Unit 1: Renaissance Notes

Humanism - an intellectual movement at the heart of the Renaissance that focused on education and the classics.

Humanities - study of subjects such as grammar, rhetoric, poetry, and history that were taught in Greece and Rome.

Patron - a person who provides financial service for the arts.

Vernacular - everyday language of ordinary people.

Perspective - artistic technique used to give paintings and drawings a three-dimensional effect.

Indulgence - In the Roman Catholic Church, pardon for sins committed during a person’s lifetime.

Predestination - Calvinist belief that God long ago determined who would gain salvation.

Theocracy - government run by religious leaders.

Sect - a subgroup of a major religious group.

Niccolo Machiavelli:

• lived 1469 - 1527, born in Florence

• political philosopher, statesman, writer

• The Prince - most famous work, a guide for rulers on how to gain + keep power

• “The ends justify the means”

Johannes Gutenberg:

• 1400 - 1468, born in Germany

• goldsmith, printer, publisher

• invented printing press with moveable type

• 1455 - printed the first complete edition of the Christian Bible using his press

Erasmus:

• 1466 - 1536, Dutch

• priest, writer, scholar (wrote on various subjects)

• promoted humanism

• produced new Greek edition of the Christian Bible

• vernacular Bible translation

• wanted to reform Church corruption

Sir Thomas More:

• 1478 - 1535, born in London

• lawyer, scholar, writer, British parliament (during reign of Henry VIII)

• wrote Utopia

• knighted in 1521

Martin Luther:

• 1483 - 1546, German

• monk, theologian

• catalyst of Protestant Reformation

• trained to be a lawyer (but changed paths)

• joined a strict order of Roman Catholic monks, studied theology

• seeked to reform abuses within church, challenged church teachings with 95 theses, led to excommunication + development of Lutheranism, first of several Protestant sects

John Calvin:

• 1509 - 1564

• theologian, lawyer. influenced by Erasmus humanism

• involved with Protestant movement while at the University of Paris

• moved to Switzerland, set up theocracy, wrote Institutes of Christian Religion.

• interpretation of Christian doctrine “Calvinism”

Henry VIII:

• 1491-1547

• second Tudor king of England

• very popular… until his constant involvement in wars

• desired a male heir

• broke from Catholic Church, formed Church of England

Ignatius of Loyola:

• 1491 - 1556

• early career as Spanish nobleman soldier

• became theologian + influential Catholic, helped drive Catholic Reformation

• read a book and decided that serving God was holy chivalry

• studied, preached, did missionary work as founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits)

Michelangelo:

• 1475 - 1564, Italian

• painter, sculptor, engineer, architect, poet

• famous marble statue David shows Greek influence

• painted biblically-themed ceiling murals for Sistine Chapel in Rome (which was later a model for the US capitol)

Leonardo da Vinci:

• 1452 - 1519, Italian

• “ideal Renaissance man” due to many talents

• interests: botany, anatomy, optics, music, architecture, engineering

• sketched concepts for machines and underwater boats, designs resembled later inventions for airplanes + submarines.

• famous paintings: Mona Lisa and The Last Supper.