Changing Cultural Traditions ( MCQs, SHORT & LONG QUESTIONS ALSO MAP WORK) 2021-2022

CHANGING CULTURAL TRADITIONS

Revision Notes

The Renaissance – Causes and Features.

From the 14thcentury to the end of the 17thcentury, towns were growing in many countries of Europe, there was development of a distinct ‘urban culture’.

There is a vast amount of material available – documents, printed books, paintings, sculptures, buildings and textiles. Much of these are carefully preserved in archives, art galleries and museums.

Renaissance literally means ‘rebirth’. It was a cultural movement that first originated in Italy (1300-1550 CE) and soon spread to France, England and Germany and gradually to the whole of Europe.

It changed the thinking of the common people and gave birth to logic and reasoning among the masses. Consequently, there was a growth of new tendencies in the spheres of literature, religion, philosophy, arts, science and politics.

The Cause of the Renaissance include:

(i) Decline of Constantinople which had been an important center of learning, arts and philosophy. When it was captured by the Seljuk Turks, the artists fled to Italy and the interest of the Italians in Greek and Roman literature grew as a result of interaction with these artists and scholars.

(ii) Decline of Feudalism encouraged intellectual growth and artistic as well as philosophical progress.

(iii) The Crusades also introduced people to new ideas and religious thought and people in Europe got an opportunity to study the philosophy of Aristotle and Plato.

(iv) Growth of Prosperous Trading Community was encouraged by the growth in trade and commerce. These prosperous traders became patrons of art and literature.

v) Royal patronage too, helped significantly in the rise and growth of Renaissance and also encouraged inventions in the field of science.

(vi) The Italian cities and towns that had been ruined after the decline of the Roman empire got a new lease of life as the Italian ports revived due to trade between the Byzantine Empire and the Islamic countries. Commercial activities got a boost as the Mongols opened up trade with China via the Silk Route. Italian cities like Florence and Venice played an important role as independent ‘city states’ instead of the clergy and the feudal lords. Rich merchants and bankers played a vital role in governing the city.

(vii) New routes to India and other countries of the East were searched to procure the luxury items, that added to the prosperity of the cities like Venice, Milan and Florence. They soon became centres of foreign trade.

(viii) Spread of Humanism, that is, interest was generated in human life, that laid more emphasis on worldly interests as compared to spirituality. They denounced superstitions and believed in ability of mankind to achieve happiness and perfection even without religion. Thus, Humanism proved to be the very soul of Renaissance and greatly contributed to the growth of science, arts and architecture.

The Reformation – Causes and Results

The Renaissance paved the way for Reformation and delivered a fatal blow to the ideas and traditions of the

medieval ages and supremacy of the Church. Trade and travel, military conquests and diplomatic contacts linked Italian towns and courts with the world beyond.

The new culture was admired and imitated by the educated and the wealthy.

During 15th-16thcentury, many scholars were attracted to humanist ideas and called on Christians to practice religion in the way as laid down in the ancient texts, discarding unnecessary rituals. Theirs was a radically new view of human beings as free and rational agents.

Christians humanists like Thomas Moore (1478-1535) in England and Erasmus (1466-1536) in Holland felt that the church had become an institution marked by greed, extorting money at will from ordinary people. People realised that such practices such the sale of indulgences, were not permitted by their religion.

In almost all parts of Europe, peasants rebelled against the taxes imposed by the church, the princes too found

their interference in matters of state irritating.

In 1517, Martin Luther (1483-1546), a German monk launched a campaign against the Catholic church and argued that a person did not need priests to establish contact with God. This movement is called the ‘Protestant Reformation’ led to the churches in Germany and Switzerland breaking their connection with the Pope and the Catholic church. In Switzerland, Luther ’s ideas were popularised by Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531) and later by Jean Calvin (1509-64).

The reformers, backed by merchants, had great appeal in towns. Other reformers like Anabaptists were even

more radical, they blended idea of salvation with the end of all forms of social oppression which appealed to all peasants oppressed by feudalism. However, Martin Luther did not extend his support to rebellious peasants.

The peasant uprising was the outcome of an endemic agrarian unrest. The peasants used religious ideology in

order to legitimise their revolt. It delivered a fatal blow to feudalism.

Eventually, in France, the Catholic Church allowed the Protestants to worship as they chose. In England, the

rulers ended their connection with the Pope, and the king/queen became the head of the church.

