Module 2 Renaissance

Castiglione uses Renaissance dialogue, a literary form that incorporates

elements of drama, conversation, philosophy, and essay.

This excerpt appears in Chapter 18 of The Prince, which is considered to be

one of the most controversial sections of the treatise. Highlighting the darker side of the Renaissance's belief in human possibility, here Machiavelli reinforces the difference between being a good person and pretending to be a good person, explaining that the latter is actually more important.

n art, Renaissance painters greatly expanded

the subjects they addressed, painting portraits, studies of human form, landscapes, historical events, and scenes of daily life.

The concept of individualism* thrived as universities and education became more widespread. Individuals sought

to be defined by their knowledge and skills rather than by the depth of their faith, and they fostered public personas to represent their uniqueness.

The Importance of the Renaissance key concepts The legacy of the Humanities that we have inherited began in the Renaissance. No appreciation of the Humanities is complete without understanding this era and its significance in the history of Western civilization. The Renaissance:

witnessed the revival of classical art, literature, philosophy, architecture, and learning, spawned renewed study of the great works of ancient Greco-Roman civilizations, and produced among the finest artistic and intellectual achievements in the history of Western Humanities.

The dominant Renaissance cultural and intellectual movement was classical humanism*, which

emphasized the worth, dignity, and rationality of man.

From Castiglione's The Courtier:

"Before we launch into this subject,' the Count replied, 'I should like us to discuss something else again which, since I consider it highly important, I think our courtier should certainly not neglect: and this is the question of drawing and of the art of painting itself. And do not be surprised that I demand this ability, even if nowadays it may appear mechanical and hardly suited to a gentleman. For I recall having read that in the ancient world, and in Greece especially, children of gentle birth were required to learn painting at school, as a worthy and necessary accomplishment, and it was ranked among the foremost of the liberal arts; subsequently, a public law was passed forbidding it to be taught to slaves.'"

The visual arts became central in the struggle between

Catholic and Protestant theologies. Protestantism stressed simplicity and piety in its art and architecture, and reformers attacked what they called the idolatry of Catholic religious art (especially depictions of Jesus and Mary). Some of the reformers engaged in iconoclasm*Glossary Pronunciation, or the deliberate destruction of religious imagery.

The Courtier was written over the course of twenty years, while Castiglione himself served in the court of the Duke of Urbino. He used his personal experience to shed light on the behavior of those wishing to improve their social standing. In this excerpt, the Count describes how

having an artistic talent—specifically being able to draw and paint—would be an ideal quality of a courtier.

Renaissance Literature Overview key concepts Renaissance literature experimented with a wide range of styles that reflected an emphasis on the .

individual's psychological complexity in addition to the social and moral structures of society that were more often the focus of medieval literature. The philosophical and political questions that were raised by the revival of classical culture strongly influenced Renaissance literature. For some writers, Christian and classical learning conflicted; others reconciled them into a Christian humanism

A rise in popular religious fervor during the Renaissance posed some threat to

the Roman Catholic Church. A series of heretical movements (with some popular support) emerged to challenge papal authority proposing, to one extent or another, doing away with the institutional Church.

One scholar, Stephen Greenblatt, coined the phrase

"self-fashioning" to describe the process of fashioning one's individual sense of self and public persona according to a set of socially acceptable standards, something that is quite prominent today. The Book of the Courtier (1528) by Baldasarre Castiglione was one of the first popular texts to mandate socially accepted etiquette.

Humanism—a theme drawn from the

Classical Period—came into play with the artistic and scientific endeavors of the Renaissance. Like the ancient Greeks and Romans, Europeans during this time were focused on exploring the human form and representing human qualities in all facets of life. are.

Rebirth of Classicism:

During the Renaissance, there was a rebirth of classical ideals, mainly humanism, rationalism, and balance, based on the belief that classical literary, scientific, and philosophical works provided additional resources for learning and living.

Acoording to Professor Kelly, the development of the printing press is believed to have NOT contributed to the Reformation. True or False?

False Correct. This is a false statement. Dr. Kelly argues that there is a direct relationship between the development of the printing press and the Reformation.

The Renaissance—a word that means .

"rebirth"—was marked by the resurgence of many values of the Classical Era, including humanism* and rationalism*

The Renaissance began in

Italy and later spread throughout Europe. It spawned renewed study of the great works of ancient Greco-Roman civilizations and produced among the finest artistic and intellectual achievements in the history of the Western humanities.

Who initiated the Protestant Reformation? a Leonardo da Vinci b Martin Luther c Michelangelo d Niccolò Machiavelli

Martin Luther he correct answer is b. Martin Luther initiated the Protestant Reformation and openly criticized the Catholic Church's practice of selling indulgences, which allowed people to pay for forgiveness.

