Renaissance And Papacy Research Paper

1289 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: What is the importance of art

Renaissance and the Papacy

The Renaissance period was a cultural and intellectual movement that among the elite. The Papacy played a major part in the politics, art and the overall development of the city-states during the Renaissance. While the Papacy was the home of the Holy Roman Empire, behind the scenes showed examples of dirty politics being played with special attention to Pope Alexander XI and his son Cesar Borgia. The Renaissance Papacy also had great influence in the background with the development of a new form of art, architecture, and literature; the Renaissance was rich in culture. The Catholic Church was the staple for the Renaissance period, bringing in art, politics and upholding tradition through out the change that was …show more content…

Although known as one of the most corrupt popes, with having used large sums of money on bribery in order to get himself elected, he was also one of the Renaissance’s most brilliant leaders, helping to divide the New World for Portugal, Spain. After election, Alexander VI made is sixteen year old illegitimate son, Cesare Borgia Archbishop of Valencia. Alexander VI used the great ideas and writings of Niccolo Machiavelli, using the political war tactics to help him achieve unity within France. Alexander VI son, Cesar Borgia became the role model for Machiavelli, and with the help of his father he was able to bring a huge turning point in Renaissance politics by stepping down as Archbishop. Cesar was considered a cruel and left a blood trail in his wake, but through his cruel tactics he was able to reconcile Romagna, unified it and helped to restore it back to peace and loyalty. Through all of this he portrayed everything that Machiavelli had proposed needed to happen in order for a Prince to truly succeed. Although it is contradictory since Machiavelli states that for a Prince to succeed in the Renaissance time or beyond he must avoid things that will make him hated or contemptible. Machiavelli states that it is wise for a Prince to keep he enemies closer in a way to help ensure better standing with his people and in order to accomplish what he is set out to. Although Borgia was hated and considered cruel, he was loyal. Through the years of the Papacy during the Renaissance infidelity, bribery and war have played along with the politics of the church. Alexander XI helped his son take over and reunite Romagna but it was with a trailed of deceit, for even as Pope Alexander was the master of tricking men into what he wanted and asserting his power for what he believed to be for the greater good. The

Show More
Related

  • The Renaissance Period in Europe

    689 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Renaissance Period is widely known for the abundance of amazing portraiture that circulated around Europe. During the Renaissance, Albrecht Dürer, a German artist painted a self-portrait in 1500 that had qualities that differed from the usual style of artist in that time (Chauhan). Jean Clouet also painted a portrait for the King of France and became the official court painter. Both artists had a talent for portraiture, while their styles were quite different. King Francis I wanted to be seen as a powerful man, and appointed Clouet to paint him in a classically renaissance way that highlights his wealth and authority. Dürer, described as a cocky, self-centered man, painted himself in a light that is unique and puts him on a ‘holy’ pedestal (Stokstad 356). In this essay I will show how although both paintings have clear differences with their style, both men in the compositions are conveyed in a great and very powerful sense.

    Read More

  • Machiavelli: The Renaissance’s Anti-Humanist

    2445 Words  | 5 Pages

    By the turn of the sixteenth century, the Italian Renaissance had produced writers such as Danté, Petrarch, Boccaccio and Castiglione, each with ideas rooted in the revival of Greek and Roman Classics, localization of the Christian traditions, idealistic opinions of women and individualism. From these authors spread the growth of the humanistic movement which encompassed the entirety of the Italian rebirth of arts and literature. One among many skeptics, including Lorenzo Valla, who had challenged the Catholic Church fifty years earlier in proving the falsity of the Donation of Constantine, Niccolò Machiavelli projected his ideas of fraudulence into sixteenth century Italian society by suggesting that rulers could only maintain power through propaganda, as seen with the success of Ferdinand of Aragon in Spain circa 1490. Today, the coined term Machiavellian refers to duplicity in either politics or self-advancement. Unlike most philosophers of the sixteenth century, Machiavelli wrote from the perspective of an anti-Humanist; he criticized not only the Classics and the Catholic Church, but also encouraged the deceitful use of religion and hated the humanist concepts of liberty, peace and individualism.1

    Read More

  • Ties of the Renaissance and Reformation

    1249 Words  | 3 Pages

    The very definition of Renaissance is rebirth and that is exactly what happened to Europe during the Renaissance. It began in the urban society of Italy in primarily the city-state of Florence. The Black Death left the population of Europe very low and because of that combined with the decline of the church power, people began to emphasize individual achievements and show more interest in ancient Greek and Roman culture.

