Renaissance Roundup

Cultural Achievements

Written in Vernacular: Literature transitioned from Latin to the common languages of the people.
Social Commentary: Satirical elements employed, reflecting ancient Greek and Roman precedents.
Secular Themes: Highlighted in works like Machiavelli’s The Prince, portraying a cold, pragmatic view of politics.
Character Development: Focus on the individual, even in religious-themed literature.

Realism: Improved composition techniques and perspective create a three-dimensional appearance.
Religious and Secular Images: Religious themes portrayed with greater human qualities.

Timeframe: 1550 - 1700 marked by new ideas transforming views on the natural world.

Scientific Method: Involved observations leading to questions, hypothesis testing, and revising beliefs based on evidence.
Scholars began questioning old assumptions.

Johannes Gutenberg: invented the printing press which increased access to knowledge and the spread of new ideas
Nicolaus Copernicus: Proposed heliocentric theory - the Earth and planets move around the sun
Johannes Kepler: Proved Copernicus’s theory mathematically; planets move in elliptical orbits.
Galileo Galilei: Improved telescopes, studied celestial bodies, faced Inquisition for his views.
Isaac Newton: Developed theories on gravity and motion; introduced calculus.
William Harvey: Discovered blood circulation and the heart's role in pumping blood.
Andreas Vesalius: Contributed to anatomy with studies in human bodies, marking the start of modern scientific research.

Catholic Church: Defined as the 'universal church'; all Western European Christians were Catholics prior to the Reformation.
Protests: Led to the emergence of Protestantism, where Christians challenged the Church on various issues.

Questioning of Church authority influenced by Renaissance ideals.
Growing power of strong monarchs.
Various church problems including:
- Worldliness: Displayed through luxurious lifestyles of clergy.
- Nepotism & Simony: Family favoritism and selling church positions.
- Sale of Indulgences: Selling pardons for sins without genuine repentance.

Background: German monk who condemned the Catholic Church for its practices (especially the sale of indulgences).
Ninety-Five Theses: Posted on a church door in Wittenberg, denouncing papal authority and proclaiming the Bible as the sole religious authority.

Critiqued the Pope's authority over the Church and the misinterpretation of Scriptures.
Emphasized that the Bible should be the foundation of Christian life.

Aimed to counter Protestantism:
1. Affirmed papal supremacy and exclusive church authority to interpret the Bible.
2. Addressed church abuses.
3. Required clergy to renounce worldly pleasures.
4. Created an 'Index' of forbidden books.

Inquisition: Strengthened to combat heresy using various methods, including secret testimonies and torture.
Society of Jesus (Jesuits): Founded to protect Catholicism through education and missionary work.

Loss of religious unity and the rise of religious conflicts (over 100 years of wars).
Increased anti-Semitism and restrictions on Jews.

A movement questioning man and society through human reason, building on principles from the Scientific Revolution.
Aimed at societal progress through rational thinking.

Rule of law, limited government, due process, individual liberty, and consent of the governed.

John Locke: Advocated for natural rights and governmental consent.
Voltaire: Championed freedom of speech and criticized government oppression.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Emphasized individual freedom and social contracts.
Montesquieu: Proposed separation of powers to prevent tyranny.

Influenced political thought leading to documents like the U.S. Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence.