Humanism
and
The Printing Press
Unit 3, SSWH 9 c and g
How did life change during the
Renaissance and Reformation?
SSWH 9 c and g
Explain the main characteristics
of humanism; include the
ideas of Petrarch, Dante, and
Erasmus.
Explain the importance of
Gutenberg and the invention
of the printing press.
Humanism p.410-412
• Study of classical texts, an
intellectual movement that
focused on human potential &
achievements
• Studied them to understand
ancient Greek values
• Influenced artists and architects
to carry on classical traditions
Continued
• Popularized the study of subjects –
history, literature, and philosophy
• Examined traditional teachings of
the church
Petrarch
•Father of Renaissance
humanism
•Great poet: wrote both
in Italian and Latin
p. 411
Dante
• Wrote using vernacular
(wrote in everyday local
language) and about secular
(worldly) things
• Famous: wrote
The Divine
Comedy in Italian p. 265
Erasmus “ Christian
Humanist”
• Said society should be
reformed through education (women,
boys, and girls)
• Famous: wrote The Praise of Folly:
poked fun at the greedy merchants,
heartsick lovers, quarreling scholars, &
pompous priests
• To Improve society, all people should
study the Bible p. 419 -420
Gutenberg & The Printing Press
• Chinese invented block &
moveable type
• Block printed items reached
Europe in the 1200s
• 1440, Johann Gutenberg
developed a printing press
• Process produced books
cheaply & quickly p. 418
Continued
• First complete book
printed: Gutenberg Bible in 1455
• Printing press allowed books to be
made cheap & it increase the
amount of available knowledge in
society
• Spreading ideas quickly (people
began to challenge established
institutions more)
Important Thing
• The important thing about humanism is
_____________.
• Detail:_____________
• Detail:_____________
• Detail:_____________
• But the important thing about humanism is
_____________.
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