Fifth Period Renaissance Notes
Introduction
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Renaissance – Historian invention of useful label for complex phenomena
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Changing in people’s values, beliefs, and behavior that marked the emerging Renaissance
Rediscovering Ancient Greece & Rome
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Renaissance: French word meaning “rebirth”
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Renewed interest in classical learning (writings of ancient Greece & Rome)
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Few people could read
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Those who could, studied church doctrine
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People discovered old Greek & Latin Classics relearning to read Greek and reformed their Latin
Spirit of Rebirth
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Renewal of human Spirit, curiosity, & creativity
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Creating beautiful things & thinking new
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Renaissance person: energetic and productive human interested in science, literature, history, art and other subjects
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In America, Thomas Jefferson (Declaration of Independence) is referred to as a Renaissance man
It All Begin in Italy: A flourish of Genius
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Renaissance began in Italy – 14-16 century
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People who flourished: Christopher Columbus, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Galileo
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Main religion is Roman Catholic
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Julius II asked Michelangelo to paint Bible scenes on Sistine Chapel ceiling
Humanism: Questions about the Good Life
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Intellectual movement of writers and artists known as humanism
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Humanists went to old Latin & Greek classics to answer questions about life.
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Christianity answered questions
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Humanists used classics to strengthen Christianity
The New Technology: A Flood of Print
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The printing press transformed the way information was exchanged
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Before all books were written by hand, difficult & expensive
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Johannes Gutenburg – inventor
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He printed first complete book – a Latin Bible in 1455
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By 1500 books were relatively inexpensive in Western Europe
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William Caxton set up a printing press in Westminster

Fifth Period Renaissance Notes
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His press issued about 100 different titles initiating a flood of print in English that is still increasing
Two Friends – Two Humanists
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Erasmus and Moore were the 2 humanist best friends
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They loved life, laughter, an dclassical learning
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More wrote Utopia, a treatise on human society
The Reformation: Breaking with the Church
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Different in all places
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One thing the same – rejected the power of the pope and the Italian churchmen
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New religions, especially Lutheranism (personal understanding of the Bible)
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Church needed reformation
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More and Erasmus ridiculed o Old superstitions o Ignorance and illness in monks o Loose living & personal wealth of priests/bishops
King Versus Pope: All for an Heir
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Henry VIII wanted divorce, but church won’t allow it
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He found a loop-hole (he married his dead siblings spouse)
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Pope did not grant annulment
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Henry appointed an archbishop of Canterbury to do it
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Henry concluded the break from Rome by declaring himself head of English Church
The Protestant Reformation
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Catherine refused to accept the annulment of her marriage
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Henry closed all of England’s monasteries & sold the rich buildings
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Sir Thomas More only one to remain loyal to the pope
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Henry ordered his lord chancellor to be beheaded (More)
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This marked the beginning of Protestantism in England
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Many dissatisfied, felt it was not reformed enough
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This idea (still foundation of Protestant churches) traceable to the teachings of those
Renaissance humanists
Henry VIII: Renaissance Man & Executioner
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Tudor rules: Grandfather, Father, 3 children
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Henry VIII Restored peace, started Renaissance
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Henry VIII created the royal navy

Fifth Period Renaissance Notes
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Defend the island & spread political power, language, and literature
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His child was ignored because she was a girl
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She would become the greatest ruler over England
The Boy King and Bloody Mary
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Mary, Elizabeth, Edward
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Law of succession allowed Edward to rule
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Once he died, Mary took rule
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Restored the pope’s power and hunted down Protestants
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She burned 300 subjects and married Philip II
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This further lost her support
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Succeeded by her sister Elizabeth after she died
Elizabeth: the Virgin Queen
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1558-1603
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First aimed to restore law & order by reestablishing the Church of England
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She pretended to be interested in King Philip, but never married to keep her power – Virgin
Queen
A True Daughter
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As heir to the throne, her cousin Mary Stuart, Queen of the Scots, tried many times to kill
Elizabeth
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For these attempts, Mary lost her thrown and was exiled to live under house arrest in England
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After 20 years of Mary’s plots, Elizabeth had her executed
The Spanish Armada Sinks
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Mary’s execution was used as an excuse for Spain to invade England
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In 1588, Spanish Armada was destroyed by England’s royal navy & bad weather conditions
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Victory proved the power of England & Queen Elizabeth
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This had huge effect on history (we don’t speak Spanish)
A Flood of Literature
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Political Events & English literature o Defeat of Armada (political event) o Elizabeth = symbol of peace, security & prosperity o Elizabeth was inspiration for authors
 Myth logically in poetry
 Drama
 Fiction

Fifth Period Renaissance Notes
 If not directly, about her then dedicated to her
A Dull Man Succeeds a Witty Woman
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Elizabeth died childless
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Was succeeded by her 2 nd cousin James VI of Scotland
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As James I of England, he lacked Elizbeth’s ability to resolve critical issues
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Was especially religious & economic
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James o Wrote learned books in favor of the divine right of kings and against tobacco o Patronized Shakespeare o Sponsored a new translation of the Bible o Was an admirable man and a benevolent, peaceful ruler
The Decline of the Renaissance
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James = difficulties
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Charles I = impossibilities o 1625-1649 o Remote, autocratic, self-destructive o Subjects beheaded him
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Next 11 years England ruled by a Parliament & Puritan dictator (Oliver Cromwell)
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1660 Charles II (leader) changed England in many ways
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Renaissance values gradually eroded and Renaissance energies gradually gave out
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The last great writer of the English Renaissance was John Milton
The Glass of Fashion
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The people pranced around in their new costumes from 10 am to noon
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They were rich fabrics such as: velvet, taffeta, gold brocade, fur o Also wore the finest silk stocking & core platform shoes o Showed off their favorite jewels in earrings and bracelets
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In 1580s and 1590s the Renaissance silhouette was ridiculously exaggerated o Had starched linen neck ruffs, wore “wings” on shoulders, hoop skirts (farthingales) that were 4 feet wide o Men wore full, thigh-length pants that were what critics called “monstrous and outrageous greatness”
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Colors and designs had symbolic meaning o Green = love o White and tawny = patience in adversity o A pansy = sadness, a snake flattery o White and black together symbolizes chastity