and work at the home of a master and learn a trade. After years of training, they would take a test, become a journeyman and become a member of the guild In todays society, what would we call a guild? Do we have something similar? + Quick worldview review Worldview is NOT a perspective, it is more than personal preference/opinion It is the basis for how we act, the choices we make as citizens in a local, global community. It is not just how we see the world SO based on that How do peoples positions on society influence their worldview? + Lets review What is feudalism? What was it based on? What is a guild? + Challenges to the Feudal System Feudal system in existence for hundreds of years There were some factors that caused feudalism to break down: the Peasants Revolt The Black Death + Peasants Revolts The Hundred Years War, began in 1337 between England and France Fighting destroyed countryside Peasants revolted due to high rents and taxes needed to pay for the war Authorities tried to put down peasants Killed nobles, burned manors + The Black Death : millions of Europeans died Began in Gobi Desert (between China and Mongolia) Spread along trade routes Forms of the plague were spread through fleas and rats, as well as airborne droplets + The Black Death Severe labor shortages on manors, and many feudal states went bankrupt Land on manors that survived were rented out or sold to serfs, serfs were released from lords Peasants had more options + Time and Money Money and time became more important to people On manors, people didnt need to know exact time Shopkeepers, merchants, business people needed to know times Mechanical clocks developed + Wealth in Society Towns were growing; society less rigid. People could gain wealth and skills, and move from one social level to another Could this happen before? New social structure emerged Power and position was now based on money instead of land Sumptuary laws were introduced + Feudal System/New System Lets look at the new social structure, after society was changed drastically + + Top Level: Aristocracy Middle Level: Middle Class Bottom Level: Lower Class High Church officialsMerchants and businesses Peasants Rulers or lordsCraftspeopleRural laborers Old noble familiesShopkeepersUrban laborers Wealthy merchantsBankersServants PriestsThe unemployed + Lets talk about worldviews What is worldview? Do we all make the same decisions and act the same way? What influences those things? + Geography How does geography play a role in peoples worldview? + Time How does time play a role in society? + Society Are there different societys in the world? How do roles in society influence peoples worldview? + Values How do people act towards one another? What influences them? + Beliefs How do beliefs about life and death influence peoples actions? + Economy Who decides important decisions about resources and products? + Knowledge How do people develop knowledge? What kind of thinking is accepted, and how do we access knowledge? How is it valued? + Feudalism What is feudalism? How did the organization of social structure influence peoples role in society? Who made that decision? How did peoples position in society influence their actions, decisions, and ways of life? + Town/Country Life What was it like living in the country? Who lived there? What was the way of life? What was it like living in the town? What was the way of life? + Monastic Life How did living around a monastery influence peoples ways of life? How did this impact their worldview? + Role of Women Rural Women: Had lots of children Worked in the field Made clothes, cooked meals Preserved food for family + Role of Women Town Women: Married guild members Worked with husbands/sold goods Inherited property/guild membership when husbands died Become masters of crafts + Role of Women Wealthy merchant families: women had more opportunity Daughters sent to school But noble women had little rights Made few choices on their own, arranged marriages + How does religion influence worldview? Do you think in some societies religion has more of an influence than others? + What we will learn What role did religion play in shaping peoples worldview? What role did religion play in peoples lives, and how did it influence their worldview? + A Religious Society Thought by some that the Black Plague was punishment from God Religion was central in peoples lives Worldview in Western Europe was shaped by the Christian Church. + A Religious Society Believed Church would help them reach heaven Life was difficult; filled with disease, famine, war, etc. Church would help people get to heaven People wanted a better life after death + Spirituality First Nations and Inuit peoples: spirituality is very important for traditional peoples Many believe everything has a sacred spirit and the Creator is everywhere Have ceremonies to offer thanks to natural spirits + Christian Church Church was a hierarchy Each level had responsibilities/duties to provide to the groups above and below them Parishioners obey the rules of the church, respect the priests authority and pay him a tithe People gained a sense of community belonging to a church + Think of different ways you might finish this sentence: In Canada today _______ is a central part of peoples daily lives. What do your answers suggest about worldviews in our society? + Hierarchies Today What are some positive and negative affects hierarchies can have one people? + The Monastic Life Very religious people would join a religious order and devote life to God Men became monks, women became nuns They helped grow and prepare food, taught children, cared for the sick and poor and fed the hungry + Learning and the Church Monks and nuns were well educated Some monasteries became centers for learning in medieval times Religious scholars copied Christian religious texts/manuscripts from ancient times Universities developed around religious schools; grammar, geometry, astronomy and music were taught + Medieval Muslims and Jews Other major religions were Islam and Judaism Muslims conquered most of Spain and Portugal Libraries and universities were built Jewish people lived in Christian and Islamic towns In Western Europe Jews werent allowed in most professions, so they studied academics + Changing Attitudes The plague caused questioning faith; peoples prayers, visits, and other attempts to please God didnt work Felt God abandoned them, became more critical of the Church The Church received money from rent, tithes, and from wealthy church members Some said members of the clergy were more interested in luxury than spiritual values + A New Age We have seen how European society has shifted from Medieval hierarchy to becoming less rigidly organized, more populous towns, and merchant classes New creative thinking emerged in art and science that aided in the shift out of the Medieval world. + Renaissance Personalities Christine de Pisan Martin Luther Vasco da Gama Nicolaus Copernicus Francis 1 Leonardo da Vinci Remember these people as we move throughout the unit!