    Read More

  • Cesare Borgia: An example in The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli

    611 Words  | 2 Pages

    Cesare Borgia, also called Duke Valentino, was named Duke of Romagna by his father, Pope Alexander VI. Borgia came into power through the arms and fortune of others, and according to Machiavelli, that is not a good sign because those rulers tend to not last very long. But Borgia showed tremendous efforts to make sure he would stay in power by strengthening his foundations, even when his father was no longer the Pope. He was able to conquer th...

    Read More

  • Italian Renissance and the Reformation

    1465 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Renaissance began after Europe began recovering from the Black Death. Anyone who had survived was just happy to be alive and started focusing more on material things, rather than religious ones. Another reason the focus shifted from religious thoughts was because of the Great Schism. People began second guessing their rulers and religious leaders and became more secular. One important city involved in the Renaissance was Florence, which would come to be known as the cultural center of the Renaissance. Florence was located in Tuscany and was ruled by merchants originally, but was later taken over by a wealthy family known as the Medicis. Later, however, the economy began to decline, which made the people turn to a man known as Savonarola. Savonarola, however, was an extremely strict ruler and did not allow such things as gambling or painting. He then went on to criticize the Pope and was sentenced to death for heresy. The Medici family then gained back control. These power struggles within Italy would lead to better trade which would help lead to people having a new, better way of life.

    Read More

  • The Art of the Renaissance

    2065 Words  | 5 Pages

    Though the Renaissance era included all of Europe, Italy was the cradle of the movement. The cities of Florence, Rome and Venice were of great importance to this period. Major artists created art mainly in these three. As the center of Italy, Rome held the residence of the Pope and many other important factors. Throughout history, the Roman Catholic Church was very insistent on promoting their ideas. During this time, they used artists and their creativity to promote the Bible and other aspects of their beliefs. Artists were paid, or commissioned by patrons (often the Pope) to create art they wanted. One of the most ambitious patrons was Pope Julius II, who realized the impact visual images had on people’s ideas (Kleiner, 599). Pope Julius II was called the warring Pope, because he often went and involved himself in wars. He also held very humanistic ideas. Because of this, Michelangelo’s relationship to Pope Julius II was very different from his relationship with Pope Leo X, who succeeded Julius II. Julius, because of his adaptions to humanistic thoughts, he let Michelangelo express himself to the fullest, even when forcing him to paint the Sistine Chapel. Leo X, however, was very critical of everything Michelangelo set out upon. This resulted a strained relationship, and eventually abandonment of projects that were supposed to be completed. It is clear that Pope Julius II had a liking for Michelangelo, while the Medici’s looked on him as a type of lowly artist subject to their will.

    Read More

  • The Renaissance During The Middle Ages

    635 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Renaissance was a cultural and intellectual movement that had its peak during the 15th and 16th centuries. During these times there was a heightened interest with the classical learning that was brought about in the middle ages. The renaissance first started in Italy and then eventually spread to Western Europe. During this period there was a high interest in the aesthetics of the classical world like architecture. The renaissance focused on the 17th century philosophy which came from the Greeks.

    Read More

  • Leadership Qualities in Alexander the Great

    653 Words  | 2 Pages

    Countries rise and fall, but within this chaos is the certainty that new leaders will emerge to fill the shoes of those fallen. What is it that separates the great leaders from the lesser? This question weighed heavy on the minds of many great Renaissance thinkers due to the power that derives from this knowledge. In the 16th century, Niccolò Machiavelli sought out to answer this time worn question. It was in his publication of The Prince, that Machiavelli spread his cold and practical formula of how to rule. In The Prince, Machiavelli clearly states what characteristics great ruler have. These Machiavellian traits show themselves in the life of Alexander the Great and some of the traits used by Machiavelli were taken from Alexander’s style of ruling. Even though he lived before the creation of The Prince, much of Alexander’s success stems from his Machiavellian principles of war, deception, and his ability to absorb the culture of conquered territories by limiting changes in their government.

    Read More

  • The Renaissance And The Fall Of The Italian Renaissance

    1572 Words  | 4 Pages

    The decline of great empires like the Greeks and Romans inspired the rise of a great period of time—the Italian Renaissance. The Italian Renaissance originated in the city of Florence, Italy, which gave the city a surplus of culture and religion. The Renaissance emerged after a period of time that was known as the Dark Ages and lasted from the 14th century and lasted through the 16th century. After the Roman Empire ended, it left much of Europe in a state of cultural incompetence. The Roman Empire, known as the last great empire, was a part of Classical Antiquity and its deterioration left the people of Europe without the “light” it needed to thrive. The transition from the Dark Ages to the Renaissance can be reflected through imagery. Greco-Roman culture was particularly grandiose and was one of the main reasons that Classical Antiquity lasted as long as it did. Without the strong foundation of civilization during the time Classical Antiquity, the Italian Renaissance would not have its precedent for a new era. The Italian Renaissance was an amalgamation of a shift in religious beliefs and embracing predecessors to create a time of innovation and new forms of enlightenment.

