Download Chapter 1 – The Renaissance and Reformation Ch1.1 – The

Chapter 1 – The Renaissance and Reformation
Ch1.1 – The Renaissance in Italy –
Means “rebirth” – late 1300s – peak around 1500 – transition from medieval times to early
modern
Why? – learning from crusades, growth in power of church, trade with far off lands
What was the Renaissance – time of creativity, great change in political, social, economic,
cultural
Shift from agricultural to urban society – trade is greater importance – new creative thinking,
new tech – people comprehend/understand their world more accurately
New Worldview Evolves – rebirth after long period of disorder, chaos and disunity – classical
learning of greeks and romans – medieval scholars of all cultures preserved – Latin is still used,
language of antiquity – Church and academia –
Medieval world focus on beliefs and spirituality
Renaissance world focus on human experience in present
Society places emphasis on individual achievements – renaissance man – talent in many places
Spirit of Adventure – explore new worlds, reexamine old worlds –
Navigators , scientists, writers, artists – new forms, techniques – new view of what a person
should be – Pico della Mirandola “To man, it is granted to have whatever he chooses, to be
whatever he wills.” – 1486
Expressing Humanism - humanism – study classical culture of Greece and rome – used that
study to understand our present times – most humanists were pios Christians, they focused on
worldly subjects rather than on religious issues that medieval thinkers embraced – education
should stimulate creativity – humanities – grammar, rhetoric (language), poetry, history – much
like ancient greek and roman schools
Francesco Petrarch – early Renaissance humanist – lived in Florence in 1300s – library of
greek and roman manuscripts in monasteries and churches – let old works (cicero, homer, virgil)
become known
Italy: Cradle of the Renaissance – began in Italy – spreads to rest of Europe – why?
History & Geography – new interst in ancient Rome – easy to study art and architecture –
Catholic Church (based in rome) supported many artists and scholars
Mediterannean Sea – encouraged trade w/ muslim world – across sea – lots of trade –
banking, manufacturing and merchant networkds developed in support of trade – Italian
merchants were at the head of this – in late middle ages, trade provided wealth which will fuel
renaissance
Trade routes carried ideas as well – Muslim scholars had scientific knowledge and medicine –
from ancient Greece and rome – Italy gets access to Muslim world’s “wealth” of knowledge.
Italy’s Vibrant city States – divided into many small city-states, unlike big kingdoms of Europe
– control by powerful wealthy families and merchant class – both political and economic
leadership – interest in art and emphasis on personal achievement helped shape
Medici family of Florence – among the richest merchants and bankers in Europe – gained
control of Florence govt in 1434 – continued for years – Lorenzo Medici (the magnficient) was
renaissance ideal – politician, patron of the arts (financial supporter) – poets and philosophers
would visit Medici palace – artists learned by using statues in medici grounds
Medici wealth transformed Florence – b/c symbol of energy of Italian ren – gifted poets,
artists, architects, scholars and scientists all at top of craft
Renaissance Art Flowers – paintings, sculpture and architecture are most noted renaissance
products –
Reflecting Humanist thought – reflects ideas of humanism – portrayed religious themes
BUT set religious figures such as J & M against Greco-Roman backgrounds – portraits of well
known figures of the day – represented individual achievement – Renaissance artists studied
Greek and Roman art and brought back “classical” forms –
Donatello – sculptor – created life size statue of soldier on horseback – first life size since
ancient times
Using New Artistic Techniques – Roma art was realistic, Medieval art was stylized –
Renaissance went to the more realistic by using new techniques to show human bodies and
landscapes –
Perspective – realistic art – making distant objects seem smaller – simple 3D
Energy and realism – shading to make objects appear round/real, new oil paints reflect light –
studied human anatomy using live models – able to do much better than medieval
Architecture: a Social Art – blend beauty with utility and improvement of society – rejected
Gothic Style of middle ages as disorderly – columns, arches, domes that Greeks and Romans had
used – cathedral in Florence – massive dome – Filippo Brunelleschi – modeled on Pantheon in
