Renaissance Essay

existed?

Despite the nature, origins and even existence of the Renaissance being subject to intensive investigation by many historians, the traditional understanding of the European renaissance as being defined as the bridge between the Middle Ages and modern era has resonated in society throughout time. Exemplified through the influx of creative arts, literature and philosophy of that time, Swiss cultural historian Jacob Burckhardt defined this bridge as being the result of an immense intellectual transformation in humanity. In fact, the term ‘renaissance’, coined by the French historian Jules Michelet, can be translated to mean ‘new birth’ or ‘rebirth’. Spanning roughly through the 14th to 17th centuries, the renaissance is often recognised as the time of a revolution of cultural revitalization and exploration. These traditionalist ideas of the Renaissance as developed by Michelet and later expanded by Burckhardt were however ultimately disposed by revisionist historians like Charles Homer Haskins who began a revolt against Renaissance idea, motivated by the goal to deny the era any legitimate historical existence and annex the period to the middle ages. However, the perspectives of these historians in this debate are ultimately a reflection of their own context and purposes. Both Michelet and Burckhardt’s approach reflect their own 19th-century world, whilst Haskins was heavily influenced by his liberal, optimistic 20th-century ideals. A more contemporary approach to the debate is exemplified through historiographer Wallace K. Ferguson. Ferguson had chosen to focus and draw conclusions from the mirrored reflections and controversies surrounding the Renaissance idea that persisted amongst past historians. However, despite argua...

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...arly logical examination of the writings of the Christian Church and the Holy Scripture as well as proposing that ‘careful and frequent questioning is the basic key to wisdom and by doubting we come questioning and by questioning it would be possible to perceive the truth.’ Haskin’s interpretations however stem from his historical studies of (especially medieval) institutions. His works reflect the liberal, optimistic 20th-century view of progressive governments he was exposed to during his time as advisor to President Wilson of the United States. Writing in 1927, a golden, ‘roaring’ age, a few years after the conclusion of the First World War, Haskins’ humanitarianism and hopeful ideology was reflected in his history. His bias interpretation was that humanity had always attained intellectual qualities, even before the supposed ‘European Renaissance’ occurred.