The Catholic church itself began to reform from within. In Spain and Italy, churchmen emphasised the need for

a simple life and service to the poor. In Spain, Ignatius Loyola, in an attempt to combat Protestantism, set up the society of Jesus in 1540. His followers were called Jesuits, whose mission was to serve the poor and to widen their knowledge of other cultures.

Know the Dates

1516 -Thomas More’s Utopia published.

1517- Martin Luther wrote the Ninety-Five Thesis.

1522- Luther translated the Bible into German.

1525- Peasant uprising in Germany.

1543- Andreas Vesalius wrote On Anatomy.

1559- Anglican Church established in England with the King/Queen as head.

1569- Gerardus Mercator prepared cylindrical map of the earth.

1582- Gregorian calendar introduced by Pope Gregory XIII.

1628- William Harvey linked the heart and blood circulation.

1673- Academy of Sciences set up in Pairs.

1687- Isaac Newton’s Principia Mathematica published.

The Debate

Some scholars have raised questions regarding the concept of Renaissance. Writers, like Peter Burke, have suggested that Burckhardt have exaggerated the sharp difference between this period and the preceding period by using the term ‘Renaissance’.

To contrast the Renaissance as a period of dynamism and artistic creativity and the middle ages as a period of

gloom and lack of development would be an over-simplification. It has been suggested that similar literary and artistic blooming occurred in 9thcentury France too.

The cultural changes were not shaped only by ‘classical’ Greek and Roman civilisation. The technologies and

skills in Asia had moved far ahead from what the Greeks and Romans had known. The expansion of Islam andthe Mongol conquests had linked Asia and North Africa with Europe not politically but, in terms of trade and learning skills. The Europeans therefore learnt not just from Greek and the Romans but also from India, Arabia,Iran, Central Asia and China.

An important change was that ‘private’ (family and personal religion) and ‘public’ (area of government and formal religion) spheres of life began to become separate. A person was not just a member of the ‘Three Orders’ but also an individual in his own right. Humanism as a literary movement focused on individualism and secularism. Renaissance undoubtedly glorified the essential worth of an individual.

Different regions of Europe, started to have their separate sense of identity, based on language. Europe earlier

united by the Roman Empire and later by Latin and Christianity, now dissolved into states each united by a language.

Objective Type Questions (1 mark each)

Choose the correct option.

Q. 1.What is the literal meaning of the term Renaissance ?

(a) Re imagine

(b) Revert

(d) Rebirth

Ans. (d) Rebirth

Q. 2. Which of these Italian city contributed to the growth of Renaissance?

(a) Turin

(b) Lucca

(d) Bari

Ans. (c) Venice

Q. 3. Who was Petrarch?

(a) A great poet and historian of France

(b) A great poet and historian of Italy

(d) A philanthropist of France

Ans. (b) A great poet and historian of Italy

Q. 4. Which of these was a motivating factor behind voyages and discoveries?

(a) The need to meet new people

(b) To spread different religions

(d) The thirst to earn name and fame

Ans. (d) The thirst to earn name and fame

Q. 5. State whether these statements are True or False.

a. The Christian notion of Man was that man was a sinner.

b. Protestant Reformation is the movement that began in the 15th century to reform the Christian religion.

Answers:

a. Tr u e

b. Tr u e

(A) Assertion and Reason Type Questions: (1 mark each)

For each part choose from the following:

(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.

(c) A is true but R is false.

(d) A is false but R is true.

Q. 1. Assertion (A): From 1417, the popes became politically stronger.

Reason (R): They actively encouraged the study of Rome’s history.

Ans.(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.

Q. 2. Assertion (A): Humanists thought that they were restoring ‘true civilization’ after centuries of darkness.

Reason (R): They believed that a ‘dark age’ had set in after the collapse of the Roman Empire.

Ans. (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

Q. 3. Assertion (A): Many scholars were indebted to Arab translators who had carefully preserved and translated ancient manuscripts.

Reason (R): Among the Christian writers whowere regarded as men of wisdom in the Italian world were Ibn Sina.

Ans. (c) A is true but R is false.