Rome – multitalented, studied art, sculpture, engineer, invented many machines used to create
the dome itself
Leonardo da Vinci – 1452-1519 – genius of invention, very curious – how do thing work? –
sketches of nature, dissected corpses to understand how muscles and bones work together –
paintings are ultra realistic – Mona Lisa – Last Supper – masterpiece of perspective –
Thought of himself as an artist, but his inventions did a lot more – botany, anatomy, optics,
music, architecture, engineering – sketches of flying machines and undersea boats – most of his
ideas ar lost, but his few notebooks remaining show his genius
Michelangelo – Buonarroti – many talents – sculptor, engineer, painter, architect, poet –
melancholy genius – his art reflets his struggles –
David – sculpture – heroic statue (vs goliath) – harmony and grace of ancient greek tradition
Pieta – sorrow of Mary, holding Jesus’ body
Sistine Chapel – took 4 years – enormous task – left him partially crippled – biblical history
from creation to the flood – architect as well – dome of St. Peter’s Cathedral (Rome) – model for
many existing structures – US capitol building
Raphael – 1483-1520 -artistic talent and sweet gracious nature – painted his own style –
Christian and classical styles together. – Madonna – School of Athens – imaginary gathering of
the greatest thinkers and artists, scientists, - Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, Averroes - included
Michelangelo, Leonardo and himself – self confidence
Writing for a New Society –
Castiglione’s Ideal Courtier – most widely read “handbook” of the time – handbook for
success – Baldassare C – describes manners, skills, learning and virtues that a member of the
court should have – well mannered, educated, aristocratic – mastery of many fields – poety,
sports, music
Different for men and women – ideal man is athlete but not overactive – good at games, not
gambler – avoid extremes, not arrogant – ideal woman, graceful, kind, lively but reserved –
beautiful – outer beauty is sign of inner goodness
Machiavelli’s Successful Prince – Niccolo Machiavelli – how to gain and keep power – not
leadership in terms of high ideals – ruthless power politics – end justifies the means – urged
rulers to do whatever was necessary to achieve goals – saw himself as enemy of corruption and
oppression – critics thougth he was too cynical – others say it was realistic – raises ethical
questions about government and the use of power.
1.2 The Renaissance in the North –
Cities of the north are slower to recover from black death – slower but w/ trade – renaissance
spreads north – trade routes in the sea, and passage through the Italian Alps
Printing Revolution – 1455 Johann Gutenburg – (Mainz Germany) – first completely printed
edition of th Bible – movable type – only a few thousand books (hand copied) in all of Europe –
by 1500, up to 15 or 20 million will be produced
Printed books were cheaper, easier to produce, more people learn to read – more
knowledge – medicine, law, engineering, mining – more and more printing presses created,
educated Europeans are exposed to new things.
Northern Renaissance Artists – begins in Flanders – region that includes France, Belgium,
Netherlands – trade center – spread to Spain, france, Germany, England –
Flemish Painters – 1400s, Jan van Eyck – realistic pictures of townspeople and religious themes
– 1500s Pieter Bruegel – bright colors of peasent life – “Peasant Bruegel” – also some
religious/classical themes – against background of common people
1600s – Peter Paul Ruebens – blended realistic themes of north w/ classical themes and artistic
freedoms of Italy – humanist as well – mythology, Bible, classical history – made HUGE
paintings to portray these interests
Durer: Leonardo of the North - Albrecht Durer – German painter – 1494, studied w/ Italian
masters – one of first to spread Ren ideas to N Europe – his own ideas influenced those in Italy –
Applied painting techniques to engraving – etching design on metal plate w/ acid – use
plate to make prints – used in goldsmith workshop – many Durer’s show religious upheaval,
powerful in N Europe
Nothern Humanists and Writers – helped spread Ren ideas – stressed education and classical
learning, hoping to bring religious and moral reform – many wrote in Latin, others wrote in
vernacular – common, everyday language (English, german, French) – middle class audience
Erasmus: Making Humanism Popular – Dutch priest – born 1466- wrote texts on many
subjects and used knowledge of languages to produce Greek edition of the Bible –
Helped spread Ren to more people – wanted bible translated into vernacular – quote, pg.
