Chapter 15Chapter 15Section 5Section 5

Culture andCulture and

Daily LifeDaily Life

ReviewReview

WhatWhat clarified the Catholic church’s clarified the Catholic church’s position on issues such as the position on issues such as the importance of ceremoniesimportance of ceremonies

What did Luther’s teachings do?What did Luther’s teachings do? How did Luther’s ideas spread quickly?How did Luther’s ideas spread quickly? Why was the Anglican Church created?Why was the Anglican Church created? What led to the creation of many What led to the creation of many

different churches in Europe and different churches in Europe and less less religious tolerancereligious tolerance

SuperstitionsSuperstitions Despite the growth of large cities, most Europeans Despite the growth of large cities, most Europeans

still lived in or near small villages.still lived in or near small villages. {{Small town lifeSmall town life in rapidly changing times led to in rapidly changing times led to

less tolerance for individuality and a rise in less tolerance for individuality and a rise in superstitious beliefssuperstitious beliefs} (Cove)} (Cove)

{In times of war, famine and plague people looked {In times of war, famine and plague people looked to superstitions and witchcraft to to superstitions and witchcraft to explain the explain the unknownunknown}} and misfortunes in their lives and misfortunes in their lives

Although they were Christians, Europeans Although they were Christians, Europeans explained many events that took place to be doings explained many events that took place to be doings of spiritsof spirits

““evil spirits” got blamed for everything. If lightning evil spirits” got blamed for everything. If lightning struck a house “a demon did it”. If a pitcher of milk struck a house “a demon did it”. If a pitcher of milk spilled, “it was that demon again” The good thing spilled, “it was that demon again” The good thing was that if your little brother came up with a black was that if your little brother came up with a black eye you could just use the “mom, the demon did it” eye you could just use the “mom, the demon did it” excuse.excuse.

Darn that pesky demon!Darn that pesky demon!

Continued…Continued… Village priests would either ignore or accept these Village priests would either ignore or accept these

beliefs because villagers were not satisfied with beliefs because villagers were not satisfied with the explanation that their misfortunes were God’s the explanation that their misfortunes were God’s willwill

People still believed priests could have positive People still believed priests could have positive effects. They blessed the earth for good crops, they effects. They blessed the earth for good crops, they blessed marriages for a good start in the union and blessed marriages for a good start in the union and baptized children to protect the newborn.baptized children to protect the newborn.

Villagers also looked to an older person in the Villagers also looked to an older person in the community to help with their problems community to help with their problems

They would look to this “wise” person to explain They would look to this “wise” person to explain what certain “warnings” meant. Like a lost items, what certain “warnings” meant. Like a lost items, sick animals. sick animals.

The “wise” person would explain what the warning The “wise” person would explain what the warning meant and recommend a remedy such as chants, meant and recommend a remedy such as chants, potions or charmspotions or charms

Belief in Witchcraft Belief in Witchcraft

Wise people were a part of the belief in witchcraft. Wise people were a part of the belief in witchcraft. They were considered to be “good witches”They were considered to be “good witches”

But if bad things started to happen or if they But if bad things started to happen or if they angered a neighbor, they might be accused of angered a neighbor, they might be accused of making a deal with the devil and becoming a “bad making a deal with the devil and becoming a “bad witch”witch”

Most of the time it was elderly widows that were Most of the time it was elderly widows that were accused of evil witchcraft because they were accused of evil witchcraft because they were vulnerable and made easy targetsvulnerable and made easy targets

Outrageous stories spread through the Outrageous stories spread through the countryside, and with it outrageous accusations of countryside, and with it outrageous accusations of flying on broomsticks, sticking pins into dolls and flying on broomsticks, sticking pins into dolls and dancing with the devil in the woods at night. dancing with the devil in the woods at night.

