Worldview in the Late Middle Ages

What was the dominant worldview about human nature during the Middle Ages?

• People were born as sinners and gained salvation through the Church

• People were born as sinners and gained salvation through good deeds

• People were born as saints and didn't need salvation

• People were born as sinners and gained salvation through trade

What change in focus occurred near the end of the Middle Ages regarding human potential?

• People began to believe in the power of the Church to control their circumstances

• People began to believe in the power of nature to control their circumstances

• People began to believe in fate and that they had no control over their circumstances

• People began to believe in human potential and that they could change/improve their circumstances

What did "the good life" mean during the Late Middle Ages?

• Luxury goods, lavish meals, and travel to exotic places

• Simple living and minimalistic lifestyle

• Avoiding all material possessions

• Focusing on spiritual pleasures only

What change occurred in society near the end of the Middle Ages regarding equality?

• The gap between the rich and the poor widened

• The idea of equality was completely rejected

• The feudal hierarchy remained unchanged

• The rise of the middle class brought a sense that moving up in society and gaining more equality was possible

What was the dominant responsibility felt by people throughout the Middle Ages?

• To feed the poor, look after the sick, and help your neighbours

• To avoid any interaction with others

• To accumulate wealth and power for oneself

• To focus solely on personal success and happiness

What change occurred in the relationship between the individual and the state near the end of the Middle Ages?

• The concept of citizenship was completely abandoned

• The state gained complete control over the individuals

• Individuals became more submissive to the state

• Individuals gained a greater sense of their own importance and began to see themselves as having a role in their own governments

How was nature viewed near the end of the Middle Ages?

• People saw themselves as inferior to nature and believed in serving it

• People saw themselves as completely separate from nature and had no responsibility towards it

• People still considered themselves as being 'above' nature, but they also saw it as something to be taken care of or preserved

• People saw nature as a threat and tried to dominate it

What was considered the authority on matters of right & wrong/ethics during the Middle Ages?

• The State

• The Church

• The Individual

• The Trade Guilds

What sources of knowledge for matters of ethics became prized near the end of the Middle Ages?

• Scientific research and discoveries

• Local folklore and traditions

• Religious scriptures only

• Greek & Latin sources, as well as Middle Eastern knowledge

What change occurred in the relationship between humans and nature near the end of the Middle Ages?

• People saw nature as a hindrance and tried to avoid it

• People continued to exploit nature without any regard for its preservation

• People began to see themselves as part of the natural world, including it in art and seeing it as beautiful.

• People completely separated themselves from nature and focused on dominating it