    Read More

  • The Renaissance And The Development Of The Renaissance

    527 Words  | 2 Pages

    The periods between 14th and 17th century were marked by a return to classical ideas and culture, known as the Renaissance. The Renaissance or some may say “Rinascita” meaning rebirth, represented a break away from conformist society and culture of the previous medieval Europe to the revival of lost knowledge. This cultural movement, where changes occurred in almost every aspect of intellectualism, we know evoked in the in the heart of Florence, Italy. The unique characteristics of this city enabled an atmosphere of learning and artistic expression. An independent city like Florence was quickly capable to grow prosperous through trade and banking creating a class of wealthy businessmen who became patrons to individual artists providing them with fund and other necessities. It were these men too who become the most prominent face of the Renaissance movement. The Renaissance marked an important moment in human history and ending of the dark ages. Having changed the way in which people thought has given us many of the freedoms we have today. This essay will be further exploring the que...

    Read More

  • Renaissance and Reformation

    797 Words  | 2 Pages

    The renaissance and the reformation were two of the most significant changes in history that has shaped our world today. Both of these great time periods are strikingly similar in some ways and totally different in others. This is because the renaissance was a change from religion to humanism whether it is in art or literature; it is where the individual began to matter. However, the reformation was,” in a nutshell,” a way to reform the church and even more so to form the way our society is today. The first half of this paper will view the drop in faith, the economic powers, and the artistic and literary changes during the renaissance, while the second half will view the progresses and changes the church makes during the reformation.

    Read More

  • The Shift Between The Middle Ages And Renaissance

    1352 Words  | 3 Pages

    The shift between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance was characterized by great socio-economic, political, and religious changes. Politically, the feudal system of the Middle Ages was exchanged for a more stable centralized republic/monarchy system that gave the people more freedom and input. Religiously, secularism became more important as stability gave people a chance to concern themselves with the “here and now” rather than simply the “hereafter.” Socially, there was a shift from dogma and unshakeable belief to humanism and the ability to interpret things for oneself. The Middle Ages began around 400 CE and lasted until 1400 CE while the Renaissance began around 1200 and continued until 1600. The 200 years that overlap between these two periods contain many pieces of “transition” art in which it is obvious that the change is beginning to take place. These collective changes that took place in this period dictated change in art as well. There were changes in iconography, style, purpose, and patronage that facilitated the overall transformation of art from a sense of illustrating what you are told to believe is true to optical realism and conveying how you yourself interpret that “truth”.

    Read More

  • Comparing Machiavelli's The Prince and Plato's The Republic

    1784 Words  | 4 Pages

    Machiavelli?s model for his ideal prince was Cesare Borgia, also known as Duke Valentino and son of Pope Alexander VI.  He believed Cesare Borgia possessed all the qualities of a prince destined to rule and maintain power in his state. He believed that politics has a morality of its own.  There is no regard of justness or unjustness, of cruelty or  mercy, of  approval  or  humiliation, which   should   interfere   with  the  decision  of defending the state and preserving its freedom.  Therefore, the ruler/prince's single responsibilit...

    Read More

  • THE RISE OF THE PAPACY

    1635 Words  | 4 Pages

    Perhaps no other event was as influential to the rise of papacy in Rome as the decline of the Roman empire. With the decline of the empire, the church became the last refuge of stability. Without the protection of the empire, Rome was subject to poverty, disrepair, and attack from enemies.1 The rise of the papacy was a response to this situation. It was further cemented by the leadership of such men as Leo I and Gregory I, the latter sometimes referred to as the father of the medieval papacy.2 Finally, the granting of lands and authority to the bishop of Rome greatly increased the power of the Roman church.3

    Read More

  • Machiavelli: The Father of Modern Political Science

    1046 Words  | 3 Pages

    During the time 1469, a child by the name of Niccolo Di Bernardo Del Machiavelli was born. Some may know him as an Italian philosopher, humanist, or an evil minded fellow associated with the corruptness of totalitarian government. In Machiavelli’s home state of Florence, he introduces the modern political theory. Hoping to gain influence with the ruling Medici family, Niccolo wrote a pamphlet called The Prince (Prezzolini). Niccolo lived a nondescript childhood and his main political experience in his youth was watching Savonarola from afar.

    Read More

More about Renaissance And Papacy Research Paper

Open Document