Q: Analyze attitudes toward and responses to "the poor" in Europe between approximately 1450-1700
From 1450-1700, almost 50 percent of Europe’s population was living at a subsistence level. As a result of living in times of economically depressing war and famine, poverty was extremely prominent. Up to 80 percent of the population in some regions were susceptible to starvation. As far as perception of assisting the poor, religious and lower classes advocated for helping the poor, middle classes and merchants viewed them as lazy and carefree, and major leaders viewed them as unworthy of assistance.
Religious leaders have always advocated for helping the poor, and this time frame was no different. All religious members wouldn’t turn away the poor. In a French Catholic priest’s sermon, he said, “whoever gives a penny to the poor for God while in good healthy, it will be worth 240 pennies after [his or her] death… to bequeath money after death, that is worth a leaden penny, because there is no great value in giving what one cannot hold on to”. To priests, they truly believe that giving to the poor is of the most value because Catholics don’t believe in materialism, and helping those in need is the way to reach salvation. Vincent de Paul, a Catholic priest, spoke about the importance of teaching people to give to the poor: “I have heart it said that what enabled bishops to become saints was their alms-giving.” De Paul, having founded a religious order that ministered to the poor, also would believe in helping the poor because it helps those reach salvation. Smaller towns also found importance in helping the poor. At a town council in Dijon, France, the councilmen agreed to help the poor by renting a barn for shelter in order to maintain peace. Groups who were less concerned with materialism generally were more sympathetic and willing to donate to the poor.
Middle classes and wealthier groups were undecided on the matter. For some of them, they’re sympathy or disgust for the poor depended on how willing a poor person looked to find work or fix their situation. At a city meeting in Rouen, France, the group decided that if the poor did not look willing to find work, they would be expelled from the city, but if they looked willing but were simply unable to find a job, they would be treated nicer. William Turner, an English doctor, wrote about his medicine practice, and how, beggars would come to ask for alms, but wouldn’t accept his offer to heal them. He, as someone who had worked hard for his education and salary, resented the lower, lazy classes who were completely unmotivated to fix their situation. Jean Maillefer, a wealthy merchant, wrote in a letter to his children that he overheard the poor talking in his city about growing accustomed to being poor and not really caring. He approached the poor acceptingly, as long as they weren’t causing disruption. The middle classes were generally less understanding than religious leaders, as they couldn’t understand their work ethics.
Finally, when major political leaders spoke of the poor, they talked of them as being lazy and detrimental to their countries. For example, Emperor Charles V, believed that “experience shows that if begging for alms is permitted to everyone indiscriminately, many errors and abuses will result, for they will fall into idleness, which is the beginning of all evils.” As the Emperor of a major territory, he had very little tolerance with the lower classes that would bring down the reputation and productiveness of his area. People in general felt like if the poor were not willing to be productive and were ultimately hurting the development of the country, then there was no reason to try and support or help them into being in better lives.
From 1450-1700, outlooks on the poor ranged from consistent Catholic sympathy, undecided middle class and political leaders who generally examined their productivity first.
Religious leaders have always advocated for helping the poor, and this time frame was no different. All religious members wouldn’t turn away the poor. In a French Catholic priest’s sermon, he said, “whoever gives a penny to the poor for God while in good healthy, it will be worth 240 pennies after [his or her] death… to bequeath money after death, that is worth a leaden penny, because there is no great value in giving what one cannot hold on to”. To priests, they truly believe that giving to the poor is of the most value because Catholics don’t believe in materialism, and helping those in need is the way to reach salvation. Vincent de Paul, a Catholic priest, spoke about the importance of teaching people to give to the poor: “I have heart it said that what enabled bishops to become saints was their alms-giving.” De Paul, having founded a religious order that ministered to the poor, also would believe in helping the poor because it helps those reach salvation. Smaller towns also found importance in helping the poor. At a town council in Dijon, France, the councilmen agreed to help the poor by renting a barn for shelter in order to maintain peace. Groups who were less concerned with materialism generally were more sympathetic and willing to donate to the poor.
Middle classes and wealthier groups were undecided on the matter. For some of them, they’re sympathy or disgust for the poor depended on how willing a poor person looked to find work or fix their situation. At a city meeting in Rouen, France, the group decided that if the poor did not look willing to find work, they would be expelled from the city, but if they looked willing but were simply unable to find a job, they would be treated nicer. William Turner, an English doctor, wrote about his medicine practice, and how, beggars would come to ask for alms, but wouldn’t accept his offer to heal them. He, as someone who had worked hard for his education and salary, resented the lower, lazy classes who were completely unmotivated to fix their situation. Jean Maillefer, a wealthy merchant, wrote in a letter to his children that he overheard the poor talking in his city about growing accustomed to being poor and not really caring. He approached the poor acceptingly, as long as they weren’t causing disruption. The middle classes were generally less understanding than religious leaders, as they couldn’t understand their work ethics.
Finally, when major political leaders spoke of the poor, they talked of them as being lazy and detrimental to their countries. For example, Emperor Charles V, believed that “experience shows that if begging for alms is permitted to everyone indiscriminately, many errors and abuses will result, for they will fall into idleness, which is the beginning of all evils.” As the Emperor of a major territory, he had very little tolerance with the lower classes that would bring down the reputation and productiveness of his area. People in general felt like if the poor were not willing to be productive and were ultimately hurting the development of the country, then there was no reason to try and support or help them into being in better lives.
From 1450-1700, outlooks on the poor ranged from consistent Catholic sympathy, undecided middle class and political leaders who generally examined their productivity first.