Question

Write an account of how the world appeared different to seventeenth century Europeans.

Answer 1

• The ideas of reformation took hold of many people and the monopoly of the Roman Catholic Church was for ever broken. 
• The few people who were interested, started investigating the world in which they lived. 
• Scientific attitudes developed. 
• Theirs was a radically new view of human beings as free and rational agents. 
• Faith in religious books and priests decreased. 
• Faith in the ability of human beings to know and decide for themselves increased. 
• They showed interest in reading good literature. 
• Europeans were strongly attracted to material wealth, power and glory. Self interests developed. 
• Many of the scientific inventions took place and people started exploring the world and discovered sea routes to different continents.