1. When people were able to read more in the Renaissance, they started believing more in what they read, and stopped believing everything what their religious leader said.
During the Renaissance, the scientific method was used to show truths about the world, making people question the Pope and the church.
The Renaissance was started when new ideas, new languages, new food and new art forms came into isolated Europe and challenged the old ways.
2. When the scientific method was introduced, it changed how people looked at the world, their daily lives and their religion. The scientific method challenged religion, and since many people believed what their religion told them, the church fought the ideas that were produced from science. People believed that the Earth was the center of the universe, that everything revolved around the earth. When Copernicus stated the world and all the other planets revolved around the sun, the idea that the heavens was everything outside of earth died. Newton's laws challenged the church in the way that the church explained everything. Instead, Newton was able to explain events instead of the church. Scientists were able to challenge the church in ideas.
3. The Age of Enlightenment was when people began to study humans and the world around them more. People began to study human nature more, like John Locke, who believed that everyone has a blank slate when they are born and their environment shapes who they are. Montesquieu and Smith said what they believed how the government should be set up and how they should act. While scientists like Copernicus, Galileo and Newton explained how the world worked, and how the universe was set up.
4. Rousseau contributed to a thing called social contract. That people gave the government authority, so they could have order. By doing this, they might not have as much say in the government, but they would have a more peace full place to live. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/05/AR2010120503745.html This link talks about how Europe is having protests because they are taking away benefits. People believe that they are going against morals, and taking away the benefits randomly. They believe that the benefits are property.
5. John Locke says you are born with a blank slate, and that experiences shape you. One of my teachers named Al Myers had really changed my life. He got me interested in the Civil War, Monty Python and Lord of The Rings. He had a really positive influence on me during my middle school experience. During middle school, we had some hands on experience with reenacting march formations outside of the school (with wooden guns). He would also bring in his gear from his reenactment so we could see it up close and feel how heavy the stuff was. He would always say quotes from Monty Python, which got me interested in see the The Holy Grail, it is one of my favorite movies. He lent me his copy of Lord of The Rings. After I read the books, I was able to make connections to other parts of literature. When I saw the movies, he told me how cool it was to see Return of The King in theaters. Hopefully I can set up a projector some day and watch the trilogy on a big screen.
