The Renaissance was a very vital time in our history without the Renaissance era we would not have many of the advancements that we have today. This era not only influenced art, literature, and music but also today’s politics, religion and society. During the Renaissance, there were many new inventions in technology the way of thinking also changed. This was key to the development of western civilization.
The term ‘Renaissance’ means rebirth. It was originally meant to describe the rebirth of art and literature in Europe but since there were so many important changes throughout the time period The Renaissance includes all new developments during that time period. The Renaissance began in the 14th century; it flourished in the 15th century,
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and went all the way until the mid-17th century. It started as a cultural movement in Italy and began to spread to the rest of Europe by the 16th century. With the Black Death, the fall of the Roman Empire, and Renaissance life was extremely hard for European people. They then began to have a feudal society, a peasant or worker known as a vassal received a piece of land in return for serving a lord or king, especially during times of war. During this time there were lords and knights as well as serfs and vassals. Cities that belonged to the Roman Empire were now slums. Many villages began to develop close to feudal estates because feudal lords offered protection from attacks. The Renaissance was a result of this life, almost retaliation more than reaction (Michelet). Italy was the starting point of the rebirth for many reasons, one being its location. The city-states of Italy are right along the Mediterranean Sea, where centers for trade and commerce were. This brought goods and an extensive amount of wealth to the city-states. Rulers and merchants then began to work on the society and culture as well as new ideas towards a new way of life. Secondly, since Italy was once the core of the formal Roman Empire it became a refuge of scholars from Constantinople. They brought over works of ancient Roman and Greek, which were thought to be lost during the Dark Ages. Now scholars in Italy had access to new work and gave a whole new perspective towards it. The third reason has to do with politics. Merchant families started to gain power within each city-state they controlled the politics, and the wealth started to grow rapidly. There wasn’t a democracy but councilmen were elected to rule city-states. “Constitutions were held by some city-states, thus, the city-states that held constitutions had a constitutional government. This is a development in politics for the time because Kings and Princes ruled most of Europe (Andrea)”. They began to change the laws dealing with governing bank, commerce, trade and shipping. Now that the atmosphere was a bit freer there was an extensive amount of exchange for ideas and goods. Italian city-states made many new discoveries and advantages. Many cities traded freely without interruption. Now that so much money was coming into the city-states, merchants learned skills like banking and bookkeeping. Eventually their new technique would spread to the rest of Europe then the rest of the world. The Medici family, extremely wealthy family, were bankers in Italy they are responsible for the banking system that we use today. In fact, at one point, the Italian bankers became the bankers of choice for all Europe (Kagan). There is even a bank named after this period of time. They also came up with the ideas of creating a monopoly. Humanism was one of the major things that came out of the Renaissance. Before the Renaissance writers typically wrote about religious things such as, religious heroes and how to live life righteously. Writers started to break the style of traditional religious writings and presented a more realistic version of life in their stories. An abundance of writers from the rebirth had an effect on American society especially dealing with literary style but as well as political ideas. By authors introducing this new concept of writing it allowed readers to enjoy and connect with the stories on a more personal level. This tradition has continued all the way into today’s society. A good example of this is the Author Giovanni Boccaccio in many of his works he contributed to what we know now as characterization and settings. Boccaccio strayed away from the normal characters with unrealistic life problems and made his characters funny, down to earth, and intriguing to the average reader. One concept that came from humanism is the thought that humans are all different and unique. The demand of education and arts began to grow. People started showing more interest in this new way of writing. Humanism mainly came from authors that were not immediate members of the church but regular everyday people that wanted to learn about liberal arts. Writing, poetry, and art became extremely popular and important again during this time, Humanism in Northern Europe was a bit different.