Good Witch

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Continued…Continued… In the best case scenario, the accused would be In the best case scenario, the accused would be

given an exorcism by a priest to drive out the given an exorcism by a priest to drive out the demon that had taken her overdemon that had taken her over

In other cases, the accused would be dragged down In other cases, the accused would be dragged down to a bonfire, tied to a stake and burned aliveto a bonfire, tied to a stake and burned alive

The outburst of “witch hunting” in Europe lasted The outburst of “witch hunting” in Europe lasted over 100 years. Eventually witches were given a over 100 years. Eventually witches were given a trial before they were put to death if found guiltytrial before they were put to death if found guilty

It was not just people who did not know any better It was not just people who did not know any better who had these superstitions. Both religious and who had these superstitions. Both religious and secular leaders accepted witchcraft as an secular leaders accepted witchcraft as an explanation of the problems in the world. Even explanation of the problems in the world. Even educated people chose to believe in such thingseducated people chose to believe in such things

As the religious wars ended people gained a sense As the religious wars ended people gained a sense of security and the witch hunt, although it did not of security and the witch hunt, although it did not go away, did die down.go away, did die down.

Bad Witch

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Daily LifeDaily Life Every village had a place were people came together Every village had a place were people came together

to drink, sew, tell stories play games and socialize.to drink, sew, tell stories play games and socialize. Because villagers were such a tight knit community, Because villagers were such a tight knit community,

anyone who upset traditions or behaved oddly was anyone who upset traditions or behaved oddly was treated harshlytreated harshly

Quarrels between neighbors were common and the Quarrels between neighbors were common and the strain of hardship or famine could cause villagers to strain of hardship or famine could cause villagers to respond violentlyrespond violently

Few villagers could read, in some cases even the Few villagers could read, in some cases even the priests could not readpriests could not read

However, after the invention of the moveable type However, after the invention of the moveable type works were more accessible and brought literature to works were more accessible and brought literature to the villages the villages

{Single page printed sheets of news known as {Single page printed sheets of news known as broadsidesbroadsides}} began to appear began to appear

The most common books in the villages were the The most common books in the villages were the alminacs alminacs which published predictions about the which published predictions about the weather and prospects of crop growthweather and prospects of crop growth

A German A German broadside broadside containing containing stories of stories of pilgrimages pilgrimages during the during the Counter-Counter-ReformationReformation

Changes in Daily LifeChanges in Daily Life {Protestants and Catholics both used education to win {Protestants and Catholics both used education to win

supporters} supporters} by encouraging the founding of primary by encouraging the founding of primary schools in the villagesschools in the villages

Thanks to open trade many new spices, vegetables Thanks to open trade many new spices, vegetables coffee and tea became accessible even by the poor. coffee and tea became accessible even by the poor. Where as before their diets consisted mostly of eggs, Where as before their diets consisted mostly of eggs, cheese and breadcheese and bread

In the cities brick and stone became more common In the cities brick and stone became more common material for housingmaterial for housing

In hoping to escape poverty many people moved from In hoping to escape poverty many people moved from the country to the cities. Seeing that in cities during the country to the cities. Seeing that in cities during famines, bread was handed out, and during plague famines, bread was handed out, and during plague times, hospitals were set up, the ideas of superstitions times, hospitals were set up, the ideas of superstitions and “the demon did it” ideas were beginning to die downand “the demon did it” ideas were beginning to die down

Instead people began to seek rational explanations for Instead people began to seek rational explanations for things. This important development was called the things. This important development was called the “disenchantment” “disenchantment”

ReviewReview

What led to less tolerance for What led to less tolerance for individuality and a rise in superstitious individuality and a rise in superstitious beliefsbeliefs

In times of war, famine and plague people In times of war, famine and plague people looked to superstitions and witchcraft to looked to superstitions and witchcraft to explain what?explain what?

What are Single page printed sheets of What are Single page printed sheets of news?news?

What did Protestants and Catholics both What did Protestants and Catholics both use to win supportersuse to win supporters

MOM.. It wasn’t me, the demon did it!!!!!