The Renaissance

1.What was the Renaissance?

The Renaissance was a cultural and intelligence movement (campaign change) that was started in Italy then spread throughout Europe between 14th and 17th century

The meaning of the word “Renaissance“

• ”Renaissance” means “revival” or “rebirth”

• Renaissance refers to the revival of the ancient Greco-Roman civilization.

During this period,European innovated the classical civilization which laid the foundations for development of modern civilization.

Renaissance was the translational period from Medieval Times to Modern Times.

2.Main feature of the Renaissance

• Revival of the ancient Greco-Roman civilization

European studied and applied the Greco-Roman theories and art style to their works

• Emphasizing humanism

Europeans were no longer God-Center but were more concerned with world affairs and regarded human as the centre of the universe, the human-centred idea was called “humanism” that thought human should develop their capacity of attain excellence

(The father of Humanism was a Italian literary writer called Petrarch who was the first person to express humanism)

3.Cause of the Renaissance

• Decline of feudal society

the feudal society declined during late Medieval Times because many peasants left their manors and lived in town.they became freeman and had greater freedom and and more time for art and learning

This environment help bring about the Renaissance

• Spread of Eastern Knowledge

Arab scholars in Medieval Times had a good knowledge of mathematic, science medicine and astronomy and a more advanced civilization compared to Euopeans’

And because of the Crusade European Christians started between 11th century and 13th century againist Muslims—

It encouraged the exchange of knowledge between Europe and the Arab world

And the studies from the Arab and legacies about the ancient civilizations revived the Europeans’ interest in ancient Greco-Roman art and learning

• Rise of wealthy city-state and class

From the 11th century onward, port and towns developed rapidly since Crusade.Many Italy city-state ( a city with its own government) turned into major trading centres between Europe and Asia

And many wealthy merchants and bankers emerged in Europe and they were concerned with worldly life while having the money to support art and science.

This situation helped the development of the Renaissance

• Rise of universities

Before the Renaissance, education was controlled by the Church and the scholars could only be able to study subject around religion such as Biblical teachings.

However, since 12th century, universities were built by wealthy merchants or government as they started emerged in Europe towns and the European scholars could finally be able to study other subjects such as medicine, law and philosophy in a free environment.

The universities also kept books related to the ancient Greco-Roman civilizations which encouraged people to find out more about it

This broadened the scholars’ horizons

• Decline of the Church’s (Roman Catholic) influence

Since the development of the universities,European started questioning the teachings of the Church instead of following it blindly.

This weakened the influence of the Church on people’s minds.

And also the failure of Crusades damaged the prestige of the Church.Some European ruler started to defy the Pope openly and refused to pay taxes

It declined the political influence of the Church constantly.

The medici family

The rise of the Medici family

During the 13th century, the Medici family in Florence obtained a lot of wealth from trade and banking. It was a very powerful family between 13th and 17th century.

Contribution of the Medici to the Renaissance

The Medici family loved and supported art and culture.This promoted the development of the Renaissance.For example.

Cosimo Medici subsidised the build of Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore

Lorenzo Medici (the grandson of Cosimo Medici) bought a lots Ancient Greek&Latin classic

The Birthplace and major development of the Renaissance

The Birthplace

The Renaissance started on the Italian Peninsula then spread to the other part of Europe

Italian Peninsula was also the birthplace of ancient Roman civilization, therefore it provided a lot valuable ancient Roman legacies. Also, the peninsula had many wealthy city-states which support the work of artist and scholars.

The development in literature

• Before the Renaissance literary works were mostly relate in religion (biographies of saints, prayers and hymns) and written in Latin

• During the Renaissance, the writers were influenced by humanism. And they made use of ancient Greco-Roman literary skills and wrote about worldly people, affairs and things. Many writer started to write with their native language

Result in literature became popular

Famous author in Renaissance

1)Dante

• the representative of poem

• Divine Comedy

• Pointed out social inequality

2)Boccaccio

• The representative of novels

• Decameron

• Mainly wrote realistic novel

3)Shakespeare

• The representative of plays ( a playwright)

• A midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet and The Merchant of Venice

• Focus on humanity

Development in art

• painting

Medieval painting were mainly about religion and not realistic

Renaissance painting had diverse theme and more three-dimensional and realistic because of the new techniques were used (perspective and shadowing)

