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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 the old 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 and 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 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 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.
2
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,
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.
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 England.
• In 1588, the English Royal Navy defeated the Spanish
Armada.
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”