Modern World History Notes Review

The Renaissance - “Rebirth” - began in Italy in the 14th century and spread throughout Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries. It was a period of great cultural and intellectual change, characterized by a renewed interest in classical learning, art, and literature.

Started with the black plague → people questioned the church → started in Italy because of strong economy and quick recovery

Humanism → people in European society strived to be a more well-rounded and virtuous person by revival of the classics

The Northern Renaissance occurred ~100 years after the Italian Renaissance,

Humanism in the Northern Renaissance studied the classics for moral, religious, and social change.

4 Painting Techniques: Chiaroscuro, Sfumato, Linear Perspectives, Symmetry/Foreshortening

Hubert Van Eyck (Dutch) - Mastered use of oil paints (fresco in early years faded because of water, white platter bad) - Arnolfini Portrait

Pieter Bruegel (Flemish, Belgium) - Most famous painting was A Peasant’s Wedding, secular style, positive look at human life

Brunelleschi - Designed the Duomo - constructed massive dome for cathedrals

Titian - Bacchus and Ariadne - oil painter

Tintoretto - Last Supper & Crucifixion & Miracle of the Slave (Religious paintings)

Durer - Rhinoceros and Hare (German dude)

Raphael - The School of Athens

Da-Vinci - The true embodiment of a Renaissance Man (Painted Mona Lisa, The Last Supper)

Michelangelo - (Sistine Chapel, David, Pieta, The Last Judgment) - Worked for Medici family like Leonardo (large patron)

Donatello - David

Caravaggio - Judith Beheading 

Botticelli - Greek/Roman style (The Birth of Venus)

Masaccio - Expulsion from the Garden of Eden - Fresco

Erasmus (SNL-type writing, satire) promoted open-mindedness and humor in his social and religious criticism

Sir Thomas More wrote about social-economic reforms, author of Utopia

Shakespeare - famous playwright 

Petrarch - father of humanism

Cervantes - Author of Don Quixote

1456 - Gutenberg Printing Press → led to literacy rates and lower prices for writing, spread of ideas

Luther - writes the 95 Theses to church door (printing press widespread) - indulgences (Johan Tetsel-salesman) are wrong/fraud against the bible. 3 truths about Christianity: Faith = salvation, The bible is the sole authority, Priesthood of all believers (people all equal under god)

1524 - Peasants revolt, Church threatens Luther and puts him on trial before this

Due to Luther and the Protestant movement, the church had to find a way to slow and maintain its following.

New Pope Paul III appointed reformers to stop corruption, Jesuit Order (1540) lead of Loyola focusing on spreading Catholicism, Council of Trent (1545) - reaffirm traditional beliefs, burnt Luther’s books, Peace of Augsburg (1555) - Charles allowed for religious freedom (princes of HRE)