The Renaissance The Rise of the West 1450-1750. "both sides of human consciousness - the side...

The Renaissance

The Rise of the West1450-1750

  "both sides of human consciousness - the side turned to the world and that turned inward - lay, as it were, beneath a common veil, dreaming or half awake. The veil was woven of faith, childlike prejudices, and illusion; seen through it, world and history appeared in strange hues; man recognized himself only as a member of a race, a nation, a party, a corporation, a family, or in some other general category. It was in Italy that this veil first melted into thin air, and awakened an objective perception and treatment of the state and all things of this world in general; but by its side, and with full power, there also arose the subjective; man becomes a self-aware individual and recognizes himself as such.“

Jacob Burckhardt

Jacob Burckhardt________________________________________________________

Father of Cultural History

He wrote "And all things are sources - not only books, but the whole of life and every kind of spiritual manifestation."

The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy

In his work, he traced the cultural patterns of transition from the medieval period to the awakening of the modern spirit and creativity of the Renaissance. He saw the transition as one from a society in which people were primarily members of a class or community to a society that idealized the self-conscious individual. The term Renaissance suggesting a re-birth of individualistic accomplishment after a long intermission since the Classical Age.

Burckhardt's CriticismPeter Burke, Renaissance is still more medieval than modern. The Renaissance is not a singular event. The move to the modern world was a series of ‘Renaissances’

Wallace Ferguson, Burckhardt is too narrow in his focus (time and place) - 1300-1600 is a transitional period from Medieval to Modern throughout Europe

H u m a n i s mLiterary Movement

(search for guidance)Petrarch: The Father of

Humanism

Artistic Revival mimics Classical Age

Civic Humanism (active participation,

Republican Government)

Neo-Platonists Christianity and Humanism seek the

same perfection

Social Behaviors new humanist values

and education

Giotto

Masaccio&

Donatello

Michelangelo&

Raphael

Leonardo Da Vinci

The Renaissance Man

Titian (Venetian Influence)

Bruegel, The Harvesters

Holbein The Ambassadors

Germany -Northern Renaissance: 15th technology & science

• Johann Gutenberg• Regiomontanus• Nicholas of Cusa• Behaim• Schoner• Copernicus

• Printing Press• Astronomy &

Trigonometry• Philosophy, math &

science• Explorer & cartographer• Cartographer• Heliocentric Model

All Renaissance Men…

Characteristics of Renaissance Art

• Influences: Humanism, Classical Ideal vs. Real, Everyday life of the North, Portraiture

• Techniques: Depth, Foreshortening (Perspective), Chiaroscuro (shading light/dark)

• Genre: Painting, Sculpture, Fresco • Patrons: Bankers (Medici of Florence, Fugger of

Germany) the Church, and the Monarchs

A window into the greater changes taking place throughout Europe…

Social Behaviors: Status & Wealth

The CourtierCastiglione

Joan Kelly-GadolDid Women have a

Renaissance?

As concept of wealth changed, Humanist

education and other social conventions were the outward

sign of status

Intellect, diplomacy & manners were valued

over brute physical force

Civic Humanism

Pico Mirandola, On the Dignity of Man

Machiavelli's, The PrinceBut when cities or countries are accustomed to live under a prince, and his family is exterminated, they, being on the one hand accustomed to obey and on the other hand not having the old prince, cannot agree in making one from amongst themselves, and they do not know how to govern themselves. For this reason they are very slow to take up arms, and a prince can gain them to himself and secure them much more easily. But in republics there is more vitality, greater hatred, and more desire for vengeance, which will never permit them to allow the memory of their former liberty to rest; so that the safest way is to destroy them or to reside there.

The ends justifies the means

Machiavellian Approach…

Here a question arises: whether it is better to be loved than feared, or the reverse. The answer is, of course, that it would be best to be both loved and feared. But since the two rarely come together, anyone compelled to choose will find greater security in being feared than in being loved. . . . Love endures by a bond which men, being scoundrels, may break whenever it serves their advantage to do so; but fear is supported by the dread of pain, which is ever present.

Christian HumanismNorthern

Basedvs. Pagan

Humanists of Italy

Erasmus: In Praise of FollyThomas More: Utopia

Monks that Call Themselves Religious …And next these come those that commonly call themselves the religious and monks, most false in both titles, when both a great part of them are farthest from religion,…

...but, if they are mistaken, and if there is either a better

government, or a religion more acceptable to God, they

implore His goodness to let them know it.

The Protestant ReformationThe English Reformation The Catholic Response

1517 - 1648

Challenge to the Catholic religious authority- in doctrine and hierarchy

Religion as a justification for or against political power

Protest & Reform

Martin LutherOf the Holy Roman Empire95 Theses in response to Tetzl’s sale of indulgencesDiet of WormsAugsburg Confession

Justification by faithPriesthood of all believersNo transubstantiation

Peace of Augsburg, 1555Autonomy (religious/political) for German princes

John CalvinGeneva (Swiss Canton)Inspired by LutherPredestinationSociety should be dictated by religious ideology…

Rebels or conservatives?

Huguenots in France targetedPresbyterian Church

Henry VIII seeks an annulment

from Catherine of Spain

Act of Supremacy,

1534

Anglican Church

orEpiscopal

Church

Via Media

Political DebateGerman Autonomy

French Monarch/Gallican ChurchEnglish Policy

German Princesvs

Holy Roman Emperor & Pope

Calvinist Enthusiasts

vsCatholic French

Monarch

English Kingvs

Papal Authority

Counter or Catholic Reformation• Reforms• Jesuits• Baroque Art & Music• Inquisition

While Western Europe remains predominantly Christian, BY 1648 religion as a separate issue gives way to politics and the Balance of Power throughout Europe