During the Middle Ages in Europe, religion was a central part of people's worldview as most believed the Christian Church was necessary for salvation. The Black Death led some to question their faith in the Church. As the Renaissance began, exploration and trade expanded people's knowledge of the world while new thinkers also challenged religious orthodoxy, shifting society toward more secular values.

2. The Black Death
0 A punishment from God
0 Religion was a central part of daily lives
0 Christian Church shaped worldview
0 People believed they needed the Christian Church to
help then get into heaven.

3. Finish this sentence:
In Canada today, ______________ is a
central part of people’s daily lives.

4. Finish this sentence:
In Canada today, ______________ is a
central part of people’s daily lives.
What does this suggest about worldviews in our
society?

5. Medieval Map (p. 30)
- Shows that religion was an
important part of worldview at
the time.
- Jesus is shown looking over the
world and Jerusalem is placed in
the center of the world. It also
shows that people had little
knowledge or understanding of
the world beyond Europe and the
Middle East.
- Heaven is represented by angels.
The figure of Jesus is at the top
center.
- Shows the knowledge they had
was not always right.
- Reflects religious ideas
- Exaggerated size of what is now
modern-day Israel and the
Palestinian territories
- Show that this part of the world
was important to the mapmaker,
supporting the idea that religion
was important to Europeans in
the middle Ages

6. Roles of the Church
Continuity Change
0 To what extent did 0 To what extent did
the roles of the the roles of the
Church stay the Church change?
same?

7. Changing Hierarchy
(Social Structure)
Feudalism Church

8. Responsibilities
Right to
Right to

9. Cathedrals
- Built more than 1500 churches
from 900-1000 A.D in France.
- Built more all over Europe
- Pride and competition to build
the tallest and most beautiful
buildings
- People put money and labour
into building
- Involved hundreds of masons,
sculptors, carpenters,
blacksmiths, and workers
- Heavy work was done by serfs
and peasants.

10. The Royal Abbey of
St. Denis in France
- Ordinary people entering a
building such as The Royal Abbey
of St. Denis in France (pictured
here) might have felt very
overwhelmed; they might feel
they were not worthy of being in
such a place.
- They might have felt very
thankful that God allowed them
this experience.
- If the Church could prosper by
following the teachings of God,
then they might have felt their
life would be best served by
turning their thoughts to God.

11. The Monastic Life
0 Deeply religious people during the medieval and
Renaissance times joined a religious order
0 Men became monks and entered monasteries
0 Women became nuns and entered covenants
0 They spent their lives studying religious texts,
praying, and working.
0 They grew and prepared food for the order, taught
children, cared for the sick and the poor, and fed the
hungry.

12. Learning and the Church
0 Monks and nuns were well educated
0 Some monasteries became great centres of learning during medieval
times
0 Religious scholars copied Christian religious texts as well as
manuscripts from ancient times written in Latin and Greek
0 These manuscripts and the ideas they contained contributed to a
revival of learning during the Renaissance.
0 Universities evolved from religious schools
0 Subjects such as grammar, geometry, astronomy, and music were
taught
0 Training in religion, law, and medicine was also offered
0 By the end of the 1400s there were more than 80 universities in
Western Europe.
0 Women were allowed to attend some universities by the late 1800s

13. Changing Attitudes Toward
Religion
0 Some people questioned their faith due to the Black
Death
0 Became critical of the church
0 Wealthy
0 Owned 1/3 of the land in Europe
0 Earned a large about of money from rent
0 Collected money in tithes
0 Received money from the estates of wealthy members
0 Some members of the clergy enjoyed the wealth

14. A New Age
0 Towns were emerging
0 A merchant class was developing
0 Less rigid social structure
0 Material possessions were becoming more important
0 1855 – French historian Jules Michelet came up with
the term “Renaissance” to describe the period that
was beginning (creativity in the arts and sciences) in
Italy.

15. Abraham Ortelius Map
(circa. 1612)
Changing Worldviews:
- Drawn toward the end of the
Renaissance
- Abraham Ortelius was a
Renaissance map-maker and
geographer
- Ortelius is believed to have
created the first modern atlas
that was sold to the public
- Prior to the invention of the
printing press, maps were only
available to the rich and
powerful

16. Changing Worldviews
Psalter Map Abraham Ortelius Map
Ortelius’ map shows a more accurate
understanding of the world. It includes North
and South America and a better understanding
of the oceans. It does not have symbols
representing religion or legendary figures.

17. Changing Worldviews
Psalter Map Abraham Ortelius Map
People were more interested in worldly
pleasures so they would have been more
adventurous in finding them. The growing
merchant class would have supported
exploration to new parts of the world.

18. Renaissance
Personalities
Christine de Pisan
(1364 – 1430)
French poet, philosopher, historian.
Educated in ancient languages and
literature. Wrote that women should
be allowed to participate more fully
in society.

19. Renaissance
Personalities
Vasco da Gama
c. 1460-1524
Portuguese explorer. First person to
sail directly from Europe to India.
Started “Age of Exploration” during
which Europeans began to settle
different parts of the world.

20. Renaissance
Personalities
Francois 1, King of
France
1494-1547
Supported the construction of
buildings using the new Renaissance
architecture (e.g., the Louvre in Paris
and the Chateau de Chambord).

21. Renaissance
Personalities
Martin Luther
1483-1546
German religious thinker. Translated
the Bible into German. A leading
protester and religious reformer
against the corruption of the Church.

22. Renaissance
Personalities
Nicolaus Copernicus
1473-1543
Polish astronomer and
mathematician. Published his theory
that the sun is near the center of the
universe, not the Earth. Considered
the father of modern astronomy and
science.

23. Renaissance
Personalities
Leonardo da Vinci
1452-1519
Architect, inventor, engineer, painter,
musician. Painted one of the world’s
most famous paintings, the Mona
Lisa. One of the great geniuses of all
time.