Download Unit One

Unit One
RENAISSANCE & REFORMATION
ALEX Standards
#1 Describe developments in Italy and Northern
Europe during the Renaissance period with respect to
humanism, arts and literature, intellectual
development, increased trade, and advances in
technology.
#3 Explain causes of the Reformation and its impact,
including tensions between religious and secular
authorities, reformers and doctrines, the CounterReformation, the English Reformation, and wars of
religion.
The Dark Ages
 Contrary to popular belief, the “Dark Ages” are so
called because little is known about them beyond the
warfare and absence of urban life.
 Characteristics:
Religious upheaval: Muslim invasion, conflicts within
Christianity, fighting the ideas of the Enlightenment, church
losing control of the monarchies
 War: Invasions from the Middle East and Western Europe, the
Crusades, and blurred borders
 Depopulation: Famine, plague and climate change

Myths of the Dark Ages
 Society was cruel, the standard of living was poor, and no
learning took place ~ They were the “dark ages” – there
wasn’t much of a “society” to begin with, and with plague
and war, you were lucky to live through it, however, plenty
of people did live through it and many of them were
educated.
 Jousting and sword fights were the only entertainment ~
Typically, jousting was reserved for military drills and only
became a sport a few centuries later.
 Lots and lots and lots of war ~ More like lots and lots and
lots of land disputes and arguments over who was king
(Game of Thrones, anyone?)
Beginnings of Change
 How did the Renaissance begin?
 Short answer – People started to question everything.
 The Church, Importance of Religion, God(s), Heaven and Hell
 The Monarchy and Aristocracy
 Social Classes/Structure
 Science
 Art
 Predestination: you are where you are supposed to be (i.e. fate,
preordained path, etc.)
 Life
Humanism
 Definition: an outlook or system of thought attaching
prime importance to human rather than divine or
supernatural matters
 Explanation: believing that people are good and can
prove it through actions, rather than devotion to a
faith; thinking of yourself, and in doing so, improving
the welfare of the whole
Humanism and the Renaissance
 Humanism during the Renaissance included a revival
of Greek and Latin philosophies.
 Specifically, this meant a focus on the self, or how one
could improve themselves.
 Why does this matter?

Christian teachings pushed a focus on God and divinity.
Bringing back Greek and Latin ideologies (from scholars that
didn’t follow Christianity) challenged these beliefs and it spread
to every aspect of society – art, culture, social class, and,
eventually, the Church.
Latin and Greek Philosophers
 Thales – “the first philosopher”
 Aristotle – “Father of Biology” and “The Great
Teacher”
 Plato – philosopher and mathematician
 Socrates – “Father of Philosophy”
 Xenophon – historian, soldier and mercenary who
studied under Socrates
 Plutarch – historian and biographer
Influence of Philosophy
 All of the nobility was schooled in Greek and Latin
thought as part of a well-rounded education.
 Eventually, they began to see ways the philosophies
of ancient Rome could be brought into everyday life.
Rise of Reason
 In the Renaissance, people began to seek more
natural explanations for various occurrences, rather
than claiming divine intervention.
 Ex. “Why did the crops die?”
Instead of saying “God is punishing us for our sins”,
people reasoned that a lack of rain and/or an excess
of heat caused a drought that failed to provide the
crops with the nutrients needed to live, and thus tried
to find ways to prevent this from happening again,
such as irrigation.
Spreading Knowledge
 Renaissance teachings encouraged everyone to learn,
from the lowest peasant to the richest king.
 While most societies of the time forbade anyone but
wealthy males to get an advanced education, ancient
philosophical ideas pushed people of all types to
learn, including women and the poor, and they did
so.
 Socrates “To find yourself, think for yourself.”
 “The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance.”

