The Renaissance
(Lit Book pg. 192-212)
Rediscovering Ancient Greece and Rome
• “Renaissance” means “rebirth,” it referred to era
where old Greek and Roman classic were
rediscovered, a flourishing of human spirit, curiosity,
and creativity.
• In old the classics, Renaissance people discovered
proper Greek and Latin languages.
• A Renaissance person: someone interested and active
in all aspects of life (humanities, art, science, math,
such as Leonardo da Vinci).
It All Began in Italy: A Flourish of Genius
• Italy gained influence and wealth from trading with
Asia and the Mediterranean.
• The main religion in Europe at this time was Roman
Catholicism.
• The church and its popes added to artistic endeavors
by sponsoring/commissioning great artists of the day.
• Many Renaissance artists had an optimistic view of
humanity; they believed that individual human beings
in paintings were noble, near perfection.
Humanism: Questions about the Good Life
• Humanists looked to the classics and Christianity for
inspiration.
• Humanists asked 3 questions about life:
1. What is a human being?
2. What is a good life?
3. How do I lead a good life?
• Humanists found no conflict between the ideas of
the Church and ancient Romans; they sought to
combine the two.
• Humanists used combined philosophies to teach
about how to live, how to rule
The New Technology: A Flood of Print
• Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in
about 1455
• This invention changed society by increasing the
speed, availability of printed materials; the Bible
was most popular and widespread
In Short, the Renaissance involved:
• People expanding education through Greek and
Roman classics
• The spread of humanism, attention to life here and
now as well as eternal life for humanity
• The printing press, spread of scholarly Latin
• A growing richer merchant class with wealth from
Age of Exploration to challenge the elite
Two Friends—Two Humanists
• Desiderius Erasmus (1466?-1536) was the
best known Renaissance humanist, a
monk who lived in the world, traveled, taught
Greek, loved classics; he was loyal to the
Church, yet saw Church's shortcomings
• Thomas More was British lawyer who rose
in government stature, humanist, wrote
Utopia in 1516 (analyzing social, economic,
penal, moral problems within Great Britain
and a narrative describing "utopia“)
• A “utopia” is an impractical perfect image
of society
• More’s affect on the world included being
admired for his ethics; he is admirable to
modern lawyers
The Reformation: Breaking with the Church
• All church reformers rejected authority of
Pope and Italian churchmen.
• The final break with the Roman Church
occur in England in 1533.
• The British resented rule by the Vatican
because of patriotism/national identity,
church taxes, and protestant ideas.
• Martin Luther contributed to the
Reformation because he
founded principles of selfinterpretation of Bible, rejected
Pope, public movement towards
new denomination.
King versus Pope: All for an Heir
• Trouble between the Church and King Henry VIII began when
Henry's marriage to Catherine required a special
dispensation (for marrying his dead brother’s wife).
• Henry had two motives for getting rid of Catherine:
1. She was old and plain and couldn't bear a son.
2. Henry had his mistress Anne Boleyn, whom he wanted to
marry.
• Henry responded to the Pope’s refusal by formally breaking
away from Catholic Church and Pope and establishing state
Church of England, with king and Archbishop of Canterbury
as heads.
• When Thomas More when he stood up to Henry he was
beheaded.
• This event began the Protestant Reformation because a new
church had broken with Catholic Church; it opened the way
for other Protestant denominations in England.
Divorced.
Divorced.
4
1
Catherine of Aragon
Anne of Cleves
Beheaded.
Beheaded.
5
Anne Boleyn
Catherine Howard
Died.
Survived!!
3
6
Jane Seymour
Catherine Parr
Henry VIII: Renaissance Man and Executioner
• The five Tudor rulers of England were Henry
VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I, and
Elizabeth I.
• Henry is considered to be a “Renaissance
Man” because he was interested poetry,
music, art, architecture, athletics, hunting,
and humanism.
The Boy King and Bloody Mary
• Henry’s surviving children (in order of birth):
Mary I, Elizabeth I, and Edward VI.
• Edward was intelligent but sick and weak; he
ruled in name only (died at age 15).
• Mary was totally opposite from her father
Henry. She was a devout Catholic and married
Spanish king. She allied herself again with the
Pope and persecuted protestants.
(1547-1553)
(1553-1558)
Elizabeth: The Virgin Queen
• Elizabeth’s first task as queen was restore law and order by
reestablishing Church of England.
• She kept peace with Spain by pretending to plan on marrying
her sister's widower.
• Elizabeth never married because she would be stronger as an
independent queen, she would not be subservient to a
husband.
• Elizabeth’s cousin, Mary Queen of Scots, was next in line for the
throne and plotted to kill Elizabeth.
• Elizabeth responded to this plot by ordering her cousin’s house
arrest and eventual beheading.
The Spanish Armada Sinks: A Turning Point in History
• King Phillip of Spain used the execution of Mary
Queen of Scots as an excuse to attack.
• In 1588, the English Royal Navy defeated
the Spanish Armada.
Elizabeth I
(reigned 1558-1603)
1546
1558
1575
A Flood of Literature
• Elizabeth became symbol of peace, security, and
prosperity, and many types of literature flourished during
her reign; she was represented mythologically in poetry,
drama, fiction.
Decline of the Renaissance
• James I, son of Mary Queen of Scots (and Elizabeth’s
second cousin) succeeded her on the throne .
• James, however, lacked Elizabeth’s strong character: he
was bad with money, awkward, and a foreigner.
• The new king’s biggest accomplishment was the King James
Bible.
• James was followed by Charles I (who
was beheaded by his subjects in 1649),
then Charles II.
• After Elizabeth died, the political climate
was characterized by weak leadership,
eroded Renaissance values, and the end
of English Renaissance.
• The last great writer of the Renaissance
was John Milton.
The Family of Henry VIII
Elizabeth I
Henry VIII
Philip of Spain
“War”
Mary I
Edward VI
“Peace” & “Plenty”