renaissance humanism new european outlook

RENAISSANCE HUMANISMnew European Outlook

INTRODUCTION

From the 15th century, Europeans will enlarge their outlook and search new perspectives.

They will use sciences to question their knowledge and they will also question religion

Some humanist scholars will become famous.

Why is Renaissance humanism a kind of revolution?

Before let’s define Renaissance humanism using a text.

“The term Renaissance whose literal translation from the French is rebirth is derived from its common association with the civilisation and artistic style of Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries. The French word was actually adapted by the French historian Michelet in 1840 from the Italian “Renascita”.It’s widely felt that the Renaissance and Renaissance style in arts and architecture appeared first in Italy about 1400, but their sources may be traced back as far as the 13th century and then spread to the rest of Europe about 1600, when it eventually ended in Italy.The Renaissance in Italy arose from a conjuncture of a quickening of the spirit of inquiry and a reawakening to the ethical and aesthetic values of classical Antiquity. The classical tradition had to be sure survived during the Middle-Ages, but what the Middle-Ages had transmitted became the focus of a new humanistic culture and outlook. The intellectual basis for this outlook is in the translation of Roman and Greek philosophical texts through the enthusiasm and energy of scholars who came to be known as Humanists: they allowed the creation of a new language of culture, painting and sculpture.One of the chief differences between the Middle ages and the Renaissance was in the use of reason. The Middle-Ages fixed the place of all things in relation with God, whereas Renaissance scholars began to proceed from experience and to attempt to construct an image of the world more in line with what could actually be observed and known. The lines between arts and sciences were not clearly drawn at all: lots of artists as Leonardo Da Vinci also made contributions to scientific knowledge.In his Works Renaissance wished to rival Nature as well as the Ancients that’s why Humanism had to deal with the Christian belief of the immortality of the soul as well as the medieval view of man. One of its major tasks was the reconciliation of Christian concepts with pagan philosophy in a harmonious system.”Extracted from a British GCSE history book. 1986

1-When did Renaissance first appear in Europe?2- According to this text, what were Renaissance and humanists?3-Why was Renaissance time so different from the Middle Ages?4-What was the main problem between humanism and religion?

DEFINITION:

Renaissance humanism was an intellectual and cultural movement based on the recovery and imitation of Greek and Roman antiquity.

It began in the fourteenth century and continued until the seventeenth, making an impact on literature, arts, religion and sciences.

Humanists expressed themselves thanks to a new invention in 1440: Gutenberg's printing press

I/AN AGE OF EXPLORATION

A/ A NEED FOR NEW CONQUESTS

- In the 15th century, Europeans had a very partial vision of the world and it was very linked with the Bible

-They needed new conquests:

to counterbalance the Turkish expansion with the failure of crusades and the taking of Constantinople by the Turks in 1453

to find new trade links to get cheap silk and Gold

New spices in Europe (introduced during the Crusades) = demand for the spices.

Europeans try to find new trade routes because they want new sources of wealth

Italianssell it

to Europe for

MORE $$$

Europe buys it for a

higher price

Muslims sold Spices to Italians

for lots of $

B/ THE NEW DISCOVERIES

1°) New explorers-The Spanish got rid of the Muslims ( Reconquista) so they invested time and money in explorations to spread Christianity elsewhere-Portuguese wanted to rival the Spanish-They benefited from new inventions such as:

Portulans compass Caravelastrolab

2°) New discoveries

(1532)

The world in the 14th century

The world in a 1570 atlas

II/ A RELIGIOUS REVOLUTION

A/ HUMANISM CAUSED REFORMATION ( la réforme protestante)

1) Why did Reformation occur?

Some humanist scholars criticized the Catholic Church, because:

-they considered the catholic Church was too close to Kings ( Gallicanism)

-they thought the catholic religion was too obsessed with money .

Indeed the Pope ( Julius II) sold indulgences to build Saint Peter of Rome basilica.

-They believed the Clergy was too ignorant

2) What did they do ?

They created a new Christian religion called the PROTESTANT RELIGION.

It was divided into three branches:

-the Lutherans created by a German monk 1517

MARTIN LUTHER ( he was excommunicated):

only faith mattered to him. Anyone could be a priest

UNIVERSAL PRIESTHOOD

-the Calvinists created by a French JEAN CALVIN who believed in predestination

-the Anglicans founded by the English king HENRY 8th who wanted to get divorced

B/ THE CATHOLIC CHURCH’S REACTION

1) The council of Trent 1545-1563

A Council ( CONCILE) is a meeting of bishops who explains the Pope’s decisions.

It occurred in a Italian city called Trent, hence the name.

-they met in different sessions.

2) What was decided? ( Text)

It was to go against the protestants and to modernize the Catholic Church

Let’s build a table

What was talked about Why was this needed?

