Renaissance

Question 1

What was considered ‘best produced’ during this time of science?

Answer 1

botanical books - plants described and portrayed with great skill, some botanical figures of the sixteenth century are considered among the best produced

Question 2

Who was Andreas Vesalius and why is he significant?

Answer 2

he was educated in the anatomical works and theories of greek physician GALEN, Vesalius questioned his authority, Padua 1537 became professor, sweeping reforms - more hands-on - 1543 published ‘One the Fabric of the Human Body’ - considered first great modern work of science, foundation of modern biology

Question 3

Why are the beginnings of scientific revolution owed to the Renaissance?

Answer 3

1. Works of ancient thinkers unearthed, botanical studies, provoked interest. 2. Quest for Realism in art led to the study of plant and animal structures, labouring better the forms and functions of subjects (Da Vinci, great anatomist, dissected cadavers to understand human body) 3. Rise and Spread of Printing - students of natural philosophy could publish and circulate their observations and theories throughout Europe

Question 4

What were some of the draw backs from basing Natural Philosophy’s reliance on the ancients for authority?

Answer 4

It had been centuries since anyone had questioned the standard set of botanical beliefs advanced by the ancients - difficult to break away from now. I.E., if Otto Brunfels had not compared his work so closely to the ancients, his findings would have been more lucid, and followers not have been confused and moved further in the field. However, could not break from the ancients, resulted in confusion in his work and his followers

Question 5

What was the beginning of the Renaissance marked by?

Answer 5

the beginning of the renaissance was marked by a turn from medieval life and values dominated by the church towards the philosophical principles of humanism

Question 6

What did Italian people become interested with in this time?

Answer 6

they became interested in individual achievement and emphasised life in this world, as opposed to preparation for life in the next world, stressed by religion

Question 7

What did Renaissance thinkers think of the past?

Answer 7

they decried medieval life as primitive and backwards, and looked further back in history, to the time of the ancient Greeks and Romans for inspiration (Ideas of Petrarch) (Janson in the History of Art “the renaissance began when the world noticed it no longer lived in the Middle Ages”)

Question 8

Who was crowned Poet Laureate?

Answer 8

Francesco Petrarch

Question 9

What did Petrarch believe?

Answer 9

He believed that true eloquence and ethical wisdom had been lost during the Middle Ages, and could only be found by looking to the writings of the ancients, especially Virgil and Cicero. He wrote extensively in his lifetime, many of them published and read widely.

Question 10

When looking at New Discoveries, which Historian do we turn to?

Answer 10

David F. Channell

Question 11

what do we see the emergence of during the renaissance?

Answer 11

Engineering Sciences

Question 12

Give some examples of new discoveries in this time:

Answer 12

Printing press, gunpowder, and new navigational techniques

Question 13

Why do we also call this period a time of ‘commercial revolution’

Answer 13

because we saw a dramatic expansion of world trade and commercial activity

Question 14

Why are people of the nobility turning their attention towards these emerging engineers?

Answer 14

Constant warfare - nobility patronise engineers because of their potential contributions to the military, the mercantile system (many also had skill in painting, sculpture and architecture)

Question 15

What did these engineers bridge the gap between, give examples of a few:

Answer 15

Bridged the gap that divided mechanical arts from natural philosophy. I.e., Da Vinci, Alberti, Martini.

Question 16

What was a powerful new tool utilised by engineers that emerged from the Italian Renaissance?

Answer 16

Fixed Point Perspective. Provided engineers with a powerful new tool with which they could think about technical devices and a new efficient way to share technical information with other engineers.

Question 17

What was Fixed Point Perspective? How was it used?

Answer 17

Method to represent three-dimensional machines or structures. Way to visualise and analyse machines and structures without wasting time building them. Da Vinci was able to discover the concept of mechanism, where he saw that machines and structures could be fundamentally reduced to universal components. Opened possibility of systematic study of machines and structures.

Question 18

What was the significant of the new translations?

Answer 18

Translations of Greeks in natural philosophy such as the works of Plato, Euclid and Archimedes, led to scientific revolution

Question 19

What changed at Padua University?

