Renaissance Background - Class Notes
- 1. The Renaissance One of the most creative periods in history occurred in Europe around 1350–1700. This cultural revival is known as the Renaissance (meaning “rebirth”). The English Renaissance was a cultural and artistic movement spanning from the later 15th century until the early 17th century. It was a product of the Italian Renaissance which started in the 14th century. Like most of northern Europe, England did not get the full effect of the Renaissance until about a century later, and the height of the English Renaissance is considered to be in the Elizabethan Era (1558–1603) named after Queen Elizabeth I who ruled England 1558-1603. "Renaissance," French for "rebirth," perfectly describes the intellectual and economic changes that occurred in Europe from the fourteenth through the sixteenth centuries. During this period, there was a passion for knowledge. Before the Renaissance period, scholars had mostly studied the teachings of the Church, but during this period, scholars rediscovered ancient philosophers and writers and sought inspiration from the past. At the heart of the Renaissance lies the massive renewal of interest in the writings of ancient Greece and Rome, some of which were literally rediscovered in medieval monasteries. These ancient writings seemed to show the greater sophistication and learning of ancient cultures, which came to represent ideals of the Renaissance period. Also at its core, The Renaissance was a time when the ordered social structures of the Middle Ages began to break down, capitalism began to take root, and individual identity increased in importance. During this period, Europe emerged from the economic sluggishness of the Middle Ages and experienced a time of financial growth. Also, and perhaps most importantly, the Renaissance was an age in which artistic, social, scientific, and political thought turned in new directions. The Renaissance was not only a rebirth of society; it was an age of new discoveries - both geographical and intellectual. Europe was discovering the Americas and settling there, expanding their horizons. From the 15th century onwards, people were challenging everything they knew: Copernicus challenged science, Martin Luther challenged religion, and so on. In the feudal structure of the Middle Ages, the nobles who lived in the country provided the king with protection in exchange for land. Peasants worked the land for the nobles, for which they received protection and their own small parcels of land. These rural peasants worked from sunup to sundown, but even the nobles had few creature comforts. In feudal cities, where there was a small middle-class population, life was a little easier and individuals had the freedom to pursue whatever trade or industry they liked. In the late Middle Ages, when the threat of invasion from barbarians had lessened, people left the country for towns and cities so they could engage in more profitable pursuits. The Plague Begins Life in the city was soon to change drastically. During the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance (1350-1450) the Bubonic Plague, also called the "Black Death," devastated one half of the population of Europe. The plague, which was almost always fatal, spread most rapidly in cities, where people were in close contact with each other. The only way to avoid the disease was to leave the city for the country. This solution was, unfortunately, available only to those wealthy enough to make the trip. The Plague's Effect on the Economy The urban population decrease caused by the plague led to an economic depression. Merchants and tradespeople had fewer customers to buy their products. Economic hardship spread throughout the cities. As cases of the plague decreased in the late fifteenth century, populations grew, creating a new demand for goods and services. A new middle class began to emerge, and bankers, merchants, and tradespeople once again had a market for their goods and services. The New Middle Class As the fortunes of merchants, bankers, and tradespeople improved, they had more than enough money to meet their basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter. They began to desire larger, more luxurious homes, fine art for these
- 2. residences, lavish clothing to show off their wealth in public, and exotic delicacies to eat. These desires of the middle class stimulated the economy. As a result of the newly accumulated wealth, the middle-class population also began to have leisure time to spend on education. In fact, education was essential for many middle-class professions. Bankers and accountants needed to understand arithmetic. Those trading with other countries needed knowledge of foreign currencies and languages. Reading was essential for anyone who needed to understand a contract. In their leisure time, middle class also now had time and money to spend on entertainment. They enjoyed such pastimes as reading for pleasure, learning to play musical instruments, and studying a variety of topics unrelated to their businesses merely for entertainment – the luxuries of a middle class life. A Major Invention When Gutenberg invented the printing press in 1445, he forever changed the lives of people in Europe and eventually, all over the world. Previously, bookmaking entailed copying all the words and illustrations by hand. Often the copying had been done on parchment, animal skin that had been scraped until it was clean, smooth, and thin. The labor that went into creating them made each book very expensive. Because Gutenberg's press could produce books quickly and with relatively little effort, bookmaking became much less expensive, allowing more people to buy reading material. The Demand for Books Grows In the Middle Ages, books had been costly and education rare; only the clergy had been regular readers and owners of books. Most books had been written in Latin, considered the language of scholarship. In the Renaissance, the educated middle classes, who could now afford books, demanded works in their own languages. Furthermore, readers wanted a greater variety of books. Almanacs, travel books, chivalry romances, and poetry were all published at this time. Simultaneously, a means of printing music was also invented, making sheet music available at a reasonable cost. As the demand for books grew, the book trade began to flourish throughout Europe, and industries related to it, such as papermaking, thrived as well. The result of all of this was a more literate population and a stronger economy. Humanism Emerges The new increased availability and affordability of books led to increased knowledge in many fields. For example, a new philosophy emerged when Renaissance scholars known as Humanists looked back to the works of ancient writers. Previously, during the Middle Ages, scholars had been guided by the teachings of the Church, and people had concerned themselves primarily with actions leading to heavenly rewards. Therefore, the writings of ancient, pagan (pre-Christian) Greece and Rome, called the "classics," had been greatly ignored. To study the classics, Humanists learned to read Greek and ancient Latin, and they sought out manuscripts that had lain undisturbed for nearly 2,000 years. Renaissance Humanists rediscovered writings on scientific matters, government, rhetoric, philosophy, and art. They were influenced by the knowledge of these ancient civilizations and by the emphasis placed on man, his intellect, and his life on Earth. A Cultural Movement - The Humanist Philosophy Humanism was a philosophy that emerged during the Renaissance; it encouraged people to become educated in the classical arts, literature, and science. Humanism encouraged realism and human emotion in art – not just religious imagery. Humanism also approved the pursuit of comfort, riches, and beauty – luxuries before only afforded to the Church. The new interest in secular/non-religious life led to beliefs about education and society that came from ancient Greece and Rome. Humanists believed that the Church should not rule civic matters, but should guide only spiritual matters. The Church rejected the accumulation of wealth and worldly goods, supported a strong but limited education, and believed that moral/ethical behavior was dictated by scripture.
