Ch. 15.5 Culture and Daily Life

What do you observe? What does this indicate about time spent during this time period?

Who was affected by the Renaissance/Reformations? The upper class were largely affected The lower class formed their own views of the world around them Why?

Superstition Most of the population lived in villages Isolation Population growth Time of upheaval and war (1500s) Looked to superstition

Superstition Belief in spirits (good/bad) If there was an upset, demons were to blame Actions of the village priest were deemed as good Sought wise, older village members

Superstition Village witches/Witch Trials One-hundred years of witchcraft accusations and executions P. 373 Jean Bodin description of witchcraft Eventually the fear of witches declined as religious wars decreased Graph p. 373

Forms of Recreation Communal atmosphere Games: skittles, plays, ceremonies Close-knit communities often rivaled under harsh conditions Famine Economic stress

Knowledge Broadsides: single printed sheets Almanacs: published predictions about the weather or prospects for growing crops Religious ideas continue to spread What impact would this have on their current understanding of the world?

Changes in Daily Life Standard of living: environment, health, home life, income, and working conditions. Peasants made up 85-90 percent off the European population. By 1550 wars raged on, population increased, and inflation caused an increase in prices of food and goods.

Harsh depiction of religious wars/conflict between elite and lower classes

Diet Bread, meat, fish, salt were expensive and therefore rare Cheese and eggs were bulk of diet Spices from Eastern Europe were luxury goods Vegetables such as green beans, lettuce, melons, spinach, and tomatoes came from the East Coffee and Tea

Migration to the Cities Many peasants migrated to the cites Food then came from a shop Local governments provided aid More competition, which drove down prices of goods As cities developed, so too did an understanding of the world Therefore superstitions decreased Disenchantment of the world Moving away from magic

Review Questions 1. What evidence would you give that the printing press had significant influence during the Renaissance? 2. Why did urban life lead to the growing “disenchantment” of the world? 3. Did life improve for most Europeans during the 1500s? How?