Jacob Schulman
Unit 2: The Renaissance- Possible Essay Outlines
1. Although the Renaissance is seen as a new era in Europe, in many aspects of society,
medieval traditions continued. Identify and describe several of these and explain how they were
perceived in Renaissance Europe
Thesis: Medieval traditions in Europe were not completely destroyed with the birth of the
Renaissance. Instead, the areas of art, religion, and education were conformed to fit the
new Renaissance ideals and values.
Body Paragraph 1: Art- Art was popular during the Middle Ages and it only became more
popular during the Renaissance.
o Symbol of wealth and power
o Similar themes: religion, lives of gods and saints
o In the North, Renaissance art had less of a change of theme
o In Italy, art became more about the individual (because of humanism)More portraits and
respect for the human body
o Da Vinci (Renaissance man, “Last Supper”, “Mona Lisa”)
o Michelangelo (Sculptor, “The David)
o However, there was more of an influence on the human and human nature in all aspects of
artInfluenced by Humanism
BP 2: Religion- The impact that the Catholic Church had in the Middle Ages continued into
the Renaissance. However, with the rise of a new materialistic, merchant class, the
decrease of spiritual thought came about.
o In the Middle Ages: heavy influence on the power of the church and people looked to it for
its guidance
o Renaissance: was not “Anti-religion” as many people thinkThe Church was a major
patron of the arts (Michelangelo- Sistine Chapel, Pieta)
o The Church influenced architectureNew styles of itWanted to give the cathedrals a
sense of grandeur and elegance
o New materialistic class emergedFocused more on materialistic things and less on
spiritual issues
BP 3: Education- In the Middle Ages, universities were established for the purposes of training
people for either a governmental bureaucracy or for the church. However, in the
Renaissance, the emphasis in learning was placed more on the individual, how to live a
good life, and reason.
o MA: Monks are the educated elitePeople look up to them because of their education and
want to be like them
o REN: People are less infatuated with spiritual issues and care more about learning about
human nature
o New literature ideas emerge: Petrarch (Father of Humanism); Machiavelli (Political
philosopher); Mirandola (Humanist Philosopher)
o Education created more room for people to become noticed REN had the birth of the
idea of the human as genius
2. In what ways did the Italian city states differ from the rest of Europe in the 14th century and how
did these differences contribute to a new emerging philosophy?
Thesis: The Italian city-states differed from the rest of Europe in the 14th century in their
emergence of a new wealthy middle class, the emergence of humanism along with new
literature and art, and with their satisfaction with not being a single unified state.
Body Paragraph 1: TradeWealthy middle class- Increased trade on the Italian peninsula
promoted the economies of the Italian city-states, which in turn, led to the rise of a new
merchant class with less spiritual interests.
o Trade: good location, trade with Muslims, Orient
o Merchants: don’t like the medieval politicsHad their own views on human nature and how
life should be enjoyedMore materialistic and secularist
o Secular spirit arose: people didn’t have to be perfect Christians to enjoy lifeEnjoy the
current life and not just be preoccupied with achieving salvation
o Strong/Stable bankingMedici family in Florence (handled papal banking too)
BP 2: Art and Literature lead to Humanism
o Renaissance ideas were based on the study of the classics to reform society
o New ideas in art and literature led to humanism
o Humanism: the idea that humans are great, have intelligence and the capability to do great
thingsHumans are genius
o Petrarch: “Father of Humanism”; Mirandola: “Oration on the Dignity of Man”-Humanist ideas
o Lorenzo Valla: “On Pleasure”- shared the Renaissance love of man and the secular
worldparticularly interested in human pleasure and reason
o Art: more of a secular spirit reflected in Italian Renaissance artGiotto- realism/perspective
BP 3: Italy didn’t focus on centralizing
o Unlike the rest of Europe, Italy wasn’t scrambling to try and unite
o Italy wasn’t as affected as other parts of Europe from tragedies like the Hundred Years War
o Their system of city-states balancing each other out was working fine for them
o They each had their own strengths and weaknesses
3. How did the art and architecture of the Italian Renaissance reflect the ideals and interests of a
new intellectual era?
Thesis: Renaissance influences on art and architecture allowed for the true expression of the
new fundamental ideas of it such as humanism, individualism and secular spirit.
BP 1: Renaissance Art- Paintings
o New emphasis in Renaissance art
o Influence on the individual (Tied to individualism/humanism)More portraits of families and
people come aboutBecomes more popular
o Less of an influence of Religious idealsNot completely gotten rid of, just a decrease in
the intensity of (Religious figures look more human like)
o “The bridge is gapped between humans and spiritual beings”
BP 2: Renaissance Art- Sculpture
o Donatello: statues expressed an appreciation for the variety of human natureRevived the
classical figure with balance and self awareness
o Michelangelo: “The David”Incredibly detailed, done with precision and respect and
admiration for the human body
BP 3: Architectureo Greek and Roman architecture inspired them
o Used arches and columns (Columns represented humans, holding up buildings)
o Cathedrals were built to honor god and his power
o Palaces were held by nobles to try and impress other people
4. In what ways were the ideas of the Italian Renaissance similar or connected to Christian
Humanism in the North? In What ways did it differ?