The authors focused on writing about problems of the church in the period before the middle ages. Their reasoning for writing about is was purely to learn from the past mistakes and not to imitate it. “There, scholars and mystics studied the past not to imitate, but to learn. The desire to reform was a profound as the need. But to reform the church and society one had to know their original form (Lurier 274).” Northerners in Europe began to use the new invention of the printing press; they began to write their works in the native tongue of the land (the vernacular). Prior to the printing press works were written and then later copied down translating to Greek or Latin. The printing press allowed writers to write in vernacular and be read by many people. There was a huge concern with translating the bible into vernacular because it was an idea of protestant reform. Martin Luther is considered not only to be a reformer (and a founding father of Protestantism), but also a humanist …show more content…
(Perry). Art was another great contribution during the Renaissance. Leonardo da Vinci was a prominent figure with all the contributions he made with art and science. He alone is responsible for some of the things we take advantage of today. Da Vinci often portrayed realism in his works, mainly painting the human body. During that time it was more of a tradition to only paint religious figures mostly little angels that can be seen in churches or religious books. Although he did paint religious figures from time to time he also showed another side to his art. Da Vinci was ahead of his time by being one of the first artists to paint realistic pictures. His painting such as Mona Lisa is still one of the most popular pictures even in today’s society. The tradition of realism in art can be found just about anywhere now. Da Vinci made some of the first studies of human anatomy with his paintings as well as other scientific advancements.” In sum, his work has influenced contemporary American culture and thought because it shows the power of empiricism in all endeavors—even those that are essentially creative” (Smith). Da Vinci was one of the first people to ever combine art and science together. Now it's seen in everyday life like cartoons, video games, and etc. Explorations also became a big trend in Europe during the Renaissance. People began to search for cheaper ways to make trips to the east for the spice trade. They had to find an all water route. While many men sailed all the way around the bottom portion of Africa, Columbus came up believed it would be shorter if he were to sail the opposite direction. The Queen of Spain was very supportive behind this idea. Columbus set sail thinking he was going to reach Asia but instead accidentally discovered new land. The spanish became an empire. Other empires also began to form such as England and Portugal. With all the interest in sailing there were also technological advances in sailing, navigation, and map making; which furthered the science of sailing (Michelet). Cartographers, Portuguese map makers, had more reliable maps as they began to include information they received from explorers. Galleons became very popular as the making of ships improved. They also realized it was a better idea to have ships powered by sails instead of men. During the Renaissance the art of welfare greatly improved. "Military innovations- primary cannons, new infantry tactics, and the royal standing armies combined to reduce the traditional dominance of the mounted feudal Knights(Andrea 427)." Many of the warfare tactics that were invented had never been seen or done before. The tactics and some of the weapons are still used in today's military. The use of Knights were no longer needed now that there were armies. Armies also changed the look of their uniform with time they slowly stopped wearing armor and only had a light body protection and a helmet, ike something you would see in today’s time. Kings had larger forces to attack and defend their kingdoms with armies they had (Andrea). One of the most notable inventions in warfare was the cannon. The cannon was invented in the year of 1353 by Berthold Schwarz, a German friar. The cannon was often used at sea to protect ships on their voyages. That's not all they were used for, now ships had the ability to attack land from afar distance. This also caused many battles at sea, whoever controlled the sea controlled all the trading, goods, and money. The Renaissance was truly an important part of advancement of the western civilization.
It was the rebirth art, literature, science, politics, reforms of the church, trade, new military tactics, expansion into the New World, etc. The renaissance had such a big impact and significance in today’s world with all the advancements that were made during that time period. The inventions and discoveries that were made has changed the way the world operates for many years to come. The introduction of Humanism gave people a more balanced way of religion and books. Renaissance writers and artist paved the way for many of today's writers, they really changed western and American history with a new way of thinking. The Renaissance helped influence the world with their new revelations politically and economically.They discovered how to stray away from being an agricultural society to
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The Renaissance period also changed through literature. This new change in literature was important because it taught people to read,write and with learning how to read and write gave people the needed components to do for themselves, different ways to think and use knowledge to better themselves.. Many more people got more chances to read and write instead of the select few. This gave people more opportunity at jobs, gave the servants a more chance for freedom.(Doc.b)
What does the word “renaissance” mean? It means “rebirth” or “revival” and the Renaissance was a period of change that began around 1350 to 1700. Before the Renaissance, there was the Middle Ages which people had little education and were more religious. Then, in the 1300s there was a movement called humanism which made people more educated and drew them into arts, literature, science, and medicine in the Renaissance. In the mid-1400s the printing press was made and gave humanism have even more momentum because more people could buy books. how did the Renaissance change man’s view of the world? The Renaissance changed a man’s view of the world in three ways: emphasis on individualism, emphasis on embracing this life(yolo), and emphasis on
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.
The Renaissance, the time period in European history following the Middle Ages, was a period of cultural and artistic renewal that began in Florence, Italy and spread across Europe between the 14th and 17th centuries. It was a revival of education, science, art, literature, and music. However, the Renaissance era is mostly famous for its art, which includes some of the most iconic and beautiful pieces of all time. The Renaissance was filled with incredible artists, with Michelangelo being remembered as one of the most famous artists of the period.
