The Beginning Of The Modern World

Question 1

Name some characteristics with sets a period apart from other.

Answer 1

Each period has some characteristics- political, economic ,religious and social that sets it apart from other periods.

Question 2

Name the three periods of history

Answer 2

Ancient period, medieval period and modern period

Question 3

How does classification of history help us?

Answer 3

The classification helps to bring a sense of order and continuity to the bewildering array of historical events and processes that have taken place over centuries of evolution. It helps to put the past into perspective and to see the turning point and transition of periods with greater understanding and clarity.

Question 4

What are the source materials for the modern age?

Answer 4

The source materials for the modern age are of two kinds- primary sources and secondary sources

Question 5

Where are the primary sources preserved?

Answer 5

Many of the primary sources of the modern period have been preserved in archives and museums.

Question 6

What do primary sources include?

Answer 6

Primary sources include:
1.Original documents such as official records of the British government in India .
2. Historical works by contemporary historians.
3. Oral history.
4. Artistic works like painting sketches , engravings, drawings etc.
5. Newspapers in both English and Indian languages

Question 7

What do secondary sources include?

Answer 7

Secondary sources includes books reviews reports articles written by historians and other scholars who study and research primary sources and arrive at conclusions

Question 8

What were the important factors that contributed to the beginning of the Renaissance?

Answer 8

The expansion of trade , the voyages of discovery by Italian merchants ,their interaction with various societies and their wealth and prosperity were all important factors that contributed to the beginning of the Renaissance.

Question 9

What was the major cause of the beginning of the Renaissance ? Explain

Answer 9

The capture of Constantinople the capital of the BYZANTINE empire in 1453 by The OTTOMAN TURKS was the major cause of the beginning of the Renaissance.

Question 10

What was the result of the capture of Constantinople?

Answer 10

As a result of the capture of Constantinople , a large number of greek scholars played from Constantinople to Italy with rare manuscripts. These scholars were patronized and encouraged by their rulers The scholars and the rich merchants of Rome Florence Milan and Venice. Libraries were set up and university were established to promote classical and modern learning.

Question 11

What inspired and encouraged people to question and challenge the long established ideas by the church and the kings?

Answer 11

The Renaissance or the revival of Graeco- Roman learning inspired and encouraged people to question and challenge the long established rules imposed on them by the church and their kings .They refused to blindly accept the dictates of the church the demanded to know the logic and reason and rejected everything which is not fall in the yardstick of reasoning

Question 12

What were the two major changes brought about the Renaissance?

Answer 12

The new spirit of rationalism led to the rise of scientific temper and spirit of enquiry.
The spirit of humanism was Central to the new learning.

Question 13

Name the fields in which the change due to Renaissance was seen?

Answer 13

The fields are
1. Art
2.architecture
3.sculpture
4.painting
5. literature
6.science
7. technology
8.explorations and discovery

Question 14

Name some medieval pre occupations

Answer 14

Religion, afterlife ,heaven and hell

Question 15

How did Renaissance bring about a change in discoveries?

Answer 15

The Renaissance also fostered a spirit of exploration and discovery.
This period bred a spirit of adventure and the desire to explore the unknown which in turn led to exploration and discovery of many newlands.

Question 16

What gave rise to an urgent need to find an alternate sea route to the East?

Answer 16

In the mid 15th century the Ottoman turks captured Asia minor and cut off direct land links between Asia and Europe. The turks also took control of the main ports of the eastern Mediterranean sea , raided European ships and imposed heavy taxes on goods passing through their lands .This was a great blow to European trade with the east and gave rise to find an alternate sea route to the East.

Question 17

During the _____period _____ was Central to human existence

Answer 17

Medieval, Religion

Question 18

How was the life of people in the medieval period?

Answer 18

During the medieval period religion was Central to human existence. The lives of people in Europe revolved around the Roman catholic Church and its supreme head the Pope. The authority of the Pope was absolute and could not be questioned or challenged.

Question 19

What were people told during the medieval period?

Answer 19

People were taught to focus only on divine and spiritual matters throughout life and prepare for life after death. Blind faith was propagated and people were conditioned to believe that the only part to salvation was through complete and total surrender to the doctrines of Church

Question 20

______ became exclusive centres of ________

Answer 20

Christian Monasteries, education

Question 21

How did the Monopoly of education help the church?

Answer 21

The Monopoly of education armed the church with absolute power and authority to increase its stranglehold in society.

Question 22

What would opposition to the teachings incur?

Answer 22

Opposition to the teachings of the church (heresy) would incur the wrath of the paper sea and often lead to terrible punishments.

Question 23

Where was the Papacy involved?

Answer 23

Apart from spiritual powers the papacy was also involved in the political affairs of Christian European states. Rulers of these states were appointed and dismissed by the Pope and subjected to the doctrines and regulations of the church.

Question 24

What happened as the church became increasingly wealthy and powerful?

Answer 24

As the church became increasingly wealthy and powerful ,clergymen and priests began to lead a life of luxury and opulence they became corrupt and immortal and lost interest in the welfare of people.

Question 25

What is the meaning of reformation ?what is another name of reformation?