Intro: Italian humanism spreads to the North eventually (art trade, printing press)
Thesis: Although the basic platforms of the basic ideas of the Italian Renaissance were taken
by the Christian Humanists, their interpretations of humanism, ideas and beliefs and their
version of Renaissance art differed significantly.
BP 1: Interpretation of Humanism (DIFFERED)
o Northern Ren Humanists aka Christian Humanists: conformed the basic ideas of the Italian
Renaissance to suit their likes in the North
o Remained much more religious oriented than in Italy
o Was considered to be a useful way to try and have a broad reform of society
BP 2: Ideas of the Christian Humanists
o Erasmus: believed that education was the key to reform, bible was the basis of education;
“Philosophy of Christ”- Christianity is an inner spirit, believe the words of Christ, not
scholars that wrote about him
o Thomas More: “Utopia”People in Utopia live perfect lives because they live by reason;
The key to the improvement/reform of the individual is the reform of the institutions that
shape the individual
o Rabelais- distinctly secularGargantua and PantagrueResidents in Rabelais’s book
lived for gratification of physical instincts and rational curiosity
BP 2: Art
o Flemmish painters were admired in Italy
o Jan Van Eyck: incredible attention to detail, oil-based paints, realism
o Bosch: used religious themes
o Art was mixedwent along with the Italian ideas, and had some of their own though too
o Quasi-spiritual aura infused architecture in the NorthLittle impact of Italian architecture
o Very stiff, not as comfortable in their surroundings as Italian painters
5. The Renaissance era witnessed continued decentralization in Italy but growing centralization in
France and England. Explain and compare these two different trends.
Intro: 14th-16th centuries- General chaos all over Europe; Big problems- The Plague, Hundred
Years War, Problems with the Church; Italy wasn’t as affected by these big things; So when
all of Europe was trying to centralize, Italy had no need to
Thesis: Due to the fact that Italy wasn’t as harmed as the rest of Europe by the disasters of the
late Middle Ages, is didn’t have as much as a need to unify as did England, France and
Spain in particular.
BP 1: Italy had no need for centralization
o Strategic trading locations for many Italian city-statesTrade with Muslims and the Orient
o Strong economic system didn’t give them a serious need to centralize
o Power of the Italian Banking Families: Medici, Sforza, etc.
o Italy wasn’t as impacted by the Hundred Years War as other nations
o Each individual city-state was centralized, but as a whole they weren’tSignori/Oligarchies
o Balance of power between the city-states kept them equal
BP 2: France & England
o France: Charles VII (Major centralizer)Royal council (keep power from nobles), Standing
army, Pragmatic Sanction of Bourges (Power over Church)
o England: Edward IV (Tudor)Local rulers (Justices of the Peace), Machiavellian*- Royal
council to keep nobles from power, Court of Star Chamber (Roman Law), Middle class
allows it because they are getting more political power
BP 3: Spain
o Ferdinand and Isabella: able to unite the various kingdoms of Spain under 1 crown
o Issues with different culturesWill eventually expel Muslims and Jews from Spain
o Used approaches from the past and tradition: Hermandades, Inquisition, Reconquista,
Dictated appointments of the church
o Isabella declared that there could only be: 1 King, 1 Law, and 1 Faith
6. What role did religion and the institutions in the Catholic Church play in the development of the
Renaissance. Make sure to discuss both Italy and Northern Europe.
Intro: The entire basis of the initial Renaissance in Italy was that you didn’t have to be
obsessed with spiritual ideasIncrease in a secular spirit arose in ItalyLed to more
secular and pioneering ideas
Thesis:
BP 1: Italian Renaissance
o Birth of a new class that was more materialistic and less concerned with spiritual issues
was the first signs of the new ideas to come
o People became less obsessed with being worried about what was to come in the next life,
and they wanted to enjoy their current life
o Literature expressed the new feelings of humanism and secular spirit: Petrarch, Mirandola
o Italian Art re-affirmed the less infatuation with the ChurchSpiritual beings are more
human like; The individual portrait became much more popular
BP 2: Northern Renaissance:
o Northern Renaissance was much more impacted by the church than was Italy
o Their basic interpretations and fundamental ideals for humanism were much more Christian
oriented
o Their major philosophers and literature was more religiously oriented as well: Erasmus
(Basis for reform was educationbible; “Philosophy of Christ”); More (Utopia- people live
perfect lives because they live by reason)(
o Art was more distinctly religious: more stiff, people are less comfortable in their
surroundings
BP 3: The Church itself
o The church became a huge patron of the artsThe Papal States in Italy: Sistine Chapel by
Michelangelo
o Church ideas were changing: Church was forced to allow “usury” the money-lending
o Elsewhere, the church was surrendering power for money (Pragmatic Sanction of Bourges)
o Corruption in the Church was increasing