(B) Source Based Multiple Choice Questions: (3 marks each)

Q. 1.Look at this picture and study the extract carefully and answer ANY THREE of the following questions by choosing the correct option:

The self-portrait is by Leonardo da Vinci (1450 -1519) who had an amazing range of interest from botany and anatomy to mathematics and art. He painted the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper.One of his dreams was to be able to fly. He spent years observing birds in flight and designed a flying machine.He signed his name Leonardo da Vinci disciple of experiment.

(i) What was the area of interest of Leonardo da Vinci?

(a) He took interest in botany, anatomy, mathematics and art

(b) He took interest in European paintings

(d) He took interest in religious transformation

Ans.(a) He took interest in botany, anatomy, mathematics and art.

(ii)What was one of his dreams?

(a)To become a famous painter

(b)To be able to fly

(c)He wanted to publish Ninety-five Thesis

(d)None of the above

Ans.(b) To be able to fly

(iii)Name the world-famous paintings made by Leonardo da Vinci?

(a)Mona Lisa

(b)The Last Supper

(c)The Pieta

(d)Both (a) and (b)

Ans.(d)Both (i) and (ii).

(iv) What do you know about Leonardo da Vinci?

(a) He was a humanist.

(b) He was an Italian Renaissance philosopher.

(d) He was a famous painter of Italy.

Ans.(d) He was a famous painter of Italy.

Q. 2. Read the following extract carefully and answer ANY THREE of the following questions by choosing the correct option:

In 1517, a young German Monk called Martin Luther (1483 – 1546) launched a campaign against the Catholic Church and argued that a person did not need priests to establish contact with God. He asked his followers to have complete faith in God, for faith alone could guide them to the right life and entry into heaven. This movement - called the Protestant Reformation - led to the churches in Germany and Switzerland breaking their connection with the Pope and the Catholic Church. In Switzerland, Luther ’s ideas were popularized by Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531) and later by Jean Calvin (1509 – 64). Backed by merchants, the reformers had greater popular appeal in towns, while in rural area the Catholic Church managed to retain its influence. Other German reformers, like the Anabaptists, were even more radical: they blend it the idea of salvation with the end of all forms of social oppression. They said that since God had created all people as equal, they were not expected to pay taxes and had the right to choose their priests. This appealed to peasants oppressed by feudalism.

(i) According to the given information who was Martin Luther?

(a) He was a great philosopher of Spain

(b) He was a famous historian of Florence

(d) He was a professor in Padua university

Ans.(c) He was the leader of protestant reformation movement

(ii)Which of the following is the correct statement?

(a) No person needs a priest to establish contact with God

(b) The followers to have complete faith in God

(d) None of these

Ans. (c) Both (a) and (b)

(iii)Name the person who was responsible for/ behind the popular rise of Martin Luther ’s ideas:

(a) Andrea Vaseline

(b)Thomas more

(d) Ulrich Zwingli

Ans.(d) Ulrich Zwingli

(iv)Who argued that a person did not need Priests to establish contact with God?

(a)Andrea Vaseline

(b)Thomas more

(c)Martin Luther

(d)Ulrich Zwingli

Ans.(c) Martin Luther

Q. 3.Study the given picture from Changing Cultural Traditions carefully and answer ANY THREEquestions from the below-mentioned questions with correct options:

(i) Name the famous person shown in the picture:

(a) Johannes Kepler

(b) Copernicus

(d) Joachim Rheticus

Ans.(b) Copernicus

(ii) Copernicus asserted that the planets including earth revolve around Sun.

(a) The statement is True

(b) The statement is False

(d) None of these

Ans.(a) The statement is True

(iii) Joachim Rheticus was a follower of Copernicus. To whom he handed over:

(a) Manuscript The Planet

(b) Manuscript De revolutionibus

(d) None of these

Ans.(b) Manuscript De revolutionibus

(iv) Copernicus was a devout Christian.

(a) The statement is True

(b) The statement is False

(d) None of these

Ans.(a) The statement is True

Q. 4.Read the following extract carefully and answer ANY THREE of the following questions by

choosing the correct option:

Formal education was not the only way through which humanist shaped the mind of their age.

Art, architecture and books were wonderfully effective in transmitting humanist ideas.

Artists were inspired by studying works of the past. The material remains of Roman culture were

sought with as much excitement as ancient text: a thousand years after the fall of Rome, fragments

of art were discovered in the ruins of ancient Rome and other deserted cities. Their admiration

for the figures of perfectly proportioned men and women sculpted so many centuries ago, made

Italian sculptors want to continue that tradition. In 1416, Donatello (1386-1456) broke new ground

with his life-like statues.

