Renaissance Social Changes

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Social and Economic Changes in Europe during the Renaissance The Middle Ages began after the fall of Rome. Due to barbarian invasions and various internal problems such as political corruption and a mercenary army, Rome declined and left Europe with failing urban centers, threats of invasion, diseases, a lack of literacy, and a struggling trade economy. Barbarians ravaged Europe, causing most to flee from major cities to the country for and peasants to seek protection from aristocrats and landowners, forming the feudal system. Although the barbarian tribes had rich cultures and history, they didn’t have any written language, and throughout the Middle Ages, literacy declined until members of the Church were the predominant literate faction. …show more content…
The bubonic plague killed a third of Europe’s population, increasing the demand for workers and food. With much of Europe dead, the serfs, the lowest social class of feudalism, began to demand more compensation for their work. This eventually lead to the re-urbanization of Europe and the renewal of European trade. The fall of the Byzantine empire by the Ottomans caused many classical scholars to escape into western Europe. These scholars reintroduced ancient Greek and Roman philosophies and ideals, inspiring the intellectual movement of the Renaissance. The holy wars against the Muslim empire sparked in an interest in Middle Eastern luxury goods such as spices, carpets, and olives. Venetian merchants in particular were especially exposed to eastern goods during the sacking of Constantinople in the 4th Crusade. This contact with other cultures is why Italy developed urbanized and economically stable city-state structures that began the rebirth of intellectual, spiritual, artistic, scientific, economic, social, and political thought in Western Europe. Soon, the Renaissance traveled north and began many other movements …show more content…
The whole time period could be described as religious, because the Church controlled life from birth to death through the sacraments and indulgences. Throughout the chaos, the Church remained stable with a defined hierarchy and strict rules on how to live daily life. It was accepted as a figurehead and few dared to question it in fear of excommunication. Soon, however, the monk Martin Luther would publish his 95 Theses that would forever change the course of European history. Disgusted by the corruptness of the Church, Luther condemned indulgences and urged for reform. Instead of reform, Luther started a new branch of Christianity where priests could marry, grace alone was the key to salvation, and the individual was emphasized. Soon others such as John Calvin began to accept Martin Luther’s teachings and added to them. Perhaps one of the boldest religious radicals was Henry VIII of England, the king who established the Anglican church of England. Even scientists began to openly dispute previous teachings supported by the Church. For example, most believed in the geocentric model, where the Sun and planets all revolve around the earth. Galileo undermined the Church when he became a supporter of the heliocentric model founded by Copernicus. As a result of his actions, he was put on house arrest and excommunicated. The church faced so much opposition that tensions began religious
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