1. Ch. 15.5
Culture and Daily Life

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

3. 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?

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

6. 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

7. 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

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

12. 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?

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

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

16. 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

18. 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

20. 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?