The word "Renaissance" means rebirth and refers to the 15th Century, between the years 1350 and 1600 (Greene Malvasi, par. 1). At this time, there were many changes being undergone, and one of the most important changes was the reappearance of cities, which influenced many aspects of life, including the structure of the family (Greene Malvasi, par. 1).
The Renaissance period of history occurred during the 15th and 16th centuries. Renaissance in its basic definition means rebirth. According to Merriam Webster, renaissance formally means, “a movement or period of vigorous artistic and intellectual activity” (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary). Renaissance is the title given to the period of great change in music and art. The Renaissance period ushered in a culture of music that the public could enjoy. Most importantly it was a period that encouraged musicians and composers to create music and take risks with voices, instruments and notes.
The Renaissance (A Very Short Introduction) written by Jerry Brotton has been illustrated into six illustrations: A global Renaissance, The humanist script, Church and state, Brave new worlds, Science and philosophy and Rewriting the Renaissance. Since this book is a history book, it is quite tough to read. This book is all about the past history which is related to the Renaissance. Honestly, I do not even have clear understanding on what is called “Renaissance” until I read this book. On page 9, under the subtitle of “Where and when was the Renaissance?” I finally found the meaning of Renaissance: the revival of classical culture. This word is come from Italian word which is rinascita. Then, French historian, Jules Michelet had come out with the definition of Renaissance. He define Renaissance as decisive historical period in European culture that represented a crucial break with the Middle Ages, and which created a modern understanding of humanity and its place in the world. He also promoted the Renaissance as representing a certain spirit or attitude, as much as referring to a specific historical period. But then, his Renaissance only took place on 16th century even though he had defined it from the previous century. There was also Jacob Burckhart, Swiss academic defined it as an Italian 15th-century phenomenon. By read it further, I found that these two persons read the vision of the Renaissance like a version of their own personal circumstances. Then again, there was also an Oxford-educated don, Walter Pater defined on this word. Similarly, in further reading, all these three thinkers had created 19th –century idea of the Renaissance as more of a spirit than a historical period.
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.
This time era was filled with many good things that allow modern life to exist. The Renaissance was a time of many new ideas and many new practices in medicine, entertainment, punishments and many other topics. Without the knowledge that was gained in this era many things that we take for granted now would never of existed. In this essay I will tell you about the many things that occurred during this time period and how people in this time would have lived their daily lives.
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”.
The Renaissance was a series of literary and cultural movements that began in Italy and spread into other parts of Europe in the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries; however, the Renaissance may have extended before and beyond these centuries. The term renaissance means "rebirth," from the belief that Europeans rediscovered Greek and Roman, Classical, culture after many centuries of intellectual and
The word Renaissance in French implies the notion of “rebirth” or “reformation “ This period within the context of history was characterized as the period of European Civilization immediately following the era of the middle ages. This period mostly relates to a large extent, the growth and propagative phenomena of artistic and intellectual erudition, presently used by artistic scholars and philosophers decipher and recover ancient learning as well as standards of Greece and Rome. The Renaissance era to many transcended beyond a period of simply intellectual movement, it was to them equally a period of cultural rediscovery which imparted some sort of deeper understanding making it one of the most significant eras in universal history. Believed to have been restricted to Italy, the Renaissance era occurred during the late 15th century, this great movement made an advanced and significant difference in the world we have come to know today as well as the world of the past. The Renaissance era is significant not just simply because it is one of the world’s most known events, but because it is a movement that has benefited and contributed intellectual developments to today’s notion of western civilization.
The Renaissance, also known as the Middle Ages, is very historic because of the wealth and power that it held. Through economic and political aspects, it flourished into the ripe environment that it is known of today. Although the culture
The Renaissance was a time of change. It began in Italy during the 14th century, and spread throughout the North. People all over Europe were affected, for the better and for the worse. Some people finally had a chance to control their own fate. Others, like upper class women, lost their social status. The values and purposes of Renaissance education were to improve the society, increase the economy, and restore the religious beliefs.
The word renaissance means “rebirth” or “reconstruction”, The Renaissance era was a time for the revival of learning. The Renaissance took place during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries; it was a period in which artistic, social, scientific, and political thought turned in new directions.