Which of the following figures from the Renaissance worked in sculpture? a Boccaccio b Rabelais c Machiavelli d Michelangelo

Michelangelo Michelangelo was a sculptor as well as a painter. The other figures are authors.

Historians generally regard the Renaissance as a bridge, culturally and intellectually, from the

Middle Ages to the modern era. It was a period of change, discovery, and innovation, and its accomplishments still resonate in the modern world.

Notable figures in other fields also emerged: authors like

Petrarch, Erasmus, Miguel de Cervantes, John Milton, and William Shakespeare; scientists like Nicholas Copernicus and Galileo Galilei; philosophers like Niccolò Machiavelli and Francis Bacon; and explorers and adventurers like Ferdinand Magellan, Hernán Cortes, Francis Drake, and Samuel de Champlain. I

which of the following is the work from the Renaissance Period? The prince by Niccolo Machiavelli Gullivers Travels by Johnathan Swift The Canterbury Tails by Geoffrey Chaucer Moby Dick by Herman Melville

The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli correct answer is a. Machiavelli's The Prince, a treatise on how to govern, was published in 1532.

One such dissenter was Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536).

Though Erasmus remained loyal to the Catholic Church all his life, he advocated what has served for many years as the central tenets of a "liberal" education: a course of study centered on classical authors that develops both the student's intellect and morality.

Science enhanced transatlantic travel through enhanced ship design, standardized navigational charts, and improved instruments. True or False?

True Correct. Renaissance science contributed to transatlantic travel through enhanced ship design, standardized navigational charts, and improved instruments.

Humanist education originated in the study of the great works of Classical antiquity. Renaissance humanism promoted

the studia humanitatis, or the humanities, comprised of the five disciplines of grammar, rhetoric, history, poetry, and moral philosophy.

From Machiavelli's The Prince: "

"Therefore it is unnecessary for a prince to have all the good qualities I have enumerated, but it is very necessary to appear to have them. And I shall dare to say this also, that to have them and always to observe them is injurious, and that to appear to have them is useful; to appear merciful, faithful, humane, religious, upright, and to be so, but with a mind so framed that should you require not to be so, you may be able and know how to change to the opposite.

Key Concepts: Renaissance Humanism The dominant Renaissance cultural and intellectual movement was classical humanism, which emphasized the worth, dignity, and rationality of man. Renaissance humanism:

emphasized not only scholarly achievement but also moral and athletic development encouraged the individual to engage with the world ("The whole glory of man lies in activity") rejected much of medieval thinking as irrelevant to a changing world Renaissance thinkers, like Niccolò Machiavelli, began to account for politics with a nonreligious realism. In The Prince, Machiavelli defended the principle that "the ends justify the means" in governance and statecraft.

During the Renaissance, science was regarded as a form of "black magic." True or False? True False

false This is a false statement. Science was regarded as a legitimate source of knowledge. Increasing interest in science led to many groundbreaking discoveries, including, for example, how the eye perceives light and distance.

ndividualism and Self-Fashioning Castiglione's work addresses: the

fostering of a public persona to represent one's uniqueness the process of fashioning one's individual sense of self according to a set of socially acceptable standards the attempt to define one's knowledge and skills rather than the depth of one's faith

The French word "renaissance" means

"rebirth" and is now a popular term used to describe the historical period roughly from the late 13th to the early 17th century.

Key Concepts: The Age of Exploration From the early 15th to the early

17th century, Europeans embarked on maritime explorations around the world in order to satisfy their desire for foreign goods and to achieve geopolitical dominance over one another. Scientific innovations assisted Renaissance exploration, such as enhanced ship design, the standardization of navigational charts, and improvements in instrumentation.

from Martin Luther's Ninety-Five Theses:

36. Any truly repentant Christian has a right to full remission of penalty and guilt, even without indulgence letters. 37. Any true Christian, whether living or dead, participates in all the blessings of Christ and the Church; and this is granted him by God, even without indulgence letters.

The Courtier-

Baldassare Castiglione In The Courtier, Castiglione presents the reader with a group of elegant attendants to the court of Duke Urbino who compete with each other to describe the perfect courtier. The competition takes place over the course of four days and debates the nature of men and women, love, nobility, humor, and all the ways in which a courtier is expected to embody these qualities.

The classical values that influenced the Renaissance are ________. a. reason, rationalism, and scientific expansion b. beauty, goodness, and truth c. humanism, reason, rationalism, scientific expansion, and balance d. humanism

humanism, reason, rationalism, scientific expansion, and balance Correct. The values developed during the Classical Period experienced a revival during the Renaissance. These values related back to the concepts of humanism, reason, rationalism, scientific expansion, and balance.

The Renaissance approach to education produced the

ideal of the well-rounded individual who was not bound to any one discipline. This ideal contrasted sharply with that during the Middle Ages, when narrow specialization in education was emphasized.

Humanism, Individualism, and Self-Fashioning Machiavelli's work addresses: the

importance of the political state rather than the religious state the creation of one's public identity based on individual interests the power of self-determination and free will the darker side of the Renaissance's belief in human possibility

Reformation:

Reformation took place in the form of Protestantism, sparked by Martin Luther's outspoken disagreement with many Church practices he believed were corrupt. Overall, reformation of the Roman Catholic Church was a very significant movement in the Renaissance that separated it from the Middle Ages.

In The Courtier, Baldassare Castiglione examined the process of fashioning one's sense of self according to a set of socially acceptable standards. True or False?

True Correct. The Courtier is an example of the Renaissance theme of self-fashioning and following a socially accepted etiquette.

The Prince is a political treatise, written in simple

prose and with straightforward logic.

The Renaissance featured a

revival of classical art, literature, philosophy, architecture, and learning and an emphasis on humanism.

Humanism particularly informed

scientific advances. The renewed emphasis on reason and rationalism undermined the intense religious devotion of the Middle Ages and paved the way for many scientific discoveries and innovations.

As you learned in the previous sections, humanism was a source of inspiration and a significant theme during the Renaissance. How did this major theme affect the development of other themes during this time period? Select one theme from this time period and discuss how it was influenced by the theme of humanism.

Because humanism valued rational thought and education, the theme of humanism contributed to scientific advances in a major way and influenced the themes of Rationalism and Scientific Expansion during the Renaissance. The spirit of curiosity, experimentation, and objectivity humanism embodied nurtured the development of European science. Humanism's emphasis on open-minded inquiry guided by empirical evidence (rather than by preconceived ideas) was one of its most significant contributions to science. Renaissance humanists inspired several groundbreaking developments in areas such as transportation, medicine, and warfare.

In 1517 Martin Luther made public his objection to which of the following? a. The common practice of "self-fashioning" b. The Catholic Church's practice of selling indulgences c. The rebirth of classicism d. Gothic art and architecture

The Catholic Church's practice of selling indulgences Correct. Martin Luther made public his objection to the Catholic Church's practice of selling indulgences in a letter to his bishop. This document would later become the cornerstone of the Reformation.

Artists applied scientific principles to

solve problems of perspective and devised new techniques for representing light and shade.

Individualism and Self-Fashioning book of the courtier The Book of the Courtier (1528) by Baldasarre Castiglione (Public Domain). As the interest in humanism increased during the Renaissance, so too did the notion of individualism. The potential and talents of the individual became a

significant focus. Leon Battista Alberti, a 15th-century Italian architect, wrote: "Men can do all things if they will." At the same time, it was now acceptable to seek public recognition and build an artistic reputation. Renaissance artists signed their work, seeking secular glory and renown for their achievements. Medieval artists, on the other hand, had focused on glorifying God and remained largely anonymous.

Humanism The impetus for the classical revival was the belief

that one could realize his or her full humanity only through classical education, which meant studying the culture of Western antiquity. This rebirth re-asserted the superiority of ancient Greco-Roman creative and intellectual contributions, which were extolled as the highest of human cultural achievements.

The Age of Exploration* (also called the "Age of Discovery") from the early fifteenth to the early seventeenth centuries is named for

the European maritime* exploration that changed the world.

The phrase "To be, or not to be: that is the question" is from which of the following plays? a Hamlet b Romeo and Juliet c Othello d Henry V

Hamlet The correct answer is a. The line is from Hamlet, a tragedy that explores the themes of treachery, revenge, incest, and moral corruption.

The Renaissance revived ______________. a classical Chinese and Japanese culture b Roman militarism c classical Greek and Roman culture d Arabian culture

b classical Greek and Roman culture The Renaissance revived elements of classical Greek and Roman culture.

Niccolò Machiavelli wrote The Prince, a treatise on _________. a. how to start a business b. the importance of grammar c. the importance of scientific expansion d. how to govern

how to govern The correct answer is d. The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli is a treatise on how to govern. Machiavelli had a fundamental impact on politics during the Renaissance.

Inspired by the rediscovery of classical forms and principles, Renaissance sculptors achieved

increasing mastery of materials and techniques, along with greater expressiveness. The art form reached its peak in the early 16th century with the works of Michelangelo. The overall atmosphere of change during the Renaissance proved conducive to artistic experimentation and innovation.

Classical humanism also stressed the

individual's role in the social and political order by emphasizing general responsibilities of citizenship and respect for public duty. It held that participating in the political life of the community was an obligation.

Expansion of the University System The Renaissance focus on

individualism brought about a new emphasis on education. Individuals were encouraged to develop to the fullest their scholarly, artistic, and physical interests.

Epistomology is the study of _____________. a. psychology and music b. writing and rhetoric c. knowledge and thinking d. religion and science

knowledge and thinking Correct. Epistomology is the study of knowledge and thinking.

The Renaissance is remembered for

the artistic treasures it produced in painting, sculpture, and architecture. It produced some of the world's most-acclaimed artists: Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Donatello, Titian, Raphael, and Albrecht Dürer.

Renaissance philosophers found what they considered

universal divine wisdom within the teachings of classical philosophers, such as Aristotle. Because classical antiquity was considered "pagan" by Renaissance thinkers, this new appreciation of classicism eventually led to a revival of humanism. Artists, philosophers, and writers admired the ancient authors and works of art and saw them as sites of authority that would bring back the emphasis on human accomplishment.

One of the most significant ideas to emerge from the Renaissance is the

value of education, particularly in the Humanities. The catalyst for the classical revival was the belief that one could realize his or her full humanity only through classical education. This rebirth reasserted the superiority of ancient Greco-Roman creative and intellectual contributions.

Renaissance humanists agreed with the Greek philosopher Protagoras, who affirmed that

"man is the measure of all things." They also argued that, in the words of the scholar Paul Brians, "the proper worship of God involved admiration of his creation, and in particular of that crown of creation: humanity." As Brians further noted, "The painter, the architect, the musician, and the scholar, by exercising their intellectual powers, were fulfilling divine purposes."1

The cultural flourishing of the Renaissance* also overlapped with the

Age of Discovery and advancements in science. Science became regarded as a legitimate source of knowledge and spurred interest in, for example, how the eye perceives light and distance. In turn, this attention placed on the mechanics of seeing led artists to consider perspective and experiment with techniques such as chiaroscuro

The European maritime exploration that took place during the 15th, 16th, and early 17th centuries is referred to as the ___________. a. Age of Expansion b. Age of Exploration c. Age of Enchantment

Age of Exploration The correct answer is b. The Age of Exploration (also called the "Age of Discovery") refers to the European maritime exploration that took place during the 15th, 16th, and early 17th centuries.

Many scholars and thinkers embraced

Christian humanism, believing that humans were created in the image of God and because of this, possess immense dignity, potential, beauty, and worth as individuals. These Christian humanists also embraced classical and secular knowledge, particularly in regards to the natural world. The honed minds of the Renaissance contributed several groundbreaking developments in such areas as transportation, medicine, and warf

One of the main forces behind the rapid exploration was the e.

European desire for foreign goods. The rise of the Ottoman Empire cut off the overland trade in silks and spices between Europe and the Far East that used to come along the Silk Road*, which stretched from Constantinople in Turkey to Beijing in China. European nations took to the sea, since they were blocked from their traditional overland route. By the time the Ottomans were no longer a threat, the Silk Road was rendered obsolete by the faster and more effective sea trad

Humanism:

Humanism is an optimistic attitude that praises human abilities to be successful in their endeavors, whether in science, religion, art, politics, or behavior. The focus on humanity, human culture, and the human form was the impetus for the classical revival.

Erasmus's best-known work was

In Praise of Folly*, a satirical essay that criticized corruption and abuses of Catholic doctrine in parts of the Roman Catholic Church. Erasmus also produced a scholarly edition of the New Testament that included the Greek text in print for the first time. Erasmus supported reforming the Church and the clergy from within, but there were others who were more fed up with the Church's corruption and who would ultimately split away from its influence.

Rationalism/Scientific Expansion:

Many people in the Renaissance embodied a strong interest in rationalism and scientific inquiry, leading to deeper understanding of the world and technological developments in such areas as medicine, transportation, and warfarey.

Exemplary Works The Renaissance Period produced a host of influential writers and literary works throughout Europe. The following chart highlights two of these writers— Niccolò Machiavelli, and Baldassare Castiglione— and explains how their works represent the themes and techniques used in Renaissance literature.

Niccolò Machiavelli The Prince The Prince is a political treatise, written in simple prose and with straightforward logic. Baldassare Castiglione The Courtier In The Courtier, Castiglione presents the reader with a group of elegant attendants to the court of Duke Urbino who compete with each other to describe the perfect courtier. The competition takes place over the course of four days and debates the nature of men and women, love, nobility, humor, and all the ways in which a courtier is expected to embody these qualities.

Individualism/Self-Fashioning:

The notion of individualism became important during the Renaissance as artists sought public recognition and reputation. Artists and nobles represented their identity with choices in dress and behavior, a process known as self-fashioning

Which of the following statements best illustrates Renaissance humanism's stress on engagement with the world? a. "Man is the measure of all things." b. "Men can do all things if they will." c. "The whole glory of man lies in activity." d. "The ends justify the means."

The whole glory of man lies in activity." The correct answer is c. This statement captures Renaissance humanism's stress on engagement with the world.

Christian Humanists blended ideas from Christianity with classical ideas about the value of human beings. True or False?

True Correct. The Christian Humanists of the Renaissance blended ideas from Christianity and the Classical Period to argue for the fundamental importance of the individual.

The Renaissance began in Italy and later spread throughout Europe. True or False?

True Correct. The Renaissance began in Italy and later spread throughout Europe.

"The Renaissance fascination with individual potential stimulated a spirit of inquiry and experimentation," author Margaret Lobenstine has noted. "Its brightest stars made brave forays into uncharted lands; experimented with new forms of government; conducted scientific studies on plants, animals and the elements; invented technologies such as

[...] the printing press; and reached dizzying heights of artistic endeavor."2

The Renaissance witnessed important changes in attitudes toward politics. In the Middle Ages, historians and thinkers had viewed politics entirely through the lens of their Christian faith. In studying the past, they saw events as the destiny of all Christendom. But Renaissance humanist histories began to

account for politics with a nonreligious realism. These histories began to attribute political events to human rather than divine direction.

The cultural flourishing of the Renaissance also overlapped the Age of Discovery and

advancements in science. Science became regarded as a legitimate source of knowledge and spurred interest in scientific inquiry.

Social etiquette and fashion followed this trend, a process that was later referred to as "self-fashioning*,"AS AS

as public behavior and clothing became tools for self-expression.

Christian humanists blended

aspects of both Christianity and classical thinking. They believed the individual human was of the utmost importance because humans were created in the image of God. Humans must develop their capacities for intellectual reason and devotion to God simultaneously. Important thinkers like Giovanni Pico della Mirandola wrote about the dignity and free will of humans in early texts dealing with Christian humanism.

During this time, Europe saw this revival of

classical learning and the rise of classical humanism, a philosophic approach that placed more emphasis on the individual and the secular.

Renaissance science contributed to transatlantic travel through

enhanced ship design, standardized navigational charts, and improved instruments. The exploration, in turn, fueled Renaissance science, art, and literature.

As the ideals of the Middle Ages gave way to more scientific thinking, it was slowly becoming more important to move away from pure deference to God by expressing one's unique identity—at least in the upper class. To this end, nobles would construct their public identities based on their individual interests, a process that

included how they dressed, how they behaved in social settings, and what areas of cultural interest they pursued.

Classical humanism also stressed the

individual's role in the social and political order by emphasizing general responsibilities of citizenship and respect for public duty. It held th at participating in the political life of the community was an obligation.

Renaissance Religion Overview The Catholic Church had been an unrivaled force in Europe during the Middle Ages, but in various ways, it suffered a decline in influence and prestige during the Renaissance. Many of the Church's institutions were rooted in

medieval feudalism and proved slow to adapt to changing political, social, and economic conditions. The corruption of some of its leaders damaged the reputation of the Catholic Church. A rise in popular religious fervor during the Renaissance posed some threat to the Roman Catholic Church. A series of heretical movements (with some popular support) emerged to challenge papal authority proposing, to one extent or another, doing away with the institutional Church. But outright heresy*Glossary Pronunciation attracted a more limited group of dissenters. Far more characteristic of the Renaissance were reformers who sought to change (rather than banish) the existing Church. For example,

The wealth and knowledge gained from exploration changed Europe. As a way to manage the financial aspects of their empires, European nations developed

modern financing. In 1602, the Dutch East India Company, built on the spice trade, was the first multinational corporation, and it established the first stock exchange to manage its shares.

The accumulation of wealth in cities as a consequence of Renaissance urbanization helped fund

patronage of the arts. A new and more diverse public audience for the arts emerged. This audience, whose tastes and interests were wider, demanded greater variety in artistic form and content.

But outright heresy attracted a more limited group of dissenters. Far more characteristic of the Renaissance were reformers who sought to change (rather than banish) the existing Church. For example

some theologians supported reforming the Church by shifting supreme authority to a council of bishops rather than keeping it in the hands of the Pope.