(i) After studying the extract, what do you think what are the main factors which effectively

transmit humanist ideas?

(a) Art

(b) Architecture

(d) All of these

Ans. (d) All of these

(ii) Who was Donatello?

(a) Italian sculptor

(b) Philosopher

(d) None of these

Ans.(a) Italian sculptor

(iii) From where were the artists inspired?

(a) Books

(b) Technology

(d) Work of the past

Ans.(d) Work of the past

(iv) Which of the following was perfectly related to the thoughts of Humanism?

(a) Free thinking

(b) Reasoning

(d) Both (a) and (b)

Ans.(d) Both (a) and (b)

NCERT CORNER

Answer in Brief

Q. 1.Which elements of Greek and Roman Culture were revived in the 14th and 15th centuries?

Ans.The elements of the Greek and Roman culture that were revived were:

(i)Literature or literary elements:The universities of Padua and Bologna took deep interest in the

literature of the Romans and the Greeks with focus on cultural traditions. The focus was on grammar,rhetoric, poetry, history and moral philosophy.

(ii) Humanism: It centred on the skills of an individual developed by debate and discussion and owed

much to the humanist elements emphasised in Greek and Roman thought. The focus was on the individual.

(iii) Art & Architecture:The fragments of Roman art were carefully studied especially the proportionate

figures of human sculptures and tried to paint realistically. There was a revival of old imperial style of Roman architecture and many features like the decoration and reliefs were copied.

Q. 2. Compare the details of Italian architecture of this period with Islamic architecture.

Ans.The ruins of Rome inspired a new style in architecture which was actually a revival of Imperial

Roman style. This came to be known as the ‘classical’ style. This classical architecture was adopted by the Pope, wealthy merchants and the aristocrats. Buildings were decorated with paintings, sculptures and reliefs.

On the other hand, Islamic buildings – mosques, shrines and tombs had the same design – arches,domes, minarets and open courtyards. The mosques had a distinct architectural form i.e.the roofs were supported by pillars. The desert palace of the Umayyads were decorated with sculptures mosaics and paintings of people. However, as Islam prohibits depiction of living form, calligraphy and arabesque (i.e.geometric and vegetal designs), small and big inscriptions were used to decorate architecture.

Plants and floral designs were used apart from couplets from the Quran.

Q. 3. Why were the Italian towns the first to experience the ideas of Humanism?

Ans. The Italian towns were the first to experience the ideas of Humanism because the earliest universities

in Europe had been set up in Italian towns of Padua and Bologna. These had been centres of legal studies from the 11th century. The law was studied in context of the earlier Roman culture.The Italian towns were nodal points in the trade across the Mediterranean. They represented the political facet of Renaissance i.e.replacement of universal empires with independent towns.In these towns, the clergy was not dominant, neither were the feudal lords. Rich merchants and bankers actively participated in governance. This led to concept of citizenship with a sense of pride. These people were also great patrons of artists and scholars. When Constantinople was conquered by the Turks, the Greek scholars migrated to Italy and created new spirit and interest in the old classics. Remarkable pieces of art and literature were produced under their guidance.

Q. 4.Compare the Venetian idea of good government with those of contemporary France.

Ans. The Venetian idea of good government was that the whole authority of the city had been vested in

the Venetian commonwealth. All the gentlemen of the city above 25 years of age were members of the commonwealth. Thus, the common people were not to be admitted in the commonwealth. This idea of good government was adopted because many problems had occurred in those cities where the authority had been vested in the hands of the common people.In contemporary France, the ruler had the absolute powers. There was Estate General which functioned as the French consultative assembly. The meeting of the Estates General was called in 1614. It represented the three estates – clergy, nobility and the rest. But no meeting of Estates General was called for next about two hundred years because the kings did not want to share power with the three orders.

