in the beginning there was…
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Explain the ways in which Italian Renaissance humanism transformed the ideas about the individual’s role in society. In the beginning there was…. …Humanism. Francesco Petrarch (1304-1374). “Father of Humanism” secular views Private scholar; not a clergyman - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Explain the ways in which Italian Renaissance humanism transformed the ideas about the individual’s role in society.
In the beginning there was…
…Humanism
Francesco Petrarch(1304-1374)
“Father of Humanism”
secular views
Private scholar; not a clergyman
Rekindles interest in the ancient Greek and Latin classics
Investigates info. from source, not traditional
Renaissance Humanism
Curriculum based on Liberal studies: grammar, poetry, rhetoric, history, politics, and moral philosophyBelief that study of the classics is path to virtuous and balanced lifestyle and personalityImportance in human, not divine, mattersInformation gathered from source, not traditionalDevoted majority of life to the discovery and practice of the classicsAnti-”scholasticism”, which was the educational curriculum of the medieval times.
Religion
Before Humanism
Catholicism dominates people’s lives
Criticism crushed
No “other religions” hold any strength
Catholic Church “monopolized” religion in europe
Humanists on Religion
Criticize the Catholic Church about mistakes, misinterpretations, and corruptionLiberal knowledge was used to denounce church often in literary works that circulated EuropeCriticize the Church’s written sources, such as the Vulgate, writings by the Church Fathers, and many other important religious documentation.
Lorenzo Valla (1406-1457)
Pope attempted to assert lands from the King of Naples through the Donation of ConstantineUsed knowledge of Latin to prove the document was a forgery by the ChurchDemonstrated that Latin expressions and patterns varied with time period
Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536)
Wrote many anti-clerical satires and dialogues
Revised the Vulgate
Translated the New Testament into Greek and lay
Strong on church reform, believed that early bible and classic study the best reform
Erasmus and the Reformation
Wrote mostly against the church and its corruptness
Criticized the Catholic institution and the turmoil, chaos, and selfish corruption taking place within it
Although he was not a Lutheran and denied being so, he wanted Catholic reform, not its replacement
How this affected individuals
Catholic Church and her clergymen became more “exposed” and lost reverence
Loses a lot of influence in the general populace’s daily life
Lutherans began to acquire more ground
Humanist works credited by later reformations
Society
Before Humanism
People acted like children; there was very little personal upkeep or manner expectationsWomen were excluded from many social “gatherings”Birth was the defining point for social standing and statusEducation and personal capability didn’t exist within the social developments of medieval society
Humanists on Society
Humanists believe one should uphold personal manners and good-behavior
Many humanists published guides and manuals for being a successful courtier
Believe that education and universal capability should contribute to social success
Christine de Pisan(1363-1434)
The Treasure of the City of Ladies, “Renaissance woman’s survival manual”Spread humanism to French courtsHelped to incorporate women more importantly into courts
Baldassare Castiglione
Very influential in Renaissance courtsBelieved to be a successful courtier; polite, balanced, skilled; by peersThe Book of the Courtier, a guide to proper etiquette and manners in courts, as well as perquisites for being a “successful courtier”
How this affected individuals
Transformed society from “barbaric” to “civilized”Women introduced to balance male “manliness” with female “tenderness”Personal qualifications play greater role in status, giving initiate for “bettering oneself”Birth loses some substancePreceded gentry, forerunners
Intellectual
Humanists on IntellectLiberal arts introduced: grammar, poetry, rhetoric, history, politics and moral philosophymore practical, useful than scholasticismEducation offered to wide audienceRekindled interest and influence of Greek and Roman classicsIncorporated a necessity for literary truth, original and “uncorrupted”Desire to investigate info. at source creating large collections of original manuscriptsBrought a greater purpose to learning: virtue and balance in life through study of classics
Before Humanism
Educated men were clergymen
“Schools” were places to learn of God and spreading his will
Educational curriculum was scholasticism
Abstract and unpracticed; useless
Educational power was held by few, allowing manipulation of lay peoples
How this affected individuals
No longer just clergymen
Humanism replaced scholasticism
New universities and humanist academies offer greater education
As well as learning, students gain a greater virtuous and balanced personality
With larger girth of education, powers less able to use it to manipulate subjects