Seventh Period Renaissance Notes
Rediscovering Ancient Greece & Rome
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During Middle Ages
o Few could read
o Greek language forgotten, Latin changed
Renaissance
o “rebirth”
o Renewed interest in classical learning
o Greek re-learned, Latin reformed
The Spirit of Rebirth
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Renaissance
Time of renewing spirits
People came alive, new energy
More curiosity & creativity
Creation of beautiful things, thinking daring thoughts
“Renaissance Person” is interested in all subjects
It All Began in Italy: A Flourish of Genius
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New energy & creativity started in Italy where wealth from banking & tarde generated
14th century – 16th century (Renaissance)
Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Christopher Columbus & Galileo
Rich and powerful Roman Catholic Church
Michelangelo painted for the Catholic churches
Renaissance had optimistic view
Popes were artists, architects & scholars
Humanism: Questions About the Good Life
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New writers & artists refreshed by classics
Old Latin & Greek used to discover the meaning of life (answered by Christianity)
Used Roman morality & classics to strengthen Christianity
Found & shared ancient writings from Italian monasteries
Humanists become teachers to inspire wisdom to future rulers
Believed virtue is the only way to attain true happiness
The Reformation: Breaking with the Church
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Reformation – all people rejected the Pope and Italian churchmen authorities
English people did not agree with the financial burdens the Pope imposed on them, because of
their strong patriotism and national identity
Martin Luther, a monk, founded a new type of Christianity based on the Bible not on the Pope
Seventh Period Renaissance Notes
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The church needed reformed
King Versus Pope: All for an Heir
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The conflict between the Pope and the king of England climaxed when Henry the VIII wanted to
divorce his wife
Divorce was not an option
He had 2 reasons: 1…she was too old to give him a song to take over as king; 2…he fell in love
with Anne Boleyn
The pope refused to grant the divorce
Henry had his new archbishop declare the marriage invalid
1534 Henry broke with Rome and declared himself head of the English church
The New Technology: A Flood of Print
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Printing press changed the way information was exchanged during the Renaissance
Prior to, it was very difficult & expensive
Invented by Johannes Gutenberg
Spread from Germany throughout Europe
Reached England in 1476
By 1500, relatively inexpensive books were available throughout Western Europe
Two Friends – Two Humanists
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Desiderius Erasmus
o Best known humanist
o Traveled throughout Europe
o Wrote in Latin
o Taught Greek at Cambridge University
Thomas More
o Wrote in Latin
o Wrote “Utopia”
o Very popular
Both
o Loved life, laughter, classical learnings, and were both dedicated to the church
I like English
The Protestant Reformation
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King Henry closed English monasteries, sold buildings to subjects
Some didn’t agree with his changes in the church
Sir Thomas More remained loyal to the pope
Henry had More beheaded
Beginning of Protestantism in England
Seventh Period Renaissance Notes
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People felt the new church was a copy of Catholicism
These are your later Puritans, Baptists, etc.
Wanted to get rid of bishops, prayer book, church bells, etc.
Said religion was solely between individual and God
Teaching of Renaissance humanists who emphasized freedom
Henry VIII: Renaissance Man & Executioner
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5 Tudor rulers of England
Henry VII – Welsh Nobleman – shrewd, patient, and stingy man, restored peace & order to
kingdom
Henry VIII – 6 wives – Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves,
Catherine Howard, Catherine Parr
Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived
King could cheat but not wives so they were beheaded
He created the royal navy which stopped foreign invasion. Provided means for England to
spread politics, literature & language all over globe
Deserves title “Renaissance Man” – wrote poetry, champion athlete & hunter, supported
humanistic learning
He died not knowing his daughter would become the greatest ruler England ever had
The Boy King & Bloody Mary
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Henry VIII had 3 kids: Mary, Elizabeth & Edward
Edward
o Crowned at 9 years old (due to laws of succession)
o Ruled 1547-1553
o Intelligent & sickly –died of tuberculosis
Mary
o Ruled after Edward died (1553-1558)
o Strong willed Catholic
o Set out to avenge wrongs done to her mother
o Restored Pope’s power in England
o “hunted” protestants
o Burned 300 of her subjects
o Married king of Spain (Philip) who England feared
o Earned “bloody Mary” through executions
o Died of fever
Elizabeth: the Virgin Queen
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Reigned 1558-1603
Brilliant & successful monarch
Seventh Period Renaissance Notes
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Established church of England (rejected Pope’s authority)
Resisted marriage her whole life – hence “Virgin Queen” – American colony name
She knew her strength was in independence & ability to manipulate suitors
A True Daughter
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Elizabeth survived many plots against her from her cousin Mary Stuart (Queen of Scots)
Elizabeth had no children
Mary was also heir to England’s throne because she was a direct descendent of Henry VII
Mary was deposed from her throne and put under house arrest, lived in royal exile in England
Elizabeth endured Mary’s plots for 20 years, then decapitated her
The Spanish Armada Sinks
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King Philip of Spain invaded England after Mary’s death
Assembled Spanish armada
1588 English Royal Navy defeated Armada
Assured northern Europe’s independence from Catholic countries
If Spain had won, North Americans would likely be speaking Spanish today
A Flood of Literature
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English had established religious and national identity – began writing
Elizabeth became a symbol of peace and prosperity
She was represented in poetry
Literary works were often dedicated to her because she loved literature and higher learning
Considered herself a writer
A Dull Man Succeeds a Witty Woman
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Elizabeth dies (no kids)
James VI of Scotland took over (1603-1625)
Elizabeth was a problem solver (religious & economic problems)
James
o “thick tongued and goggle-eyed” with problems
o Wrote books
o Patronized Shakespeare
o Sponsored new translation of Bible
o Peaceful ruler
No relationship with people
The Decline of the Renaissance
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James’s son Charles I (1625-1649) was self-destructive
Seventh Period Renaissance Notes
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Beheaded in 1649 by his subjects
11 years England ruled by Parliament & Puritan dictator Oliver Cromwell
Charles’ son comes to power 1660
After Charles II returned from exile in France, Renaissance values eroded away
The Glass of Fashion
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Display new costumes from 10 to noon up and down St. Paul’s church
Velvet, taffeta, gold brocade, fur, silk stockings, cork platform shoes, curled hair, perfumed
gloves, and showed off jewels
Elizabeth owned 80 wigs and 3,000 gowns
1580s -1590s – ridiculously exaggerated
o “wings” on neck
o Hoop skirts (4 ft. wide)
o Corsets
Men stuffed pants to get peascodbelly
Colors and patterns had meaning
o Green – love
o White and tawny – patience & adversity