- 3. Humanists, however, believed that wealth enabled them to do noble deeds, that good citizens needed a well-rounded education (such as that advocated by ancient Greeks and Romans), and that moral and ethical issues were related more to secular/non-religious society than to spiritual concerns. Spiritual Matters During the Renaissance, Martin Luther changed Christianity. On October 31, 1517, he went to his church in the town of Wittenburg, Germany and posted a list of 95 items that worried him about the Church. His list included the church's corrupt practice of selling “indulgences”, reductions in the amount of time one’s soul must spend in purgatory after death for his/her confessed sins. Indulgences were purchased by church members, and the Church got rich! Luther’s request for reform – the “95 Theses” - ignited the Protestant Reformation. Several new Christian religions were established during this time as a result. The old Church became known as Roman Catholic Church and new Christian sects were known by their leaders-- among them Lutherans (Luther) and Calvinists (John Calvin). Literature The rebirth of classical studies of the ancient Greeks and Romans contributed to the development of all forms of art during the Renaissance. Literature began to show signs of classical influence. Music Renaissance composers also incorporated the classics into their craft. By studying Greek drama, they discovered the art of making their music reflect the lyrics in their songs--making music sound happy for words of joy and sorrowful for words of grief. When they learned that ancient Greek drama brought the audience to tears with its sad music, Renaissance composers tried to re-create that theatrical experience. Their efforts eventually resulted in the birth of opera. Painting Artists became fascinated by the human body. To celebrate its beauty, they turned away from the formal drawing style of the Middle Ages and adopted a more realistic, natural style. Paintings of the Renaissance demonstrate the application of Humanistic ideals learned from the ancients. In works from the Middle Ages, saints and Biblical figures are arranged in unnatural, geometric groups, and backgrounds are nothing more than washes of gold. Renaissance painters depicted the human figure as realistically as possible, often with backgrounds of the natural world. Mona Lisa - perhaps the world's most famous painting - was painted during the Renaissance by Leonardo da Vinci. The term “Renaissance Man” refers to a person who is educated and talented in many areas – knowledgeable in many fields. The true geniuses of the Renaissance were great examples of this. Leonardo da Vinci was a master painter, sculptor, scientist, inventor, architect, engineer, and writer. Michelangelo - a superb painter, sculptor, and architect. ************************************************************************************************** William Shakespeare was born in 1564 right in the midst of the Renaissance, and many of his works reflect the Renaissance ideals such as… • Influence of classical texts - The influence of the Latin poet Ovid on Shakespeare is particularly well-known. Ovid’s stories are influential in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and The Tempest. Shakespeare is also known to have been influenced by the Roman playwright Seneca, and the Greek historian Plutarch whose research was used to write The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. • Religious conflict – A non-religious, even atheistic, point of view can be detected in some of Shakespeare’s works. Mythology and superstitions of Pre-Christian Greece and Rome appear as often as Christian religious ideas. Some scholars suggest this is reflective of Shakespeare’s commitment to reforming Christianity/ridding it of corruption. • Rise of Realism and the Rise of the Individual - The Renaissance is often seen as a time when the ordered social structures of the Middle Ages began to break down, capitalism began to take root, and individual identity became more important. This is reflected in Shakespeare’s portrayal of distinctive individuals from all classes of society. The nurse in Romeo and Juliet and the porter in Macbeth are examples of interesting characters belonging to the lower orders of society, showing Shakespeare’s desire for realism and interest in the value of individuality.