58 – thought it was foolish to not let uneducated in Latin read it – as if chief power was in being
myseterious – chief duties were to be open minded and show good will to others – he ws a priest
– disturbed by Church corruption and called for reform
Sir Thomas More’s Ideal Society – friends w/ Erasmus – English – pressed for reform – wrote
“utopia” – ideal society – peace and harmony – no one is idle, all are educated, justice is an end
to crime rather than punish criminal – ultimately impractical
Rabelais’s Comic Masterpiece - French – monk, physician, Greek scholar, author – Gargantua
and Pantagruel – adventures of 2 giants – comic tale of travel and war – offers opinions on
religion, education and others – deeply religious but had doubts about organized church
Shakespeare Writes for All Time – 1590-1613, 37 plays – still performed around the world –
predicted that he was relavant for “all time”
Universal themes in everyday realistic settings – explores Ren ideals, complexity of
individual, importance of classics – characters speak in common language – common people
understand, appreciate – created 1,700 words
1.3 The Protestant Reformation –
Bkgrnd = people are mostly poor, life is violent
Fixed medieval economies are failing – more urban, mercantile based economies are taking over
– more uncertainty – wealth distributed unequally –
Ren humanist ideas are gaining ground – spread by printing press – social reform and
classical education – begin to question central authority of church – makes more sense
Church Abuses – church caught up in worldly affairs – Popes compete with Italian princes for
power – fought wars to protect Papal States against invasion – plotted against monarchs who
tried to take power from church –
Popes led rich/lavish lives – like other rulers – supported arts, paid artists, patronage – to
support these expenditures, raised taxes and tithes – increase fees for services
Some clergy sold Indulgences – lessening of the time the soul would have to spend in
purgatory before ending up in heaven – by late 1400s, indulgences could be bought
Northern Europe – many protested these practices – Erasmus wnted return of simple ways of
early Christian church – Bible study and rejected “worldliness” –
Early Revolts vs Church – 1300s, John Wycliffe – using sermons and writings calling for
change – his ideas lived on, but would be persecuted for beliefs
Martin Luther: Catalyst of Change – German monk and professor – 1517
Grew disillusioned with Church corruption and worldliness –
Writing 95 Theses – in 1517, priest Johann Tetzel – pulpit outskirts of Wittenberg, Germany –
offered indulgences to any Christian who contributed $ to rebuild Cathedral of St. Peter in Rome
– assured purchase would grant entrance to heaven – also for dead relatives
Meant poor could not get into heaven – 95 theses, or arguments – against indulgences – no
basis in bible, pope had no authority over souls, Christians could be saved only through faith –
supposedly posted his notes on door of All saints church in Wittenberg
Igniting a Firestorm – copies were printed and distributed – Church asked Luther to recant
(give up) his views but he says no. – started new radical doctrines – urged Christians to reject
authority of Rome – only secular (non church) authorities could reform church
1521- Pope Leo X excommunicates Luther – Holy Roman Emperor Charles V summons ML to
diet (meeting) at city of worms – meeting of German princes – Luther went, hoping ot argue his
points – he was ordered to give them up
Charles declares Luther an outlaw – criminal – many will risk all to take care of him, he’s
seen as a hero – many will renounce authority of pope
Luther’s Teachings – pg 64 chart – central beliefs – all christinas have acces to god through
faith and bible – translated parts of Bible into German – should be taught in schools, banned
indulgences, confession, pilgramige and prayers to saints – emphasized sermon, not doctrine,
clergy may marry
Luther’s Ideas Spread – “Printing was God’s highest act of grace” – what does he mean –
spread throughout Germany and Scandanavia – new name – Protestant – by 1530 –
Many clergy saw Luthern reforms as answer to church corruption – some German princes
embraced as well – selfish – get rid of rule of HRE and Pope – seize church property – some for
national loyalty – tired of german $ going to Italian churches
Peasant’s Revolt – 1524 – end to serfdom and demanded changes to harsh lives – grew too
violent, Luther does not approve – with Lutheran support, nobles suppress rebellion – tens of
thousands killed, thousands homeless
Pease of Augsburg – 1530s-40s – Charles V tried to force German princes back to Catholicism
– little wars – 1555 = peace settlement – each prince may decide religion – most northern
germans chose Lutheran, souther chose Catholicism
Switzerland’s Reformation – also Swiss challenge t church – admirer of Erasmus – Ulrich
Zwingli – Zurich – stress importance of bible and not rituls – Zurich city council adopts them –