Answer 25

Reformation was a protest movement against the evil and authoritarian practices of the Catholic Church with a view of reform the Catholic Church.
It was also known as PROTESTANT MOVEMENT.

Question 26

What were the effects of Renaissance?

Answer 26

1. The Renaissance had radically altered the pattern of thinking and Outlook of people. It had set in motion the advent of new and powerful ideas of humanism rationalism scientific spirit and spirit of inquiry.
2. It completely changed the way people thought and behaved. It was like awakening of a sleeping giant.
3. People had finally found truthful and rational answers to the questions and discovered the real truth about themselves and their environment.
4. The teachings of the church were rejected and its authority was challenged.
5. The invention of the printing press help to spread the ideas of Renaissance thinkers quickly and far and wide . The Bible was also translated from Latin to regional languages and everybody learnt the real facts about the teachings of Bible.

Question 27

What were the evil practices of the Roman Catholic Church?

Answer 27

1.The clergy began to lead immoral lives of luxury ,wealth and comfort.
2. The monasteries owned nearly one third of the land properties of Europe. Religious duties and services to humankind were largely ignored or forgotten.
3. The Roman Catholic Church levied various taxes such as ‘TITHE’ and ‘PETER’S PENCE’ on all European Christians under their control. High fees were charged for conducting religious services.
4. Bribery and corruption became common. Church offices were sold bringing many unworthy people into the church.
5. The church started the practice of selling’ indulgences’ to those who had committed since. It was like a certificate of pardon by God for the sin and ‘a passport to heaven’ without having undergo any penance.

Question 28

Name two eminent scholars who exposed the evils of Church through Their writings

Answer 28

Learned scholars like John Wycliff and John Huss exposed the evils of the Church through their writings and suggested reforms.

Question 29

What was the immediate cause of the reformation movement?

Answer 29

The immediate cause of the reformation was a protest movement by Martin Luther.

Question 30

Who was Martin Luther?

Answer 30

Martin Luther was a German Christian monk ,preacher and a professor of theology at the University of Wittenberg .

Question 31

What left Martin Luther shocked? What action did he take?

Answer 31

A visit to Rome and is observations of the church left him shocked . Enraged by the site of sales of indulgences he nailed on the door of a local Church a list of objections (95 theses) for public debate.

Question 32

What happened by the attack on intelligence by Martin Luther?

Answer 32

By his attack on indulgences which had been issued by the Pope,Martin Luther appeared to be challenging the power and authority of the papacy. He immediately found himself in the eye of a religious storm that would sleep throughout Europe shake the very foundations of the papacy and set in motion the reformation movement.

Question 33

What did Martin Luther publicly announce?

Answer 33

Martin Luther publicly announced that the Bible ,not the pope was the final authority on Christianity . Emboldened by the increasing support of his views he raised the pitch of protest and savagely attached Church practices and position of the papacy.

Question 34

What was the result of the protest movement on Martin Luther?

Answer 34

Luther was condemned as a heritage and excommunicated by the Pope in an open show of defiance ,Luther publicly burnt the order issued by the Pope.

Question 35

Who hit Luther in his castle for a year? What did Luther do in that time period?

Answer 35

The Duke of Saxony hid Luther in his castle for about a year during which time Luther translated the Bible ( new testament) from Latin to German. A large number of German ruling princes supported Luther and broke away from the Roman Catholic Church.

Question 36

Who were known as protestants?

Answer 36

Lutheran Church was established in many German states. The followers of Luther came to be known as protestants.

Question 37

What was the impact of the reformation movement?

Answer 37

1.The church was split up permanently.
2. Civil war broke out in many countries between the catholics and the protestants.
3. Religious intolerance, hatred and persecution of protestants in Catholic countries and catholics in protestant countries became the order of day and led to many words in Europe.

Question 38

What do you mean by counter reformation?

Answer 38

The reformation had a positive impact on the Roman Catholic Church. The Pope realise that it was imperative to introduce reforms to revive and revitalise the Catholic Church and restore its laws position and prestige. The reform movement within the Catholic Church in response to the protestant movement is known as counter reformation.

Question 39

What changes were seen in the Roman Catholic Church after counter reformation?

Answer 39

The Catholic Church became virtuous, liberal and compassionate and more tolerant to differing and opposing views.

Question 40

Explain the rise of nation States after the reformation movement.

Answer 40

The protestants championed the cause of independent and strong rulers totally free from the control of the Catholic Church . Several European rulers assumed power as the head of the church as well as the government. The loyalty of the people was now confined only to the rulers and no longer divided between the Roman Church and their government. This marked the beginning of evolution of nation States comprising people bound where common ties of culture ,history language and territory United under one government and one ruler.

Question 41

What is meant by rationalism and humanism?

Answer 41

RATIONALISM : Rationalism is a philosophy or belief in all behaviour, opinions etc should be based on reason rather than emotional or religious belief.

HUMANISM: humanism is a system of thought that considers that solving human problems with the help of reason is more important than religious beliefs.

Question 42

What do you mean by nation States?

Answer 42

Nation states were strong and independent countries in the 14th century in Europe . These Nations had a common territory, with a well defined boundary, people bounded with common ties of culture, history etc . They were also United and the one government or ruler.