The Renaissance: Chapter 12 (1300s - 1600s) Flashcards
Renaissance
DEF:”Rebirth” of Classical Culture that occurred in Italian city states (then spread) between ca. 1350 and ca. 1550
SIG: promoted rediscovery of classical works from Greece and Rome, ie. philosophy, literature
-emphasis on individuality, human dignity + worth (humanism), secularism, reason(=observation&experience instead of religion)
-Upper class=required literacy, almost exclusively for upper class who had time for education
-rising wealth=more travel & trade
-interest in education=flourishing of arts and scientific discoveries
-religion examined and critiqued
Northern Renaissance
-retained religious focus=more human centered naturalism that considered individuals of everyday life appropriate objects of artistic representation
-Christian Humanism=emphasized early church writings, how to improve society and reform church
-education & power of human intellect to improve society (communal good)
-writings often led to criticism of Catholic Church (Reformation!)
Individualism
DEF: emphasis on and interest in unique traits of each person
SIG: most noticeable in intellectual and artistic realms
-individual thought & expression=highly praised + encouraged
Secularism
DEF: process of becoming more concerned w/material, worldly, temporal things & less w/spiritual & religious things
SIG: better understanding of activities of world (political, economic, social, & intellectual)
-art & writing showed secular spirit
-education less religious, more classical texts
-ppl saw world from human centered perspective
Humanism
DEF: study of classical texts, philosophy, ideas; emphasized dignity, worth, and uniqueness of individuals
SIG: Humanists promoted a revival in classical literature and created new philological approaches to ancient texts
-some furthered values of secularism & individualism (ind.=Mirandola; humans have free will union w/god or not - greatness or failure)
-challenged institutional power of Catholic Church
-education less focused on theological writings, more classical texts and new methods of scientific inquiry
-admiration for Greek/Roman institutions=revival of civic humanism=secular models for ind. & political behavior
-classical texts=new values w/society and religion
Leading Humanists
-Petrach (father of humanism): early humanist, revival of ancient texts, emphasis on ability of man, encouraged others to read classical literature, literature no longer subordinate to religion
-Erasmus (christian humanism, North.): criticized Catholic Church
-Giovanni Boccaccio: several writings
-Pico de Mirandola: Oration of Dignity of Man (Humans created by God, therefore given tremendous potential for greatness→union w/God if desired BUT humans could CHOOSE negative course & fail in reaching greatness,Humans had free will (great or failure)
Northern Renaissance Writers
-Erasmus (1466-1536) : Most famous northern humanist (first to earn living by writing), Translated Greek & Latin version of the New testament to create “purer” editions
*In Praise of Folly (1509): Written in Latin , Criticized Church (but was devout Catholic) , Satirized people’s worldly ambitions, including clergy , Criticized immorality of Church leaders, Influenced other reforms (Martin Luther)
-Thomas More (1478-1536)
Civic Humanists; became Lord Chancellor to King Henry VIII of England
*Utopia, 1516: Mixed civic humanism with religious ideas to describe a perfect (utopian) society, Believed people should sacrifice individual rights in order to promote the common good, Not very Machiavellian
Civic Humanism
DEF: education should prepare leaders to be active in civic affairs
SIG: humanists believed studies of humanities should be put to service of state (why they served as chancellors Councillors & advisors for states)
-translation of the ancient idea of citizenship to modern age
Effects of Humanism on philosophy, education, politics, & writing of history
-Philosophy:interests in works of Greek phil. Plato; Neoplatonism= single supreme source of goodness & being in the universe from which all other things descend + Herectism=new view of mankind as Divine; ALL SHOWS SECULARISM + SPIRITUAL COMPONENT
-Education:”liberal” studies to produce individuals to be and persuade others to be part of civic life in communities
-Politics: New Monarchies + conquering new territory, Arts Used to Push Agendas (ie. The Prince By Machiavelli)
-Writing of History: more secularism, less divine intervention w/human motives, more stress on political forces/roles of individuals in history, + new sense of chronology/periodization in history
Social changes in Ren.
-expansion/recovery of trade, industries recovered + new ones (like printing mining etc)
-New Machinery: fire arms, new techniques for mining, textile important
-Improvements in Banking
-Nobles dominated society and pursued education (perf courtier to serve prince effectively and honestly)
-Decline in Manorial System & Serfdom/Feudal Labor in peasants
-Urban Poverty decreased
-slavery reappeared
-Arranged Marriages
-Family name bond= security sometimes prestige
How did Niccolo Machiavelli (political philosopher, statesmen) works reflect political realities of Renaissance Italy?
-wrote The Prince, 1513= secular, emphasized individualism, “end justifies mean”, “better to be feared than loved”, rulers had to be cunning, aggressive, & ruthless to secure state & position, influence on European leaders
-First to abandon morality=political activity can’t be restricted by morality
-believes it’s okay to do bad things for betterment of country/oneself
-targets human nature w/new realistic approach to politics
HIS OPPOSITE: Jean Bodin, French, = best structure for secular state = monarch ruled absolutely & divine right
Characteristics of Renaissance Art
1) Oil stretched Canvas=new medium of choice
2)Perspective=illusion of depth, dimension, vanishing point
3)Chiaroscuro (pronounced keyarrow)=play on light/dark for illusion=well rounded, sculpted
4)Pyramid Configuration=profile portraits, focused & emphasized individual
5) Patronage=wealthy people paid for commission art, emphasized individual & everyday life, subjects deemed appropriate by elites
Ren. Artistic Hall of Fame (Ninja Turtles)
-Donatello:classical sculptures, first to utilize nude figures
-Botticelli: secularish mythology, + humanism
-Michealangelo: roof painting guy- Sistine Chapel, David
-Leonardo Da Vinvi: “Renaissance man”, does everything, painter, sculptor, engineer etc, “The Last Supper” & Mona Lisa
-Raphael: School of Athens
Northern Ren. Hall of Fame
-Jan Van Eyck: achieved peak of realism
-Bruegal: focused on peasant life, atmospheric perspective (smog/blurred effect, far away)
-Dürer: detailed art, details, realistic
Differences between Italian and Northern Ren. Art
-Italian: humans in realistic settings, accuracy, human form, technical skills, more secular & realistic
-Northern: accurate portrayal of details, emphasis on emotional intensity or religious feeling, devotional art, more focused on Christian principles ( though reformed)