Short Essay Answer Type Questions

Q. 1.What were the features of Humanist thought?

Ans. Humanism thought was a consequence of Renaissance and enlightenment in Europe. It is an

outlook or thought process that is concerned with humans rather than the divine.Humanists believed in the potential of human beings. They believed that man had the potential to take care of his life and did not have to depend on the divine. Humanism extolled man, stressed his worth and dignity, expressed faith in his creative potential. It stood for freedom and rights of the individual. Humanists thought that there was dark age after the fall of the Roman empire for about a thousand years.In the middle ages from the 5th-14th century, the church controlled the minds of people. They stated that man had the intelligence to make a distinction between right or wrong, just and unjust and good or bad and therefore is capable of shaping his life. Humanist thought was reflected in the contemporary view of history, in art and architecture. Humanists regarded themselves as restoring ‘True Civilisation’or beginning of the ‘modern age’ as compared to the preceding Dark Age which set in the collapse of the Roman Empire. There was development of realism in art which was seen as imitation of life.Animals, humans, nature all was carefully studied and depicted. The focus was on physical aspects of man’s existence as can be seen in the works like Michelangelo’s ‘Last Judgement’ and ‘Fall of Man’, Raphael’s ‘Madonna’ and Leonardo-da-Vinci’s ‘last Supper ’ and ‘Mona Lisa’.Writings of Petrarch Dante led to debate and discussion on matters other than religion such as poetry, theatre, grammar, philosophy, medicine, geometry, science etc. Humanist thought was the chief characteristic of Renaissance.

Q. 2.How did Reformation contribute to the growth of the nation-states?

Ans.The Reformation enhanced the power of kings leading to the growth of the nation-states. The

success of the reformists against Roman Catholic Church empowered the heads of the states to follow religion of their choice. As a consequence, countries like Germany, England and Sweden refused to recognise the authority of the Pope. It assumed the form of nationalism particularly in England and Germany. The Kings of England broke away from the catholic church and the king/queen became the head of the church in England. In 1559 Anglican Church was established in England.The combination of religious and administrative powers in the royalty boosted loyalty among the masses that encouraged national unity.

Q. 3.Why was there a split in the Roman Catholic church because of Reformation?

Ans.The Roman Catholic Church was split into Catholics and Protestants because of the Reformation. Some

rulers came out in support of the Catholic Church while others became Protestants. The ideology of Martin Luther received a wide support of people in various European countries as the masses were against the corrupt practices of the Church and despotism of the priests. Thus, the followers of Christianity were split into two sects, the Catholics and the Protestants. The Catholic Church was the traditional one with Pope as its head. Protestant form of Christianity was a modified form of the religion that did not recognise Pope as their spiritual head.

Q. 4. Describe the political system that developed in nation-states in Europe.

Ans.The features of the new political system that developed in the nation-states in Europe were:

(i) Absolute Monarchy:the kings were despotic monarchs that assumed all power in their hands.

They were treated as God’s representatives on earth and ruled on their behalf.

(ii) Supporters of the king:The rich middle class supported and financed the king that strengthened

his position further.

(iii) Courts of Appeal:The powerful monarchies had strong courts of appeal. The courts could challenge

and condemn the decisions of the feudal lords.

(iv) Independent kings:Now the king was free of intervention from the Pope and the feudal lords.

Q. 5.What led to the conflict between the king and the Parliament in England in the 17th century?

Ans. The various reasons responsible for the conflict between the king and the Parliament in England were:

(i) Divine rights of kings:The British Parliament declined to accept the divine rights of the Stuart Kings. The Parliament condemned the despotic rulers.

(ii) Levy of taxes and Duties:The Stuart kings of England sold the titles of nobility to the wealthy

English men. They levied tariff duties and taxes on the rich. They also took loans from them for which they did not seek permission from the Parliament. The Parliament could not tolerate this.

(iii) Waging of Wars:Charles I waged fruitless wars against Spain, France and Holland. They rendered

England financially weak. The king and the Parliament, therefore, remained in conflict.

Q. 6. How did the world appear different to 17th century Europeans?

Ans. The world had entered the modern age in the 17th century. So, it had taken a new shape that was

different from the medieval world. Following were the points of difference:

(i) A new distinct urban culture developed, the urban class thought of themselves as more civilised than

the rural people.

(ii) Growth of new towns and revival of old ones was seen in many countries of Europe. Florence and

Venice and Rome became centres of art and learning.

(iii) Artists and writers were patronised by the new rich and the aristocrats.

(iv) The invention of the printing press made books available to all, that also helped the spread of

education and humanist thought.

(v) A sense of history developed. People contrasted their modern world with the ancient world of

Greeks and the Romans.