John Calvin – born in Frnace, priest, lawyer – 1536 – shared man of Luther’s ideas –
predestination – already decided who was to be saved – saints and sinners were only people –
Calvinists – try to live good lives, only those who were already saved could do so
1541 – Geneva – Protestants ask for Calvin to lead them – sets up theocracy – new chosen
people – hard work, discipline, thrift, honesty, morality – becomes model community – harsh
fines for bad behavior
Spreads to Germany, France, Netherlands, England, Scotland – sets off new wars of religious
power – in Germany, Lutherans and Catholics fight vs Calvinists – in France, Calvinists and
Catholics fought – Netherlands, Calvinists stayed away from urban areas –
Some Calvinists sail to America to escape persecution – Scotland – Calvinist (John Knox)
overthrows Catholic queen –
1.4 Reformation Ideas Spread -
1.5 The Scientific Revolution – pg 72-76
mid 1500s – shift in scientific thinking follows change in medieval worldview – new way of
thinking about physical universe – assumption that mathematical laws governed nature and the
universe – physical world could be known, managed, shaped by people
Changing Views of the Universe – up til now, 1000 year old ideas – earth is center of universe
– common sense and acceptable to church
Copernicus Challenges Ancient Astronomy –
1543 – Polish scholar – Nicolaus Copernicus – “On the Revolution of Heavenly Spheres” –
heliocentric model – revolve around sun – Earth was just one of several spheres revolving
around sun
Experts rejected this – based on scientific knowledge and religious teaching at the time –
based on classical knowledge – Ptolemy – if he was wrong, then everything is wrong –
Tycho Brahe – supported Copernicus’ idea – set up astronomical observatory – watched sky
every night for years
Johannes Kepler – assist to Brahe – used Brahe’s data to calc orbits of planets around the sun –
supported heliocentric view – each planet does not go in perfect circle – more oval/ellipse
Galileo’s Heresies – Italy – assembled telescope – 4 moons revolve around Jupiter, just like
earth revolves around sun –
Discoveries cause uproar – contradict church teachings – everything revolves around earth –
1633 – Galileo tried before Inquisition – kept under house arrest – agreed to state that earth is
center
A New Scientific Method – Plato’s truths rediscovered – man must look beyond simple
appearance to learn truth – based on observation and experimentation –
Bacon and Descartes – Revolutionary Thinkers – Bacon I sEnglish, Descarte is French –
rejected Aristotles scientific assumptions – truth cannot be known at beginning but only after
long observations – disagreed with attempts to make science fit with church –
Bacon = stressed experimentation and observation, wanted science to make life better for
people by leading to practical technologies – Descarte emphasized human reasoning as road to
understanding – Descarte rejected all traditional authorities and knowledge up til then. Left only
with doubt, which could not be questioned – in order to doubt, had to be rational, thinking
being… I think, therefore I am.
Step by Step process – discovery – scientific method – collect and accurately measure data – to
analyze, used date to create reasonable explanation – hypothesis – test hypothesis with further
data and observation or experimentation – redo experiments to confirm
Breakthroughs in Medicine and Chemistry –
Exploring the Human body – ancient physician Galen – many errors b/c he had limited
knowledge of human anatomy –
1543 – Andreas Vesalius – On the Structure of the Human Body – 1st detailed accurate study
of human body – went to autopsies (invited by govt) also obtained his own bodies to autopsie,
counting on friends in govt to look other way –
Ambrose Pare – effective ointment preventing infection, surgery, artificial limbs – early
1600s, William Harvey (british) described circulation of blood –
Anton van Leeuwenhoek – first microscope – cells and microorganisms –
Transforming Chemistry – alchemy in medieval times – believed any substance could be
turned into another substance -tring to turn things into gold – most of it abandoned in scientific
revolution – but manipulation of acids and metals was kept
Robert Boyle – chemicals were basic building blocks – all matter is made of tiny particles –
difference between individual elements and chemical compounds – temperature and pressure on
gases
Issac Newton Links the Sciences - devoured works before him – by 24, his own theories –
apple falls from tree – comes up with gravity – affects all things – used mathematics to show
1687 – publishes book explaining law of gravity – Nature follows laws – all motion can be
measured and described mathematically –
Newton’s theories remain – in early 1900s, some were challenged – laws of motion and
mechanics have practical uses – he developed calculus
Pg. 81 – DBQ for chapter, pg. 80 chapter assessment!!