LESSON 2.7 Inquiry: What are the different interpretations of issues in pre-Modern Europe?
LEARNING INTENTION By the end of this lesson, you should be able to explain why there are different interpretations of historical events.
Background In the Early Modern Period, sharing new ideas was risky because religious and other institutions resisted change and could punish people harshly. Many debates arose about changes during this time. SOURCES1 and 2 show two historians with different views on the roles of groups in causing the Reformation.
SOURCE1 Summary of the argument of H. Holborn, ‘The Social Basis of the German Reformation’, Boston, 1962
Holborn argues: • Capitalism grew but didn’t greatly affect the sixteenth century. • The newly rich wanted to join the nobles, not overthrow them. • The clergy heavily influenced peasants, driving the Reformation. • The poor followed clergy for religious reasons, not class reasons.
SOURCE2 Summary of the argument of P.C.G. Walker, ‘Capitalism and the Reformation’, L.W. Spitz, The Reformation. Material or Spiritual? Boston, 1962
Walker argues: • Capitalism existed in Europe before the Protestant Reformation, but old economic systems didn’t fit its needs. • The Price Revolution from about 1520 to the 1540s pushed wealthy townspeople to become the ruling class.
• They aimed to gain capital by ending feudalism and taking feudal property. • Reformation was driven by social class interests and the rise of capitalism.
In this inquiry, you will identify perspectives and explain historical interpretations.
40 Jacaranda Humanities Alive 8 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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