Topic 1 - Euro

Renaissance

Period of transition between the Middle Ages and the modern world. Characterized by a renewed interest in the civilizations of Greece and Rome.

Classical Era

Time period of Greece and Rome. Roughly 800 B.C.E. to 500 C.E.

Humanists

Renaissance intellectuals who focused on human beings and their inherent dignity.

Secular

“Wordly” or none religious

Individualism

A focus on personal rather than political or religious interests.

Petrarch

Italian Renaissance Humanist. Adopted Cicero as a model. Wrote in the Italian vernacular. Developed a new philological (scholarly methods for analyzing text) approach to ancient texts.

Vernacular

The language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular region or country.

Giovanni Pico della Mirandola

Italian Renaissance Humanist. Blended philosophical views such as in his famous work “Oration on the Dignity of Man” which describes humans and their relationship to God.

Leonardo Bruni

Italian Renaissance Humanist. Translated Latin and Greek works and wrote biographies of poets.

Civic humanism

Humanists that sought to promote political engagement in their own era.

Baldassare Castiglione

Italian Renaissance author known for his work "The Book of the Courtier," which says that lords and ladies should be educated and engaged in civic life.

Niccolo Machiavelli

Italian Civic Humanist. Worked as a diplomat for the republic of Florence. Wrote advice for rulers (“The Prince”) which separated politics from morality. He argued that the ends justify the means in political leadership. Held cynical view of human nature -

Geometric perspective

Technique using math to create the illusion of depth and space.

Filippo Brunelleschi

Italian Renaissance artist who designed the rebuilt Church of San Lorenzo with Roman influence.

Donatello

Italian Renaissance artist. Sculpted marble and bronze. Had unique style but took inspiration from ancient statues. Created a new type of sculpture that gave the illusion of depth.

Leonardo da Vinci

Multi-talented Italian Renaissance artist. Emphasis on realism that reflects humans idealized characteristics. Famous works include the "Mona Lisa" and "The Last Supper."

Michaelangelo

Italian Renaissance artist known for his sculpture of "David," and the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel; both were comissioned. He was also a skilled painter and architect.

Raphael

Italian Renaissance artist. Many painting of Virgin Mary that idealize her beauty. Comissioned by Pope Julius II to paitn frescoes in the Vatican Palace. “School of Athens” demonstrates geometric perspective to create harmony, balance and order.

Northern Renaissance

Late 15th century when Renaissance humanism and art spread to regions north of the Alps.

Albrecht Dürer

Northern Renaissance artist. Traveled to Italy to study art in 1494. Exchanged works of art with Raphael. Created prints and woodcuts.

Jan van Eyck

Northern Renaissance artist. Excelled at new medium of oil painting. Signed many paintings with “As best I can”. Painting “Arnofin Portait” gives clues into how wealthy merchants lived at the time.

Pieter Bruegel the Elder

Northern Renaissance artist. Traveled to Italy to study art. Painted scenes from the Bible and from the lives of peasants. “Peasant Wedding” displays peasants celebrating.

Rembrandt

Northern Renaissance artist. Baroque artist - art was bold, dramatic and complex. Famous work, “Nigh Watch” showcases soldiers readying to defend the city. Remembered for his use of light to make his paintings realistic, critics called this ugliness.

Christian humanists

Religious reformers who believe the Church should return to the “purer practices” of early Christianity. They read the Bible themselves as well as works of early Christian leaders.

Desiderius Erasmus

Christian humanist who called for people to read the Bible themselves. His book “Praise of Folly” satirized the lack of knowledge among clergy and their focus on wealth and power instead of spirituality.

Thomas More

Christian humanist who was close friends with Erasmus. His Oxford education helped him gain positions as MP and advisor to King Henry VIII. Best known for his book "Utopia," which describes an ideal society. Called for the creation of a more just society, education for women and abolition of private property.

Moveable type

Printing technology that used individual letters or characters to print text, revolutionizing the production of books and literature in the 15th century.

Johannes Gutenberg

Developed the printing press. His invention of moveable type allowed for the mass production of books, significantly advancing literacy and the spread of knowledge in Europe.

Printing press

A hand-operated wooden press that was the beginning of producing large quantities of books.

Gutenburg Bible

The first book to be printed using the movable type (1456).

Vernacular

The local language of a region.

Martin Luther

Sparked the Protestant Revolution. He believed people should read and interpret the Bible themselves, without priests.