Q. 7. What questions have been raised regarding the concept of Renaissance?

Ans.Some scholars have raised questions regarding the concept of Renaissance. Writers like Peter Burke

have suggested that Burckhardt have exaggerated the sharp difference between this period and the preceding period by using the term ‘Renaissance’. To contrast the Renaissance as a period of dynamism and artistic creativity and the middle ages as a period of gloom and lack of development would be an over-simplification. It has been suggested that similar literary and artistic blooming occurred in 9th century France too.

Long Answers Type Questions (8 marks each)

Q. 1. How did the achievements of Renaissance scientists contribute to revolution in science?

Ans.Renaissance scientists represented a new trend with a focus on questioning, observation and experimentation.

(i) Copernicus (1473-1543):Represented the turning point in European science. He was the first to put

forth the theory that the earth rotates on its axis and revolves around the sun. This was a complete break from the traditional system of thought which believed that the earth was the centre of the world. It was a sinful place and heavy burden of sin made it immobile.

(ii) Galileo (1564-1642):He invented the telescope and used it to observe heavenly bodies. On the basis of

his observations he confirmed Copernicus’ theory.

(iii) Kepler (1571-1630):Kepler popularised the theory that the earth was a part of a sun centred system and demonstrated that the planets moved around the sun in elliptical orbits and not circles.

(iv) Isaac Newton (1642-1726):he put forth the theory of gravitation which proved that all heavenly bodies

move according to their gravitational force.

(v) Harvey:Proved that the heart pumps the blood in our body and gave complete understanding of circulation of blood in our body.

(vi) Vesalius (1514-1564):Based on his study of dissection of human body, he provided the complete

description of the human body. This marked the beginning of modern anatomy.The Renaissance scientists began learning by observation and experimentation popularly termed as scientific method. It emphasised knowledge as

distinct from belief. This method is till date applied to various fields and is termed as the Scientific

Revolution. Increasingly nature rather than God was seen as the source of all creation. This thought was popularised by scientific societies such as Paris Academy (1670) and The Royal Society in London (1662).

Q. 2.What do you understand by the term ‘Renaissance’? Analyse the role of the printing press in Renaissance

and the rapid spread of humanist culture of Italy.

Ans.Renaissance means ‘rebirth’. It occurred in Italy in the 15th century. A new movement of knowledge

started in Europe after a long dark age of ignorance. The people of Europe again began to take interest in European ancient culture and civilisation. By 1500 CE, a number of classical texts had been printed in Italy and most of them in Latin language. Now books were easily available and students did not have to depend on the hand-written notes. Ideas and opinions spread more widely and rapidly than ever before. A printed book with new ideas could quickly reach thousands of readers. Now people could purchase books and this greatly spread humanist ideas. Great writers like Shakesphear wrote great books. The books discussed man’s sentiments, capabilities and weaknesses in detail. Famous literary works of the period include Utopia, Hamlet, Divine comedy etc. Humanism also had a great influence on the art of the Renaissance Age. Though the paintings of Raphael and Michelangelo were concerned with wealth, their basis was man. In their paintings they depicted mother Mary as an affectionate mother to Jesus. Other famous works include Mona Lisa, Madonna etc. The artists attached great importance to the beauty of the physical form. Leonardo-da-Vinci was a painter, sculptor, architect, engineer and a scientist. His works reveal his mastery over colours and forms.

Q. 3.Describe any five key features of Renaissance.

Ans.The key features of Renaissance are:

(i) Rise of Nation-states:The main feature was the development of the idea of a nation state. It paved

the way for national security and growth of common culture, language, humanism, literature etc. It helped in bringing the modern age and scientific knowledge.

(ii) Discoveryof new lands: the great sailors like Vasco-da-Gama and Columbus discovered new lands like

India and America. As a result, people mixed freely with the people from the other parts of the world and there was a free exchange of ideas.

(iii)Reformation:Many reformers attacked and criticised the church and the feudal system, the two main pillars of the Middle Ages. Reformers like Martin Luther of Germany, criticised and opposed the corrupt practices of the clergy. He started the new movement i.e.the Protestant Movement against the Roman Catholic Church. His movement encouraged free thinking among people and blind faith in dogmas was discouraged and criticised thus moving towards the modern age.

