Society Prior to the Modern Age

Life Ain’t so Grand…

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuwaXWcX1L8

Improvements in Agricultural Production• Once upon a time there was a serf:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esZm74Qo-qk

• Over the years, many former serfs began owning their own land or were tenant farmers (they rented land to work)

Changes in Way of Farming• Strip farming becomes less popular – large field/single crop

farming becomes the norm.

Trade and Empires• European countries began expanding • They sent ships to other parts of the world for TRADE and to

establish EMPIRES. • WHY?• New Goods• Power• Prestige• $$$$$

New Ways of Looking at Life• HUMANISM: A system or mode of thought in which human

interests predominate

Philosophy• People began to question why they were put on Earth• What are the roles of humans in the world?• People began to read more and go to school (mostly the

wealthy and mostly just boys)

The Theatre• Shakespeare began writing plays that were performed at

places like the Globe Theatre.

• The Globe Theatre:

• Open ceiling

• Three stories high

• No artificial lighting• Plays were shown

during daylight hours only

The Theatre

Actors

• Only men and boys

• Young boys whose voices had not changed played the women’s roles

• It would have been indecent for a woman to appear on stage

Spectators• Wealthy people

got to sit on benches

• The poor (called “groundlings”) had to stand and watch from the courtyard

• There was much more audience participation than today

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfUTDlmLMFk