From the Dark Ages to the
Renaissance
CHW3M
Scientist and Thinkers
Europe dark ages
• Greek in the language of science
• dominated by religious considerations
Muslims  Golden Age
• developed scientific method (experimentation)
• developed modern chemistry
• medicine (first hospitals and medical schools)
• applied science(agriculture and engineering)
• mathematics (algebra and Arabic numerals)
The first Medieval thinkers
• clergymen
• supported Roman Catholic doctrines
through secular study, reason, and logic
• Empiricism  knowledge comes from
sense experience
Grosseteste
Adelard of bath
• Questions of Nature
• Sought to find out
“why”
• Controlled experiments and
conclusions
• Used scientific models (lenses
to study rainbows)
Albert Magnus
• Biologist and theologian
• Used scientific method
Philosophy • Tutor of Thomas
Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas was a priest, philosopher
and scientist who spent his life figuring out
the relationship between science and religion.
•His work laid the foundation for the theology
of the Catholic Church
• The Suma Theologica
Believed there was no conflict between faith and reason. Conflict caused
by faulty reasoning
Language and Literature
Latin was commonly used in Medieval
times
• heavily influenced Germanic languages
• different Latin speaking regions
develop own dialects
• romance languages
Although Latin was the language of the Church. European national languages
became increasingly used in other literary forms helping the further
development of language and national identity
Dante
• literature genius
• The Divine Comedy
• Wrote in Latin and Italian (others followed)
• helped develop the Italian language
• heralded Italian Renaissance
Music
Music was the last of the arts to develop.
European music was strongly influenced by
• Muslim bands (instruments)
• Jewish worship (Gregorian chants)
Overtime European music
developed into
• harmonized style
• secular form
New instruments developed
• played together
• played an important functions
Musician respected member
of the artistic community
Architecture
The ultimate works of art in the middle ages
•Cathedral most important building in towns
(religious and social)
• meant to glorify God
Gothic
• tall slender arches that spread out
• pointed arches more height
• big windows (stain glass)
Romanesque
• based on Roman basilicas
• thick walls to support roof
• very dark inside (gloomy)
The best sculptures and artist of the time worked to adorn the Cathedrals with
beautiful sculptures, stained glass and paintings, again for the glory of God.
The Renaissance
Renaissance literally means rebirth and marks the end of
the middle ages when European civilization rediscovered
itself culturally and intellectually. The Renaissance
started in Italy in the 14th century and spread North
through Europe ending in the 16th century. The
Renaissance was caused impart by
• new social/political order in Europe
• rediscovery of classic literature, history and philosophy
• increased rationale and secular thinking (humanism)
• new technology (printing press)
The Renaissance also marks a period of new
discover that would play a huge part of bringing
the Western world into the modern age.
Humanism: the Philosophy of the Renaissance
With the rediscovery of ancient text came a new
philosophy, humanism. Humanism stresses the dignity
and importance of the individual.
• rational thought
• humanities disciplines included studies in
speaking, grammar, poetry, ethics and history
• civic responsibility
• focused on material things and enjoying life
• supported by wealthy patrons
Petrarch: Father of Humanism
Art in the Renaissance
Medieval art and literature focused on the Church and
salvation while Renaissance art and literature focused on
individuals and worldly matters, along with Christianity.
• embraced Roman and Greek art
• subjects were realistic
• focused on humanity and emotion
The Original Renaissance Man
Leonardo da Vinci was the embodiment of the
Renaissance spirit. He has a wide range of talents and
interests and everything he tried he mastered.
Science
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One of the keenest scientific minds of the Renaissance
Wanted to understand how nature works
Studied everything (notebooks)
inventions and scientific ideas centuries ahead of his time
Art
• What Aristotle was to philosophy da Vinci was to Art
• His art set the standard for all other artist of Renaissance
• Composition and idealized figures
• perspective and anatomy
• Most famous paintings: Mona Lisa and The Last Supper
Along with da Vinci, Raphael and Michelangelo formed
the trinity of great master painters of the Renaissance
Raphael
• Painter and architect
• Known for perfection and grace”
• Extremely influential
Michelangelo
Second in fame only after da Vinci
• sculptor (David)
• painter (Sistine Chapel)
• architect (St. Peter’s Basilica)
• poet
The Northern Renaissance
Eventually the Renaissance would spread out of Italy to
other parts of Europe.
• books and works of art slow to circulate
• Christian humanism develops
• most famous works literature
Most important event to
lead to Renaissance in
Northern Jonas Gutenberg
invention of the printing
press.
• Bible first book printed
Erasmus
• Dutch Christian humanist
• Pushed for a Vernacular form of the Bible
• The Praise of Folly
• used humor to show immoral and ignorant behavior
“I disagree very much with those who are unwilling that Holy
Scripture, translated into the vernacular, be read by the
uneducated . . . As if the strength of the Christian religion
consisted in the ignorance of it”
Sir Thomas More
• English humanist
• wrote Utopia
• a book about a perfect society
Believed men and women live in harmony. No private
property, no one is lazy, all people are educated and the justice
system is used to end crime instead of executing criminals.
The Bard
Shakespeare was the brightest of the Northern
Renaissance men
• wrote over 42 different works
• human nature pivotal in his universe
• comedy, tragedies, history and poetry
• still treasured today
Through his works
Shakespeare almost single
handed brought the
English language out of
the medieval times and
turned it into a modern
language.
Accused, Addiction, Advertising, Alligator,
Amazement, Arouse, Assassination, Bandit,
Bedroom, Beached, Blanket, Bump, Cater,
Champion, Countless, Epileptic, Eyeball,
Excitement, Fashionable, Fixture, Flawed,
Generous, Hint, Lonely, Mimic, Negotiate,
Obscene, Priceless, Premeditated, Puking,
Rant, Silliness, Summit, Torture, Unreal,
Useful, Varied, Worthless, Zany