The Renaissance
1350-1550
• French Word for “rebirth”
• The transition period in Europe from medieval to
modern culture. It is generally viewed as a rebirth
or reawakening of learning and the arts.
• It began in the Italian city-states where there was a
new form of society emerging. A society where
wealth and skill was more important than land
ownership and titles of nobility.
ORIGINS
Trade with Asia increased during 1300s
 Italian merchants organized this trade and
trade cities in Italy grew wealthy
 Competed to create works that would increase
prestige of their cities
 Florence became a center for banking, art,
culture & literature
 The Renaissance began in Italy and spread
throughout Europe

STRICT CLASS SOCIETY
•
•
•
Nobility - most powerful, but smallest group
•Born into this class, not earned
• Had to follow strict rules & expectations
Clergy
•Leaders of the church
Peasants and Townspeople
• Townspeople were divided into three groups
• Patricians—had wealth from trade, banking, and industry.
• Burghers---were shopkeepers, artisans, and guild members
who provided goods and services.
• Workers (Peasants)—general labor and the unemployed.
• Made up 85-90% of population
FLORENCE

The Medici Family ruled Florence from the 13th
– 17th centuries
 Wanted
to make Florence the most beautiful city, so
they became patrons of the Arts
 Commissioned many expensive and impressive
works of art from the leading artists of the time.
ROME
Home of the Catholic Church
 Popes commissioned artists to beautify the city
of Rome
 Spent lots of money on art by leading artists:

ARTISTS
 Michelangelo (1475-1564): born in Caprese
Sculptor, painter, architect, poet, engineer
 Considered the greatest artist of his time period for
his innovative techniques and style
 Commissioned by the Medici
and the Catholic Church


Works include: statue of
David & Pieta, the ceiling of
the Sistine Chapel (frescoe),
and was the architect of
St. Peter’s Bascilica
Artists continued

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519): born in Vinci
 The
original Renaissance Man: the ideal humanist
 painter, sculptor, architect, scientist, musician,
inventor, mathematician
 Best known as a painter for such works as the Mona
Lisa and the Last Supper
 Also revered for his technical ingenuity:
 Produced
sketches of helicopters & tanks,
developed theories on solar power and
plate tectonics
LITERATURE

Petrarch (1304-1374)- the father of Humanism
scholar & poet
 Recovered manuscripts & works of Greek & Roman writers


Dante (1265-1321)– father of Italian Language

Divine Comedy – greatest works of Italian literature
 Written

Machiavelli (1496-1527) - Italian statesman, author,
and philosopher


in everyday language (first to do this)
His best-known work, The Prince
Shakespear (1564-1616) – English writer
Considered the greatest writer of all time
 Wrote 38 plays, 154 sonnet
 Reflected the Renaissance ideals of classical Greek &
Roman Culture

SCIENCE

Johannes Gutenberg (1398 – 1468): German
blacksmith, goldsmith, printer & publisher
 Developed
movable type for printing which allows for
the mass production of books
 Revolutionizes book making and helps spread the
ideas of the Renaissance
 Impact of this invention: easier to publish books,
increases literacy & increases production of
vernacular literature (common language – not Latin)
HUMANISM



A philosophy or attitude that places
humankind and human values, welfare, and
creativity at the center of consciousness.
Humanism was the philosophy that,
beginning in the 14th century, was a central
feature of the Renaissance in Italy, and
spread over the rest of Europe in the
following three centuries.
It taught classical learning and art as well as
to seek fulfillment in daily life, and that each
person has dignity and wealth.
CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE RENAISSANCE
Invention of Gutenberg Press
 Banking Industry
 Exploration, colonization of new world
 Expansion of trade
 Humanism
 Reintroduction of Greek & Roman knowledge &
philosophy
 Gateway to modern art forms
 Increased scientific knowledge & desire to know
more

THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION
Religious reforms dividing the western Christian
Church
 Roman Catholic Church criticized for abuse of
power and corruption
 Christian Humanists – wanted to reform Church

 Believed
through reason, and studying the classics
one could become more pious (Christ-like)
 Desiderius Erasmus – father of Christian Humanism
 Suggested
reforming from within the Church
DESIDERIUS ERASMUS
Erasmus was a Dutch scholar,
humanist, and theologian.
 Was ordained a Catholic priest, but
never practiced priestly duties.
 Instead, he studied theology and
classical Greek at the universities in
Paris and Cambridge.
 Critical of some of the practices and
doctrines of the Catholic Church.
 Sought to reform the Catholic Church.