(iv) Humanism: Humanism was the philosophy which had faith and confidence in the unlimited capacities

of man to develop himself. According to Humanists, all efforts should be directed to promote welfare of mankind without reference to religion and God. This was a big move towards modern thinking.

(v) The Rise of the Middle Class: During the middle ages the clergy and the feudal lords were all important in the society. With the growth of trade and commerce, there was a rise of new cities and towns and the discovery of new lands, a new class of people known as the middle class emerged. They were not ready to bow before the corrupt clergy and the pleasure-seeking nobility. They challenged the special rights and privileges of the so called upper classes of the contemporary society.

Q. 4. Discuss the rise of the Protestant movement launched in Europe in the 16th-17th century.

Ans. In the Medieval age, the Roman Catholic Church dominated western Europe. The church enjoyed

abundant powers and gradually many evil practices creeped in as the clergy became corrupt. The Renaissance created awareness about the same and encouraged rational thinking. People were now losing their faith in the church. They began to criticise worship and organisation of the church. The Pope enjoyed absolute powers. The appointed clergymen in different countries too had become corrupt. The church had its own court of justice which was free from state laws. However, the Pope could interfere with the state functions. With the rise of nation-states, the powers of the king had increased tremendously. They too wanted to put a check on the Pope’s rights and privileges. So,the kings supported the Reformation as they saw it as an opportunity to free themselves from the control of the Church and the Pope.The peasants too were fed up with the taxes imposed on them by the church. There were peasant revolts at many places. With the beginning of printing technology, large number of books were printed that made people aware that letter of indulgences was not permitted in the religion but had been only imposed by the greedy church to extort money. Reformation Movement was launched by Martin Luther of Germany against the prevailing wrong practices in the Roman Church. He argued that a person did not need priests to establish contact with God. They separated themselves from the Roman Catholic church and set up a new Protestant church. The followers of Christianity were divided into two groups- Protestants and Catholics. From Germany the reformation movement spread to other European countries as well and was carried forward under Zwingli in Switzerland and Calvin in France.

Q. 5. How did Renaissance / Humanism impact Christianity. Discuss with emphasis on Protestant

Reformation.

Ans. Humanism had a deep impact on Christianity. In Italy Renaissance with its focus on classical Greco-

Roman texts led to individualism and questioning of religious dogmas by professional scholars. In Northern Europe, humanism attracted many members of the church. They called on Christians to practice religion in the way it was laid down in the ancient texts discarding rituals and returning to the earlier pure form. There was a radical new view of human beings as free and rational beings.Christian humanists such as Thomas More in England and Erasmus in Holland objected tothe luxurious life led by those associated with the Church. They objected to sale of letters of indulgences to those people who had sinned. In this way the rich could absolve themselves of the sins they committed. Further the Church’s focus on Latin excluded the common man who could not read or write. With the spread of education and the printing press, Bible was also translated into vernacular languages and the religious teachings reached the common man.The authority of the church began to be questioned, Peasants rebelled against the taxes and extortions of the church. Princess found the interference of the church cumbersome. Humanist’s argument that the ‘Donation of Constantine’ which was the basis of clergy’s claim to judicial and fiscal powers was fabricated, encouraged the princes.The strongest attack on the Catholic Church and papacy was led by Martin Luther of Germany. He argued that a person did not need priests to establish contact with God. He asked his followers to have complete faith in God, faith alone could guide them to the right life and entry to heaven. This movement called the Protestant Reformation led to the churches in Germany and Switzerland breaking their connection with the Pope and the Catholic church. In France, Protestantism and radicalism merged with people claiming the right to overthrow an oppressive ruler and choose a person of their own liking. In England the rulers ended their connection with the Catholic Church and assumed leadership of the church as well.

Q. 6. Was there a European Renaissance in the 14th century? Discuss.

Ans.The term ‘Renaissance’ means ‘rebirth’. Renaissance undermined the domination of the church and

focused on cultural achievements, art, architecture, literature and philosophy, science and was defined by a new system of thought called ‘Humanism’ and rationalism.Though the above changes made the 14th century the turning point in history, according to some historians the concept of Renaissance does not truly define this. Recent scholars like Peter Burke have argued that the ‘rebirth’ of Greek and Roman culture and the end of church’s domination are an exaggeration. There was no sudden revival of Greek and Roman culture but there was continuity as religion remained an important and integral part of human life.It is argued that to contrast the Renaissance period as a period of dynamism and Middle ages as a period of gloom is an over simplification. Many elements associated with the Renaissance in Italy can be traced back to the 12thand 13thcenturies. Also, the changes in Europe were not just shaped by the classical civilisations of Greek and Roman times. The new techniques of navigation, Mongol conquests, expansion of Islam brought Europe and Asia into close contact leading to cultural contact, learning and transmission of technologies.