Challenging the Church
 Power of the Pope – territories of Europe, succession
of nobility, crowning of monarchs, excommunication
and declarations of war
 Crimes of the Church – hypocrisy, “paying your way
into Heaven”, raiding the royal treasuries for
personal gain, etc.
 Corruption – granting pardons, land, titles and
money in exchange for political favors
Scientific Revolution
 The revival of ancient texts and the spread of
knowledge through printing allowed more people
access to new ideas, and thus created a thirst for
knowledge among the population.
 Educated individuals wanted to explore more,
discover more, create more – all of this lead to new
ideas and inventions which revolutionized daily life.
Science in the Renaissance
 With the spread of humanism, people became curious
about their world and began to study it.
 Astronomy, alchemy, chemistry, horticulture,
medicine, mathematics - all of these studies made a
come-back during the Renaissance, thus leading to
advancements in these fields.
Important Inventions and Innovations
 Printing Press: Invented by Johannes Gutenberg in
the 1400s, this allowed for the mass production of
books, newspapers and religious texts.
 Clock: Invented in the early renaissance and then
perfected by Galileo in 1581, the mechanical clock
made time measurable by more than the sun.
 Telescope/microscope/glasses: By experimenting
with lenses during the Renaissance, people were able
to study space, discover small organisms, and
improve their eye sight.
Important Inventions and Innovations
 Scientific Method: Meant to prove/disprove
hypotheses, this method was developed by Galileo
created a step-by-step guide for experimentation.
 Flush Toilet: Sir John Harrington invented what
would become the forerunner for all indoor plumbing
in 1596. While simple, a cleaner method of waste
removal meant preventing the spread of diseases.
 Gunpowder: First discovered by the Chinese in the
9th century, gunpowder made its way to Europe in
the 1500s, changing warfare forever.
Reviewing the Crusades
 When the Byzantine emperor was having trouble
fighting the Turks, Pope Urban II saw the
opportunity to regain the holy lands and annihilate
the Muslim population that lived there.
 How did he get people to rally to this cause?
Automatic forgiveness of all sins.
18
Early Crusades
 During the First Crusade, French forces gained
control of Jerusalem after several bloody battles, but
lost it to Muslim forces less than 50 years later
because of limited support.
 France and Germany tried to regain control during a
Second. Crusade, but it was a total failure.
 France, Germany and England united for the Third
Crusade, and managed to capture a few coastal cities
but encountered problems and couldn't move inland.
Later Crusades
 When the Muslim leader, Saladin, died in 1193, Pope
Innocent III saw an opportunity to try again and
initiated a Fourth Crusade.
 The crusaders managed to sack the city of
Constantinople, ending alliances with the Byzantine
Empire and solidifying the division with the Eastern
Orthodox Church, but nothing else.
 More crusades were sent out, some with children,
some with united forces, and some by sea - all
failures. They did, however, bring the nations of
Europe together and encouraged cooperation
between them.
Consequences of the Crusades
 The end of feudalism - nation-states were dissolved,
nobles lost their power and paved the way for
kingdoms
 Extended knowledge of the world - maps grew larger,
trading routes longer, and resources more varied
 Resentment of the Church - thousands of lives were
lost during the Crusades, money was spent, land was
destroyed, etc. all for the sake of a "holy" cause
Art Expansion
 Prior to the Renaissance, most churches prohibited
art that depicted anything but Christian themes,
while others did not allow the portrayal of important
Christian figures at all (saints, disciples, Jesus, etc.).
 With the beginnings of the Reformation, the Church
became a sponsor for Bible-based art to help spread
their beliefs and provide followers with a visual.
 In the Renaissance, artists explored other subjects,
such as natural settings, Roman gods, scenes from
books, everyday occurrences, etc.
Humanism in Art
 Humanism made its way into the art world by
encouraging people to see art as more than a
dedication to the church or nobility; to see art as a
craft to be studied and mastered.
 Painting, sculpting, drawing - it was done for
enjoyment and expression, not just employment.
Realism
 One of the most noted aspects of Renaissance culture
is art.
 The most dramatic differences between Renaissance
art and all previous art forms is a focus on realism –
depicting something as it truly is.

Anatomically correct beings, shading to make objects three
dimensional, etc.
Realism
Art Techniques
26
 Shadowing - gives an image dimension
 Foreshortening - gives an image depth
 Perspective - painting so well it looks like you're
seeing it with your own eyes (like a picture)
Symbolism
 Much like writers, it was common for artists to use
their work to portray an idea, not just an image.
 Ex. Lucrezia Borgia.
By Bartolomeo Veneto
Art Impacts History
 It was common practice for perspective brides and
grooms to exchange portraits to help determine if
they would be a good match.
 Such was done with King Henry VIII and his fourth
wife, Anne of Cleves. Anne's brother was desperate
for a union with England, so he had the artist
"enhance the painting" so the king would like it.
Renaissance Literature
 Prior to the invention of the printing press, books
were reserved for the Church and the nobility.
 With the ability to mass produce literature like never
before, books became more accessible. While the
poor were still largely illiterate, having books
encouraged them to learn to read, and by doing so,
allowed them to broaden their minds.
The Gutenberg Bible
 The Gutenberg Bible was the first book to be mass
produced by movable type.
 At the time, it was seen as heresy to have anyone but
a religious official read the Bible, because it could be
“misinterpreted”.
 When people began to read the Bible, they used
passages to justify their actions.
 While the interpretation allowed for the spread of
Christianity, it also allowed for the secularization of
the Church.
Dante
 Dante Aligheri is the less known Italian poet and
author of “Divine Comedy”, which was broken into
three parts – “Inferno”, “Purgatorio” and “Paradiso”.
 Why is it important?
One of the first works to be published in a language other than
Latin (Italian), meaning the common people could read it.
 Gave people a visual of Hell, Purgatory and Heaven, making
crimes against the Church more frightening, and inspiring
various religious works of art.

