MDSA01H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Feudalism, Rising Production, Luddite
Document Summary
Week 4 - september 27 th , 2016. The european roots of media and western society: key epochs: Feudal society and the dominance of the church. Feudal society: the organization of society around monarchical rule. Monarchy rules canada indirectly through democratic representatives. Return to the classical teachings of ancient greece and rome. Marked by the development of gutenberg"s printing press (1454) the innovation of moveable type. Printing presses disseminated ideas and spread literacy. New ideas from other regions could lead to social change and destabilization. Martin luther criticized the catholic church and advocated a more individual relationship with god. Printing of the bible made it more accessible to people, weakening the power of the church. A conservative backlash that led to re-establishment of church and state as heads of power, censorship, and state control of printing and publishing. This backlash often targeted publishers and distributors of humanist printed materials. Return to humanism and the application of the scientific approach.