The master artist (Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael):

1. Leonardo da Vinci

Drew the Mona Lisa and the Last Supper, used perspective, light and shadowing too well that his drawing were lifelike

2. Michelangelo

Painted scene from the Bible on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and the Last Judgement on the wall of the chapel ; good at showing detailed body movement

3. Raphael

Painted the School of Athens ; the works are mainly about Christianity and the paint are famous for their harmony, joy and gracefulness

• Sculptures

Before Renaissance:Religion was the main theme, non-realistic

During Renaissance:Humanism was the main theme, realism—use of lighting, shadow to create lifelike figures, body movements and facial expressions

• Architecture

The building in the early Medieval time were mainly built in the Gothic style:

—Tall pointed tower (Christian believed that it brought them closer to God)

—pointed arches

—flying buttress

—stained glass

The building during the Renaissance were mainly built in Greco-Roman architecture style:

—Stone pillars

—pediments

—semi-circular arches

—a dome

Because Renaissance architects thought that buildings should be proportional, harmonious and rational which mirrored the beauty of human

Development in natural science

The Church translate many classics of Ancient Greece to explain the universe:

Geocentrism from Aristotle, claimed that diseases were God’s punishment and forbidden dissection of the “sacred” human body

Discoveries in medicine

Renaissance scholars carried out experiments to discover the real cause of disease:

Fracastoro—diseases were spread by bacteria

Vesalius—dissected dead human bodies; described in detail the human skeleton, organ and muscle in his book.

Discoveries in astronomy

Copernicus—heliocentrism

Galileo—made telescope and proved heliocentrism

The influence of the Renaissance

Laying the foundations for modern European civilization

Europeans revived the ancient Greco-Roman civilization /made great achievement In various area. European civilization developed rapidly.

Rise of humanistic education

Europeans started to train talented “Renaissance man” instead of clergy because of Renaissance.Therefore people started to go to non-church school to learn worldly knowledge.

Intellectual liberation

The Renaissance freed the minds of Europeans and they were no longer obeyed traditional blindly and started to value rational thinking and spirit of exploration.Which led to the Reformation, the Voyages of Discovery, the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment.

The Reformation

The reformation was a religious movement in European between 16th and 17th centuries

It including the split of the Christian Church and the reform of the Roman Catholic Church

The background of the Reformation

Christians questioning the Church

During the Renaissance, Christians found mistake in the Latin Bible and the Church had misinterpreted some Christian doctrines.

Dutch theologian Erasmus published the original Greek vision of the New Testament in 1516.

And Martin Luther found out more mistake that was made by the Church

Rulers’ discontent with the Church

During late Medieval Times, strong kings emerged and were discontented with the Church to regain their power

Wrongdoings of the Church

The Church became corrupt; ran casinos and sold indulgences and claiming that indulgences could reduce the suffering of the purchaser (and their relative) in purgatory.

This became the spark that set off the Reformation.

Martin Luther

• Started the Protestant Church

The development of the reformation

Immediate cause: mass selling of the indulgence

The Church sold massive indulgences to raise money to build ST. Peter’s Basilica

Martin Luther and the Ninety-Five These

German priest Martin Luther posted the Ninety-Five These in October 1517

he criticized the corruption of the Church and raised the issue of indulgence for discussion

Rise of the Protestant Church

In 1521, Martin Luther was excommunicated from the Church. However, German nobles and people support him.Then, he set up a new sect “Lutheranism”

Then, more new sect were established including Calvinism and Anglican Church.

Some Europeans even withdrew from the Roman Catholic Church just to made Protestantism their official religions.

The Counter-Reformation of the Roman Catholic Church

Ruler who still followed the Church were granted more rights to autonomy in religious affairs;

The Church also banned the sale of indulgences.

Impact of the Reformation

Causing conflicts and wars

The reformation spilt Christianity into the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant Church.

And religious differences led to political instability and even military conflicts in Europe

—Thirty Years’ War (Regarded as the first Great War in modern Europe)

Changing the outlook of Europe

—Political aspect: many ruler separated religion from political and establish absolute rule

—Economic aspect: Since the spread of Protestantism and humanism, the followers were encouraged glorify God by working

—Intellectual and social aspect: Protestantism advocated religious tolerance and freedom and these sowed the ideological seeds of liberty and democracy in modern Europe