Lines 3-4 define a common ground of belief…schism

Lines 7 the special place of Mary…

Line 8 the role of devotional works

Line 8 the sacraments

Line 9 the saints and angels

Line 9 latin in worship

Line 10 The role of the Clergy to interpret…

Line 11The primacy of the Pope

Line 14More effective educated Clergy



Mass books were created so masses were the same everywhere













Protestants did not worship Mary but only Jesus












Protestants did not worship Mary but only Jesus


Protestant considered that faith was enough and good works (actions) did not matter










Lines 7 the special place of Mary… Protestants did not worship Mary but only Jesus

Line 8 the role of devotional works Protestant considered that faith was enough and good works (actions) did not matter

Line 8 the sacraments Only 2 sacraments in the Protestant religion: baptism and communion












Line 9 the saints and angels Protestants did not worship saints and angels












Line 9 latin in worship Protestant translated the Bible in colloquial language













For Protestant anyone could be a priest as long as he/she could read the Bible












For Protestant anyone could be a priest as long s he/she could read the Bible

Line 11The primacy of the Pope Protestants did not obey the Pope











For Protestant anyone could be a priest as long s he/she could read the Bible

Line 11The primacy of the Pope Protestants did not obey the Pope

Line 14More effective educated Clergy Seminaries were created

QUICLKY THIS OPPOSITION LED TO WARS OF RELIGION BETWEEN CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANTS

EXAMPLE: In France: 1572 St. Bartholomew's Day massacre

HOPEFULLY IN 1598 HENRY 4th signed the edict of Nantes which allowed protestants to practice freely their religion.

On top of this many people were judged and sometimes sentenced to death by the Inquisition. ( Witch hunt )

III/ A SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION

A/ Copernicus ‘ discovery

It’s know as the Copernican revolution ( 1473-1554)

Nicolas Copernic was from Poland.

He questioned the antique vision of the universe by Ptlolemy ( Greece)

Copernic found the Sun was in the center of the universe not the Earth( 1543)

His theory explained heliocentrism and questioned geocentrism

It helped to understand natural phenomena like the seasons and the night and the day but It questioned religion and God.

B/ Medicine

1-1542: first anatomic chart by André Vésale

2-Leonardo da Vinci made lots of drawings to study the human body

3- Michel Servet studied the blood circulation for the first time but He was sentenced to death in 1535

C/ But some mixed sciences and magic…

-Nostradamus 1503-1566 a French astrologer wrote a book were he explained he could foresee the future

-Paracelsus a German astrologer ( 1493-1541) studied the effects of minerals on the body.

But, he also said he invented the youth elixir

IV/A REVOLUTION IN ARTS

Renaissance humanism totally changed arts, because:

-It was inspired from Antiquity-It invented new techniques : perspective oil paint, light and shadow,

mannerism-It used new sources of inspiration and subjects

Let’s study a famous painting to show all this

THE SCHOOL OF ATHENSBY RAPHAEL

Where is the painter represented?

How is this painting structured?

Vanishing point and lines

Raphaël 1453-15201453-1520

He was an Italian painter and architect

He became famous for building as an architect Sant Peter of Rome basilica

back to painting

CHARACTERScentre:

PLATO

Athenian philosopher(427-347 BC)

Avec l’une de ses œuvres

ARISTOTLEAthenian philosopher(387-327 BC)

Avec l’une de ses œuvres

Plato et Aristotle show the way to knowledge

Raphaël show knowledge is important wherever it comes from

Autour de Platon et Aristote

Socrate, philosophe

Parménide, philosophe

Diogène, philosophe

Epicure, philosophe athée (!)

Les philosophes grecs

Euclide, mathématicien

Zaratoustra, astronome

Ptolémée, astronome

Les savants

Pythagore, mathématicien, musicologue

Pythagoras

Socrates

Plato and Aristotle

Euclid

Zoroaster & Ptolemy

Raphael (back)

A new style

Renaissance architects got ispired from Roman and Greek architecture

A brand new architetural style

Coffered ceilings

Huge vaults ( voûtes)

Artists were sponsored by rich patrons

popeJulius II (1500-1513)

David by Michelangelo (1475-1564, sculpture from 1501-1504)?

Medici family ( Laurent)

Laurent de Médicis by Vasari

Centers of European Renaissance

Jan Van Eyck

Portrait of Giovanni Arnolfini

and his Wife (1434)

Northern Renaissance

La Renaissance flamande: les peintres sont influencés par l’Italie et financés par les riches marchands. Ils développent un style particulier.

Portrait of Giovanni Arnolfini and his Wife (1434)

Couple of merchands getting married

Les fruits symbolise temptation

Dogs symbolise loyalty and fidelity

Stainless mirror: virginity

BUT…

No religious symbol: weird isn’t it?

Thanks to perspective, the artist could represent his reflect in the mirror

It was a way to sign his masterpiece

OTHER ARTISTS AND CREATIONS….

David

Michelangelo created his masterpiece

David in 1504.

Sistine ChapelAbout a year after creating

David, Pope Julius II summoned Michelangelo to Rome to work on his most

famous project, the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

Creation of Eve Creation of Adam

Separation of Light and Darkness The Last Judgment

La Pieta 1499Marble Sculpture

1452-1519

Painter, Sculptor, Architect, Engineer

Genius!

Mona Lisa

Notebooks

CONCLUSION

From the 15th century to the 17th century Europeans tried to enlarge their outlook and gain more knowledge using sciences

This had many consequences: in geography, in sciences, in religion and it totally changed people’s life. This is why it can be said it was a revolution.

Humanists scholars played a huge part in this revolution, sometimes risking their life and reputation.

However, there were drawbacks too

The catholic Church found really hard to accept criticism and confrontation with sciences and many people were killed…

renaissance humanism new european outlook

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term renaissance

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new conquests

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