The Renaissance Flashcards
Study and Memorize
Who are Humanists?
Scholars who studied Greek & Roman literatures to study grammar, history, poetry, and rhetoric. Or humanities. Specialized in them. Studied classical manuscripts because they thought it was important to understand how things worked. Viewed life not only as a preparation for the afterlife, but as a joy in and of itself. Had admiration for individual achievement.
What is Perspective?
An art technique that the Renaissance painters developped to make their paintings more lifelike. Made distant objects smaller than those in the foreground of the painting. This technique creates an illusion of depth on the flat canvas.
What was the Renaissance?
Began in Italy in the early 1300’s. Would alter how Europeans viewed themselves and their world. Also known as “rebirth”. Was both a philosophical and artistic movement and the era when that movement flourished. It renewed interest in Greek and Roman literature and life.
Who was Isabella d’Este?
A patron of the arts. Filled her palace with paintings and sculptures made by the finest Renaissance artists.
Who was Francesco Petrarch?
One of the first humanists. (Gave the middle ages their name) Became famous as a scholar and teacher. Wrote poetry. His sonnets to Laura, an imaginary ideal woman, are considered some of the greatest love poems in literature. He worried that his desire for fame would hurt his chances for salvation.
Who was Niccolò Machiavelli?
A Florentine dimplomat and historian. Wrote an essay called “The Prince” in 1513. Sought to describe government not in terms of lofty ideals but in the way it actually worked. Argued that a ruler should only be concerned with power and political success. Considered a humanist because he looked to the ancient Romans as models.
Who was Leonardo da Vinci?
An architect, engineer, painter, sculptor, and scientist. His studies of anatomy helped him draw realistic human bodies. Made “The Last Supper” painting. His most famous work is the portrait “Mona Lisa.”
Who was Michealangelo?
Another master of Renaissance art, a brilliant painter. Painted frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. Also wrote poetry, and helped design St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
Who was Johannes Gutenberg?
The first European (Manz, Germany) to use moveable to print books in 1405. Used it to create copies of the Bible. He invented the Gutenberg Press.The impact of his work was economic, social, and technological. Many people did not like the printing press.
Who was Desiderius Erasmus?
The most influential humanist of Northern Europe. A Dutch scholar. He, like other Northern humanists, was interested in the early Christian period and early Greek and Roman culture. Believed the 2 ideaas could be harmonized. His most famous book was “The Praise of Folly,” where he ridiculed ignorance, superstition, and vice among Christians. He criticized fasting, pilgrimages to religious shrines, and even the church’s interpretations of the Bible. Friends with Thomas More.
Who was Thomas More?
English Humanist, friend of Erasmus. In 1516 he published “Utopia,” this work condemned governments as corrupt and argued that private ownership of property caused uneccessary conflict. Utopia became popular in Europe and was read and generally acclaimed by Humanist thinkers. Worked under Henry VIII of England. Refused to agree that the king was the supreme head of the Church and was executed. Made a Saint 400 years later by the Catholic Church.
Who was William Shakespeare?
Leading literary figure of the time. Could transform well-known stories into dramatic masterpieces. Portrayed personality and human emotions with a skill few writers have matched. The moody Hamlet, the young lovers Romeo and Juliet, and the tragic Macbeth seem as real today as when Shakespeare created them. Plays tended to focus on human rather than Godly actions.
What is Flemish School?
Developed in Flanders, Belgium. A distinct art style. These painters are credited with perfecting certain techniques of painting in oil on canvas. Jan and Hubert van Eych painted with great detail (a mural) on a chapel in the city of Ghent. Pieter Brueghel the Elder was the most famous Flemish artist. Hans Holbien the younger was influenced by Flemish and Italian styles of painting.
What are Indulgences?
A pardo from punishment of sin. Johann Tetzel used these to raise money for the church. If you bought one, the church would forgive you.
What are Sects?
Religious groups, not organized churches. Like minded people met together. Did not have clear cut authority, discipline, membership, or rules. Hundreds of these appeared in Germany and Switzerland in the 1520’s and 1530’s.
What is Predestination?
The idea that at the beginning of time, God decided who would be saved. Calvin taught that those who were predistined for salvation were called “the elect.”
What is a Theocracy?
A government ruled by a religious leader who claimed to have God’s authority.
What was the Reformation?
The religious revolution, a split in the church. Caused b people thinking that the church was misconduction. Resulted in the Lutheran, Anglican, and Calvinist churches aside from the Catholic church.
Who was Martin Luther?
A monk from Germany. His beliefs became known as Lutheranism. Criticized Tetzels behavior with his 95 theses. Taught of “justification by grace through faith.” Simple faith could lead everyone to salvation. Claimed the Bible was the sole religiouss authority. Considered his church to be a “priesthood of all believers.” Excommunicated and his teachings were banned. His followers became known as Protestants. Established the Lutheran Church. His followers could interpret scripture themselves.
Who was King Henry VIII?
Caused the break between England and the Roman Catholic church. He wanted to divorce his wife, Catherine of Aragon. He wasn’t allowed, so he withdrew England from the church. Began a new church called the Church of England, or the Anglican Church. This paved the way for the Protestant reformation in England. He eventually married 6 times. In the beginning though, he was a big supporter of the church but left when they wouldn’t let him get divorced.
Who was John Calvin?
French protestant. Carried on Huldrych Zwingli’s work. Founded a church in Switzerland with a very strong following. In 1536, he formulated and published a complete and clear set of religious beliefs. “The Institues of the Christian Religion.” (Some were: could not play cards, or dance) His followers were called Calvinists. They had a code that united and strengtheneed them against opposition and persecution. Relied on faith on the Bible. Emphasized predestination. Taught that “the elect,” were those chosen or predestined. In 1536 in Geneva, Calivinism became the official religion. It became a Theocracy.
Who were the Huguenots?
French nobles who converted to Calvinism. At one point, 1/3 of France’s nobility were Huguenots.
What was the Counter-Reformation?
Began in the 1530’s. The major change effort by the Roman Catholic Church. Began an attempt to return the church to an emphasis on spiritual matters. Tried to make doctirne more clear and stop the spread of Protestantism. Pope Paul III worked to revive a spiritual outlook on the Catholic Church.
What was the Council of Trent?
In 1545 Pope Paul III summoned church leaders to the Italian city of Trent. They met during 3 periods between 1545 and 1563. It defined the official church position on matters of doctrine. The council acted to end the abuses that surrounded the sale of Indulgences and to tighten discipline with the Clergy. The church disagreed with Protestant teachings concerning ceremonies and salvation.