An interest in ancient classical ideas grew during the Renaissance (the study of grammar, rhetoric, poetry, history, and moral philosophy), and studies of standard classical authors became more widespread. Indeed, as this evolving interest in humanism became institutionalized in society, it became very important for

students, teachers, or scholars to learn about and apply the qualities that make men and women human. Humanism is an optimistic attitude that praises human abilities to be successful in their endeavors, whether in science, religion, art, politics, or behavior. It is not coincidental that humanism is reborn in Italy, which was the center of the Catholic Church in the Renaissance and the center of the Roman Empire in the ancient world.

Classical humanism emphasized the

worth, dignity, and rationality of man. Renaissance humanists agreed with the Greek philosopher Protagoras, who affirmed that "man is the measure of all things."

The Prince

The Prince is a slim political treatise that describes a self-made political leader who abandons conventional morality to win power and acts ruthlessly toward his people. Machiavelli explores a variety of political topics, including how to make alliances, how to maintain a strong military, and how to obtain the goodwill of the populace in an effort to maintain power. By dedicating the book to the ruler of Florence, Lorenzo de'Medici, Machiavelli aims to convince his readers that Medici is the only one who can restore honor and pride to Italy.

Literature in the Renaissance experimented with a wide range of styles that reflected an emphasis on the individual's psychological complexity.

True Correct. Along with the shift in thinking during the Renaissance, there was a shift in how authors wrote. Authors experimented with a range of styles that reflected an emphasis on the individual's inner psychological complexity.

Niccolò Machiavelli presented the darker side of human possibility through his treatise The Prince. True or False?

true Machiavelli's description of a self-made political leader who abandons conventional morality in order to win power represented the darker side of human possibility.

Below are a few famous quotations from the text. (the Prince)As you read through these excerpts, consider your beliefs and opinions. Do you agree with Machiavelli? How does this piece reflect or oppose the major themes of this time period?

At this point, one may note that men must be either pampered or annihilated. They avenge light offenses; they cannot avenge severe ones; hence, the harm one does to a man must be such as to obviate any fear of revenge. (Chapter 3) [P]eople are by nature changeable. It is easy to persuade them about some particular matter, but it is hard to hold them to that persuasion. Hence, it is necessary to provide that when they no longer believe, they can be forced to believe. (Chapter 6) Here a question arises: whether it is better to be loved than feared, or the reverse. The answer is, of course, that it would be best to be both loved and feared. But since the two rarely come together, anyone compelled to choose will find greater security in being feared than in being loved. . . . Love endures by a bond which men, being scoundrels, may break whenever it serves their advantage to do so; but fear is supported by the dread of pain, which is ever present. (Chapter 12)

Key Concepts: Renaissance Religion

Key Concepts: Renaissance Religion During the Renaissance Era, the Roman Catholic Church faced numerous dissenters to its authority, who were reacting to corruption within the clergy. A series of popular heretical movements emerged, proposing to do away with the institutional Church. There were also more moderate reformers, like Dutch humanist Desiderius Erasmus, who criticized clergy corruption and sought reform within the Church itself. The most notable dissent with the Church, however, was the Protestant movement. Protestant Reformation: Inciting the Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther's Ninety-Five Theses challenged the doctrine of papal infallibility and rejected the Catholic Church as the necessary intermediary between the faithful and God. However, disagreements among Protestants caused multiple sects to form.

Rebirth of Classicism

In order to understand the significance of the Renaissance, it is important to recall that the period that preceded it—the Middle Ages—saw the decline of influences from ancient Greece and Rome. At their high points, Greek and Roman cultures had highly refined values pertaining to art, science, and philosophy. As you learned in Module 2, these classical values embraced the following concepts: humanism (the importance and perfectibility of human beings) reason, rationalism, and scientific expansion balance (the coming together of beauty, goodness, and truth)

Key Concepts: Renaissance Literature Renaissance literature experimented with a wide range of styles that reflected an emphasis on the individual's psychological complexity in addition to the social and moral structures of society that were more often the focus of medieval literature. Many Renaissance authors found themselves combining Christian and classical learning into Christian humanism in order to reconcile the many conflicts between the two.

Machiavelli's The Prince is one of the best-known political treatises. His treatise advanced the abandonment of conventional morality for the sake of power and authority. The Prince is considered to represent the darker side of the Renaissance's belief in human possibility and potential. Castiglione's The Courtier explores the process of fashioning one's individual sense of self according to a set of socially acceptable standards. William Shakespeare would become the most famous writer in English by writing plays and poems that examine such human emotions as loyalty, ambition, love, hate, greed, and self-sacrifice.

