levels of society

Question 1

what were the levels of society?

Answer 1

• the elite (learned/noble)
• the middle class
• the common class (upper/lower)

Question 2

the elite

Answer 2

• nobles or historic landowners

- the learned elites : university scholars and churchmen

Question 3

the middle class

Answer 3

• merchants, professional men and substantial (non-noble) landowners/farmers

Question 4

the common class

Answer 4

• 90% of a country’s population

- people who lived in hamlets, villages and small towns

Question 5

what gradually happened with the elite thinking?

Answer 5

• over time the elites gradually withdrew from participating in this traditional world encouraged by Renaissance humanism, the Reformation and Counter Reformation
• By the C18th the elite in both state and Church ‘waged war’ on what they saw as the ‘superstitious’ values and the disorder, profanity and rowdiness resulting from many of the recreational pursuits of ordinary people (Shakespeare’s plays could be argued to be an example of this)

Question 6

how did the learned elite understand and interact with magic during the 16th/17th centuries?

Answer 6

• neoplatonism

- renaissance magus

Question 7

an example of a learned elite

Answer 7

• john dee

others include - simon forman/richard napier

Question 8

john dee

Answer 8

• (1527-1608)
• an Anglo-Welsh mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, teacher, occultist, and alchemist
• he helped Queen Elizabeth decide on her coronation date by looking at her horoscope / advises her on how to beat a magical attempt to assassinate her
• he was also known for being involved in necromancy: raising angels

Question 9

simon forman

Answer 9

• An acclaimed physician for his time and dedicated to using the most up to date knowledge
• He still cast horoscopes when treating his patients and also got involved in necromancy
• People of all backgrounds approached him for medical advice and guidance on weather for trading journeys

Question 10

richard napier

Answer 10

• ‘Astrological physician’, dedicated himself to the study of theology, alchemy and astrological medicine
• Treated 10,000s of people for a wide variety of illnesses, didn’t charge anyone but still made a fortune
• He was a strong Calvinist but despite this offered amulets to protect patients against evil spirits

Question 11

what were the noble elites thinking?

Answer 11

• they didn’t “know about magic” and the occult in the same way but did believe in its existence
• especially when harm that couldn’t be explained came to them or there was social tension

Question 12

‘upper’ common class members

Answer 12

• local farmers, small time tradesmen

- may be educated to some extent, more than the majority

Question 13

‘lower’ common class members

Answer 13

• poor, worked for other and relied on charity

Question 14

what was the main religion of the common class?

Answer 14

• christianity was central to people’s lives, but this was different to the ‘learned’ christianity of the elite

Question 15

what did the beliefs of the common class do?

Answer 15

• reinforced notions of community, and the ideas of right and wrong
• added meaning to the rites of passage (birth, marriage, death)
• helped give some sense of meaning to challenging times