CALLS TO REFORM THE CHURCH

In Praise of Folly – by Erasmus
 Best-seller
(only Bible sold more by 1550)
 Criticized immorality and hypocrisy of Church
leaders and the clergy
 Book inspired renewed calls for reform, and
influenced Martin Luther
WHY REFORM?
Popes corrupted by power & lose
focus of spiritual leadership
 Scientific advances contradicted the
Church
 People wanted to know how to save
souls
 Indulgences – a release of a soul from
purgatory for monetary donation – a
HUGE abuse of Church power!!

MARTIN LUTHER (1483-1546)
He was a monk and
professor at the
university of
Wittenberg, where he
lectured on the Bible.
 Through his study of
the Bible, Luther came
to reject the Catholic
teaching that both
faith and good works
were necessary for
salvation.

3 IMPORTANT TEACHINGS OF MARTIN LUTHER
Salvation is by faith alone and not works.
 Religious truth and authority is found only in
the Bible, not the clergy or the Church.
 The church was a priesthood of believers not a
hierarchy of clergy.

NINETY-FIVE THESES


Angered by the practice of the selling of indulgences by
the Church, on October 31, 1517, Martin Luther posted
his Ninety-five Theses on the door of the Castle Church in
Wittenberg.
 Luther’s written objections to indulgences
 1,000 copies distributed through Germany
This was originally intended to invite debate from other
Catholic theologians, but is now considered to be the
beginning of the Protestant Reformation.
THE REFORMATION BEGINS



By 1521 Luther moving toward split from Church
Wanted German princes to overthrow Papal power in Germany
and establish a German Church
Luther is excommunicated
 Summoned by Imperial Diet of Holy Roman Empire to Worms
 Called by Emperor Charles V, wanted Luther to change his
ideas, Luther – “NO”
 Edict of Worms issued, making Luther an outlaw
 Luther kept in hiding by his prince
Here I stand.
I can do no other.
God help me.
Amen.
PROTESTANTISM SPREADS


Ulrich Zwingli – priest in Zurich, Switzerland
 Banned all religious relics & images
 Whitewashed all church interiors
 No Music in church services
 Does not merge with Luther because they can’t agree
with the meaning of communion
John Calvin – replaces Zwingli (killed in religious war)
 Frenchman who fled for safety to Switzerland
 1536 – began reforming Switzerland
 Sent missionaries thru Europe to convert Catholics
 Ideas spread to France, Netherlands & Scotland
 By Mid 1500’s – Calvinism more popular than
Lutheranism
REFORMATION IN ENGLAND
Political, not religious motives for
reform
 Henry VIII – King of England

 Needs
a male heir to carry on Tudor
Dynasty
 Married Catherine of Aragon (related to
Holy Roman Emperor - German)
 Have a daughter, Mary
 No son, so Henry wants a divorce!
 In
Catholic Church, you need an annulment
granted by the Church.
REFORMATION IN ENGLAND CONT.
Pope refused to grant an annulment, too
political (King of England vs. Holy Roman
Emperor – German)
 After long argument, Henry decides to break
from the Church
 Archbishop of Canterbury grants divorce
 Act of Supremacy (1534)established the
Church of England (Anglican Church)

King has control over Doctrine and appointments
 Dissolves Catholic claims, sells land & possessions
 But remained close to Catholic teachings

WHAT WAS THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION?
Prior to the Reformation, all Christians were
Roman Catholic
 The [REFORM]ation was an attempt to REFORM
the Catholic Church
 People like Martin Luther wanted to get rid of the
corruption and restore the people’s faith in the
church.
 In the end, the reformers, like Luther, established
their own religions.
 The Reformation caused a split in Christianity with
the formation of these new Protestant religions.