Freeing politics from any connection to religion became a significant aspect of Renaissance thought. The thinker renowned for advancing this shift in outlook was

Niccolò Machiavelli, the Italian political philosopher who believed statecraft should be based on science rather than on Christian principles. His concern was with preserving the state by any effective means. In The Prince, his masterwork on the exercise of political power, Machiavelli defended the principle that "the ends justify the means" in governance and statecraft. He wrote: "It is necessary for him who lays out a state and arranges laws for it to presuppose that all men are evil and that they are always going to act according to the wickedness of their spirits whenever they have free scope."

Historians mark the start of the Reformation as 1517, when German theologian Martin Luther issued his

Ninety-Five Theses, which expressed the growing dissent of many Roman Catholics against what they deemed to be Church malpractices and false doctrines. Luther denounced systemic corruption in the Church hierarchy. He challenged the doctrine of papal infallibility* and rejected the Catholic Church as a necessary intermediary between the faithful and God.

Key Concepts: Major Themes of the Renaissance

Rebirth of Classicism: During the Renaissance, there was a rebirth of classical ideals, mainly humanism, rationalism, and balance, based on the belief that classical literary, scientific, and philosophical works provided additional resources for learning and living. Humanism: Humanism is an optimistic attitude that praises human abilities to be successful in their endeavors, whether in science, religion, art, politics, or behavior. The focus on humanity, human culture, and the human form was the impetus for the classical revival. Rationalism/Scientific Expansion: Many people in the Renaissance embodied a strong interest in rationalism and scientific inquiry, leading to deeper understanding of the world and technological developments in such areas as medicine, transportation, and warfare. Expansion of the University System: The Renaissance approach to education produced the ideal of the well-rounded individual who was not bound to any one discipline. As the university system spread across Europe, it represented a significant change in epistemology. Individualism/Self-Fashioning: The notion of individualism became important during the Renaissance as artists sought public recognition and reputation. Artists and nobles represented their identity with choices in dress and behavior, a process known as self-fashioning. Reformation: Reformation took place in the form of Protestantism, sparked by Martin Luther's outspoken disagreement with many Church practices he believed were corrupt. Overall, reformation of the Roman Catholic Church was a very significant movement in the Renaissance that separated it from the Middle Ages.

Art of the Protestant Reformation stressed which of the following aspects or qualities? a. Alchemy and astrology b. Extreme extravagance and overindulgence c. Idolatry and faith d. Simplicity and piety

Simplicity and piety Correct. The answer is d. Art of the Protestant Reformation stressed simplicity and piety, and reformers attacked what they called the idolatry of Catholic religious art.

.Expansion of the University System:

The Renaissance approach to education produced the ideal of the well-rounded individual who was not bound to any one discipline. As the university system spread across Europe, it represented a significant change in epistemolog

Intellectualism and education were also prized during this time, and Renaissance Europe, therefore,

saw the development of more and more universities. Universities were centers of education in a variety of subjects, from law to medicine to philosophy. Unlike in the Middle Ages, some schools were secular and did not need to be associated with religious faith. Students at these universities were encouraged to pursue subjects through rational thought rather than spiritual devotion.

Thus, the Renaissance is an extremely important period in the evolution of Western culture, because

it represented a change in epistemology*Glossary Pronunciation across Europe, a way of thinking based on reason and rational thought. To that end, the expansion of the university system during this period became very important. Most of the innovative research in science, medicine, philosophy, and law came from the universities, and during the Renaissance the number of European universities more than doubled from 29 in the year 1400 to 63 by 1601. Not only did more people seek knowledge for personal fulfillment, but society also needed trained professionals in the areas of law, medicine, civil government, and religion.

Renaissance humanists called for educating the whole person. They emphasized not only scholarly achievement but also

moral and athletic development. Rather than seeking a life of religious contemplation, the individual was to engage with the world. "The whole glory of man lies in activity," wrote the 15th-century Italian humanist Leonardo Bruni, who was both an historian and chancellor of Florence.

The French word "renaissance" means "_________." a appraisal b renew c rebirth d reinvent

rebirth The correct answer is c. French word "renaissance" means "rebirth." The term Renaissance is used to describe the historical period from roughly the late 13th to the early 17th century.

What was the principle force for change in Renaissance religion? a heresy b reform movements c Greek Polytheism d the Pope

reform movements The correct answer is b. Reform movements gave rise to the Reformation, the key religious movement in Europe during the Renaissance.

For the ancient writers, the political state rather than

religion was a central concern. The Renaissance humanists likewise addressed the question of how to create good citizens, as well as good Christians. The models of democratic Athens and the Roman Republic would eventually lead to a demand for more political equality in European states. This world was no longer seen as just a preparation for the next, as in the Middle Ages.

Renaissance painters often employed scientific principles when creating works of art. True or False?

rue Correct. Artists applied scientific principles to solve problems of perspective and devised new techniques for representing light and shade.

