The medieval period is frequently caricatured as a "time of ignorance and superstition" that placed "the word of religious authorities over personal experience and rational activity." This is a legacy from both the Renaissance and Enlightenment, when scholars contrasted their intellectual cultures with those of the medieval period, to the detriment of the Middle Ages. Renaissance scholars saw the Middle Ages as a period of decline from the high culture and civilisation of the Classical world; Enlightenment scholars saw reason as superior to faith, and thus viewed the Middle Ages as a time of ignorance and superstition. COUNT 4
QSN1 Along with the Renaissance, during what period were the Middle Ages disparaged? ANS1 Enlightenment QSN2 What era did Renaissance scholars negatively compare the Middle Ages to? ANS2 the Classical world QSN3 How did scholars of the Enlightenment see the Middle Ages? ANS3 as a time of ignorance and superstition QSN4 What did Enlightenment scholars consider to be inferior to reason? ANS4 faith