Answer 19

more attention was paid to Aristotle’s natural philosophy than his logical works, new interests in observation and experimentation. Translations of Plato and Archimedes = new interest in developing mathematical theories of natural philosophy

Question 20

Why was a Hermetic approach to nature significant?

Answer 20

it strongly influenced natural philosophers and led to the view that a combination of theoretical and experimental knowledge could be used to manipulate the forces of nature for practical purposes

Question 21

What did John Dee argue?

Answer 21

that natural philosophy and mechanical arts (hydraulics, mechanics, and navigation) were all governed by geometry, which he saw as a form of mathematical magic.

Question 22

How did religion change the approach to natural philosophy?

Answer 22

Religion changes caused a more practical view of natural philosophy.

Question 23

was was the effect of the printing press on religion?

Answer 23

allowed for the dissemination of the bible in languages other than latin - ordinary people were now able to read and learn the lessons of scripture, evangelical movement, importance of scriptures over the institutional power of the church - salvation personal conversion - not determined by indulgences or building works or art or architecture.

Question 24

What is the significance of publishing religious debates/writings?

Answer 24

enabled Luther and others to take complex theological debates, previously regarded as the preserve of a closed circle of theologians, to a far wider audience (Pettegree)

Question 25

What does Pettegree argue about the effect of publishing for religion?

Answer 25

“Brough the habit of book-buying to new generations, expanding the market”

Question 26

What was the significance of writings being in pamphlet form?

Answer 26

easily digestible format that was cheap and quick to produce, literacy rates rose, and scientists, politicians, religious figures and authors were encourages not just to write but too publish.

Question 27

What does ABERNETHY argue the effect of the re-emergence of classical texts?

Answer 27

their re-emergence as well as the rise in Renaissance humanism changed society’s approach to religion and authority of the Pope

Question 28

What atmosphere does Abernethy argue was created during this time of change?

Answer 28

it created an atmosphere that gave rise to difference movements and sects, Martin Luther stressed reform of the RCC, wanting to eliminate practises such as nepotism and the selling of indulgences.

Question 29

how do historians view Calvin?

Answer 29

Historians see him as a product of the sixteenth century, an era of turmoil and anxiety, whose beliefs were popularised by seventeenth century thinkers bent on blessing emerging capitalism.

Question 30

What was the effect of Machiavellis ‘The Prince’?

Answer 30

He described the necessity for humanist government - rulers to be feared not loved - Spain exemplifies this government - served as major inspiration for EM leaders - their job was to preserve order by any means necessary, coercion and strong-arming the population necessary - if it meant an increased strength of state.

Question 31

What was Erasmus’ part to play in religious reformation?

Answer 31

he represents the spread of humanism to Northern Europe, he was highly critical of the Catholic Church but sough to reform it from the inside rather than through external movements such as Luther.

Question 32

Who is the historian who argued the effects of the Hundred Years’ War, and what was this argument?

Answer 32

Robert G. Smith. Argued that since England lost France, they needed a new revenue stream, Age of Exploration, following defeat of Spanish Armada, both England and France looked to the New World to stake a claim. Preconditions for the age of exploration were set

Question 33

What rights did Women have during the renaissance?

Answer 33

they were denied political rights and considered legally subject to their husbands.

Question 34

What about women who were not married?

Answer 34

not permitted to live independently, they lived in households of their male relatives, or joined a convent.

Question 35

What Pope used his daughter as a pawn?

Answer 35

Pope Alexander VI

Question 36

How did Alexander VI use his daughter?

Answer 36

she was used as a pawn in his game of political power in his plan for the success and wealth of the Borgia family, married first at thirteen, annulled marriages. the only small measure of actual power which she was eventually granted grew out of her traditional position as a devoted wife and mother.

Question 37

What were women’s participation in the renaissance?

Answer 37

they were frequently discouraged from participating in the arts and sciences; thus, the world will never know the full potential. women of highest class could only distinguish themselves though cooking, sewing and entertaining, even women in Medici line very little written about them. had access to the most powerful men in the world - did not necessarily allow a woman to distinguish herself.