All these themes—grounded in humanity, intelligence, and individuality—went hand-in-hand with the religious reformation. The Christian faith was still important to people of the Renaissance, but some took issue with

the European authority in Rome. The Protestant Reformation*, initiated by Martin Luther's protest against the Church's financial corruption, spread throughout Europe and formed sects and branches that veered away from the centralized power in the Catholic Church.

Historians generally consider the Renaissance to be a cultural and intellectual bridge between which two eras? a the Middle Ages and the modern era b the Classical Period and the Middle Ages c the Baroque Period and the modern era d None of the above

the Middle Ages and the modern era The correct answer is a. Historians generally consider the Renaissance to be a cultural and intellectual bridge from the Middle Ages to the modern era.

The Protestant Reformation Portrait of German priest and theologian Martin Luther, leading figure of the Protestant Reformation, Lucas Cranach the Elder in 1533. Portrait of German priest and theologian Martin Luther, leading figure of the Protestant Reformation, by Lucas Cranach the Elder, 1533. The most historically significant religious development of the Renaissance was

the Protestant Reformation*. This movement began as an attempt to reform the Roman Catholic Church and would culminate in the birth of Protestantism.

Rationalism/Scientific Expansion One of the most important ideals defining humanism is

the power of the human brain to study, learn, and understand the world. Hence, there became a strong interest in rationalism and scientific inquiry during the period. Many interesting and noteworthy people lived during the Renaissance who embodied such interests. For them, the explanations provided by religious dogma and classical philosophy did not offer a deep enough understanding of the world. Instead, they applied reason and scientific thinking to various endeavors, leading to technological developments in such areas as medicine, transportation, and warfare.

One of the most significant synergistic periods in our history is the Renaissance and it's not just the Renaissance, it's everything that happened around that time that allowed for this Renaissance - this rebirth,

this change, turning point, in our history and our culture. Often we talk about the Reformation and the Renaissance. The Reformation being the reforming of the medieval church - the Catholic church - when the Protestant beliefs proliferated, the Catholic church, the unity of it, was fractured and we get the proliferation of different Protestant sects in Western Europe. These two things, while we talk about them often separately, couldn't really have happened without the other one. They are products of their influence on each other and in many ways the product of a technological influence of the printing press. The press is invented in Europe in 1450, in Germany which not coincidentally where Martin Luther began the Protestant Reformation when he nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the church. And then these ideas because of the press were proliferated all across Europe. You could actually print texts by the hundreds and disseminate them to people and so people started to read more, ideas spread, any time ideas spread they usually bring about change, particularly if they are ideas that are encouraging change. And so the convergence of all of these ideas and things (the printing press) allows for the Reformation, which I don't think would have happened without the printing press, and makes the printing press that much more useful, the Reformation certainly made it a significant invention and of course brought about the Renaissance, which in essence is a new way of thinking and nothing during this time period or centuries before was more new than to think about religion in a different way as the Protestant Reformation brought about.

The Renaissance triggered the rise of ______ literature that reflected the everyday life of the period. a vernacular b Latin c Christian d realist

vernacular The correct answer is a. The Renaissance triggered the rise of vernacular literature that reflected the everyday life of the period. During the Renaissance, "vernacular" referred to the domestic or native language of the people, as opposed to the classical Greek and Latin of the period.

Niccolò Machiavelli and Changing Renaissance Politics Machiavelli's The Prince is a t

treatise on how to govern. Written in straightforward Italian (and not formal Latin), it was first published in 1532 but had circulated in manuscript previously. The book has become quite controversial because of the basic theme suggesting that leaders can use whatever means necessary to achieve their ends.

Key Concepts: The Importance of the Renaissance No appreciation of the Humanities is complete without understanding this era and its significance in the history of Western civilization. The Renaissance:

witnessed the revival of classical art, literature, philosophy, architecture, and learning, spawned renewed study of the great works of ancient Greco-Roman civilizations, and produced among the finest artistic and intellectual achievements in the history of Western Humanities. The potential and talents of the individual became a significant focus in the Renaissance, including the idea of the well-rounded Renaissance Man. One of the most significant ideas to emerge from the Renaissance is the value of education, particularly in the Humanities. The catalyst for the classical revival was the belief that one could realize his or her full humanity only through classical education. This rebirth reasserted the superiority of ancient Greco-Roman creative and intellectual contributions. Key Concepts: The Age of Exploration From the early 15th to the early 17th century, Europeans embarked on maritime explorations around the world in order to satisfy their desire for foreign goods and to achieve geopolitical dominance over one another. Scientific innovations assisted Renaissance exploration, such as enhanced ship design, the standardization of navigational charts, and improvements in instrumentation.