Renaissance Literature
 Plays, novels, poems and other artistic works were,
not only forms of entertainment but, used to spread
new ideas.
 Speaking out publicly against the Church or nobility
would send you to the gallows, but disguising it as
“just a story” kept you safe.
Shakespeare
 One of the most accomplished artists of the
Renaissance was William Shakespeare. With almost
200 works, consisting of plays, poems, and sonnets,
Shakespeare was an inescapable influence in the 16th
century.
 A common theme Shakespeare used was tragedy,
usually befalling people of the upper classes.
 He created new genres, and inspired later works.
 Although today his work seems verbose, his grammar
and writing styles helped modernize the English
language.
Chaucer
 Geoffrey Chaucer was an author, philosopher,
alchemist, astronomer and diplomat who is most
known for “The Canterbury Tales”, a collection of
satirical stories depicting English society of the time.
 Chaucer was one of the first poets to blatantly
criticize the Church through his work and his
language helped modernize English.
Machiavelli
 One of the major works from the Renaissance is
Niccolo Machiavelli’s “The Prince”, a how-to guide for
rulers.
 Almost all of the nobility read this work, though
many of them disagreed, as it challenged traditional
political ideas.
 Main Arguments:
Is it better to be feared or loved?
 Is it better to conquer people for profit or for the common
good?
 How important is one’s reputation?

Reformation
Beyond Religion
 The Reformation was not all about religion; it was also
about power.
 When people broke away from the Catholic Church,
they also broke away from the power of the Pope.
 This break included royalty - they no longer needed
approval of the Pope, but they didn't get his support
either.
Henry VIII
 Although he initially rejected people like Luther as
heretics, King Henry VIII found he disagreed with the
declarations of the Pope as well, especially when those
declarations kept him from divorcing his first wife,
Katherine of Aragon, so he could be free to marry
Anne Boleyn.
 Instead of joining Luther, however, he elected to
create his own religion, with himself as the head of the
Church - the Church of England.
Christian Humanism
 Humanism: an intellectual movement that pushed
people to better themselves and, therefore, better
society
 Christian humanists pushed people to read the
classics, especially religious works. They believed that
people could live good lives by adhering to the ideas
in these texts.
Counter-Reformation
 When it became clear that the threat of
excommunication was no threat at all, the Catholic
Church had to change tactics to prevent the loss of
their followers.
 In an attempt to keep the Catholic Church alive,
many patrons and leaders in the organization sought
to reform the Church and address the issues brought
up by individuals like Luther.
 They not only wanted to keep people faithful, but also
keep their power over the heads of Europe.
Causes of the Reformation
 Corruption of the Church- Popes and other high-
ranking religious officials spent more time involved in
politics and frivolity than fulfilling their spiritual
roles.
 Selling "Indulgences" - release from all punishment
for sin
 Desire for Salvation - people felt their spiritual needs
were not being met
Protestant vs. Catholic
 Based largely on humanism:
• Individual relationship with God, outside of the
Church
• Many allow for divorce and don't require baptism
at birth
• Born good but free to do evil
• No saints, penance, confession, idols, or
conditional salvation
 Disclaimer: not converting you or preaching, all
statements are from
www.religionfacts.com/christianity/charts/catholic_
protestant.htm
John Calvin
 Believed it was the duty of men (and women) to
interpret the Bible and create a godly society
 Like Luther, he agreed in a personal relationship with
God and distribution of religious texts in the modern
tongues, but he maintained the idea of a church and
state relationship, as well as, predestination.
Erasmus
 "Philosopher of Christ"
 Believed Christianity could show people how to live
good lives on a daily basis rather than a system of
beliefs by which to be saved
 Stressed self-reflection of actions
 Did not want to break away from the Catholic Church
Martin Luther
 Monk and professor
 Believed people were saved by their faith, not by their
good works
 Ninety-five Theses: enraged by the selling of
indulgences, Luther drafted a list of ways the.
Catholic Church was failing its patrons
 When Pope Leo X rejected his claims, Luther sought
to permanently break from the Church.
Renaissance Review
What does it mean?
 Renaissance: "rebirth", revival of art and learning
 Renaissance Man & Woman:
 A Renaissance man was one who studied and
mastered various fields, making him charming,
artistic, witty and well-educated
 A Renaissance woman were expected to
understand the classics and inspire works of art,
taking an interest in the world without putting
herself in the middle of it.
Where did it begin?
 The Renaissance began in small Italian city-states,
such as Florence and Milan.
 Starting in Italy is what kept the Renaissance alive,
because it had some key advantages: thriving cities, a
wealthy merchant class, and classical heritage due to
its vicinity to Greece and Rome.
How did it change society?
 Humanism inspired a focus on the self, which
included indulging in worldly pleasures and trying to
make oneself better through study and practice.
 It encouraged the spread of knowledge, particularly
literacy.
Why does it matter?
 Without humanism, we would not have differing
styles of government or different branches of religion.
 We may not have ever challenged the ideas of class,
order, or power.
 We would not have an appreciation of art, nor an
understanding of how to manipulate it.
 We would not have the discipline and desire to learn.