It is a common perception to view the Middle Ages and the Renaissance as two completely different eras. The Middle Ages were religious, the Renaissance was secular. The Middle Ages were dark, the Renaissance was enlightened.
While there are clear contrasts between the periods, things are never quite that simple. There exists no one day that someone rose from their bed and proclaimed, "Hark, I now live in the Renaissance." The two periods share many characteristics (Including unpleasant daily work for many of the common folk).
The point being that the daily life of many folks did not change the day Michelangelo finished the Sistine Chapel.
But life was changing. Because of events like the 100 Years Wars, a handful of new opportunities for social mobility opened up. The longbow allowed less wealthy men entry into the military where in feudal times it had only been an arena for the wealthy [that armor cost serious change]. Battles like Crecy and Agincourt illustrated the new importance of archers.
If the common people were starting to feel their oats, so too were the royalty. That story will be posted later tonight...
No comments:
Post a Comment