The Poor Dbq

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Pages: 3

Between the years 1450 and 1700, about half of Europe’s population could be considered poor or unwealthy. Although there were several attitudes towards the poor, generally, the most popular included those who wanted to help the poor, those who wished to punish them, and those who viewed them as a burden to society.
The Europeans who believed in assisting the poor often were encouraged by the church leaders who preached the importance of giving to the needy. Document 1, by a Catholic priest, showcases the value of aiding the poor by donating money. His sermon repeatedly marks God as the real reason to give to the poor, a trend that associates every aspect of European life with religion. He explains to the Catholic followers that one must help