The Europeans therefore learnt not just from the Greeks and the Romans but also from India, Arabia,

Iran, Central Asia and China. These were not acknowledged as earlier history was ‘euro-centric’. The period witnessed important changes in the spheres of ‘individualism’ e.g.separation of ‘public’ and ‘private’ spheres of life. The public sphere meant the area of government and formal religion and the private sphere included the family and personal religion. An individual was not simply a member of the ‘three orders’, he was also a person in his own right. An individual was not just a member of a guild, he was known for himself.Another development was the growth of nation states. The different regions of Europe started to have their separate sense of identity based on language and cultural ethos. Europe earlier united partly by Latin and Christianity was now dissolving into states, each united by a common language.

Source Based Questions

Q. 1. Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Artists and Realism Formal education was not the only way through which humanists shaped the minds of their age. Art, architecture and books were wonderfully effective in transmitting humanist ideas. Artists

were inspired by studying works of the past. The material remains of Roman culture were sought with as much excitement as ancient texts: a thousand years after the fall of Rome, fragments of art were discovered in the ruins of ancient Rome and other deserted cities. Their admiration for the figures of ‘perfectly’ proportioned men and women sculpted so many centuries ago, made Italian sculptors want to continue that tradition. In 1416, Donatello (1386- 1466) broke new ground with his lifelike statues. Artists’ concern to be accurate was helped by the work of scientists. To study bone structures, artists went to the laboratories of medical schools. Andreas Vesalius (1514-64), a Belgian and aprofessor of medicine at the University of Padua, was the first to dissect the human body. This was the beginning of modern physiology.

(i) Who is the sculptor? What is it called?

(ii) What does it show?

(iii) Give a brief history of the sculpture during the period.

Ans. (i) The Sculptor is Michelangelo Buonarroti. He made the ‘The Pieta’.

(ii) It shows Mother Mary with dead Christ across her knees.

(iii) Humanism and realism found brilliant expression in sculpture. Though the artists used biblical subjects

they had little to do with traditional religious attitudes. physical aspects of man’s existence, beauty and harmony were celebrated. To study bone structures artists went to laboratories of medical schools. An important feature was the emergence of free standing sculpture i.e.sculptures were not directly carved on the wall surface as part of the building. They stood apart from the building as independent and separate work of art. Artists now came to be known by their individual work and notas members of a group or guild as earlier.

Q. 2. Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

William Tyndale (1494-1536), an English Lutheran who translated the Bible into English in 1506,

defended Protestantism thus: ‘In this they be all agreed, to drive you from the knowledge of the scripture, and that ye shall not have the text there of in the mothertongue, and to keep the world still in darkness, to the intent they might sit in the consciences of the people, through vain superstition and false doctrine, to satisfy their proud ambition, and insatiable covetousness, and to exalt their own honour above king and emperor, yea, and above God himself... Which thing only moved me to translate the New Testament. Because I had perceived by experience, how that it was impossible to establish the lay-people in any truth, except the scripture were plainly laid before their eyes in their mother-tongue, that they might see the process, order, and meaning of the text. ‘

(i) Who was William Tyndale?

(ii) What did he seek to achieve by translating the Bible into English?

(iii) What were the issues on which the Protestants criticised the Catholic Church?

Ans.

(i) William Tyndale was an English Lutheran who translated the Bible into English in 1506 and

defender of Protestantism.

(ii) By translating the Bible into English, he sought to make the Bible available to the layman. He also

wanted to expose the false practices indulged in by the church in the name of the sacred text.

(iii) The issues criticised were: immoral and luxurious life of the churchmen, sale of “letters of Indulgence”,

their practice of selling offices, Pope’s authority to raise taxes and fees and divergence from the religious texts and emphasis on rituals.

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Recreating History

Changing Cultural Traditions ( MCQs, SHORT & LONG QUESTIONS ALSO MAP WORK) 2021-2022

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