RENAISSANCE

 The term Renaissance literally means rebirth. The name is usually given to the period around 1300 AD when there was new interest in the art and literature of the ancient Greeks and Romans.

The Renaissance stood for creative and adventurous spirit which touched all field of human thought and activity. Italy was the birthplace of the Renaissance.

Causes

1.          Original thinkers – Thinkers and philosophers like Thomas Aquinas and Roger Bacon helped in the progress of scientific thought. They stressed on independent thinking, spirit of enquiry, reasoning and scientific investigation.

2.          Crusades – The crusades brought the people of the west into contact with the people of the east. The ideas of the east stirred the people’s imagination and this widened their outlook on life and destroyed blind faith and dogmatic attitude.

3.          Decline of Feudalism – gave a great relief to the peasants, craftsmen and traders and developed in them a spirit of thinking

4.          Free towns – the decline of feudalism encouraged trade and led to the establishment of free towns. Rome, Florence, Milan and Venice – Italian cities – had grown into popular centers or trade and commerce. Freedom encouraged thinking and spirit of adventure.

5.          Geographical exploration – the geographical explorations and discoveries during this period brought the people of Western Europe into contact with the east and broadened their outlook and helped them give up blind faith.

6.          Invention of the Printing Press – the invention of the printing press by Gutenberg from Germany, encouraged interest in the writing of books and reading. Printing made books cheaper and were available to more people. The Gutenberg Bible was the first book to be printed in Europe. The printing press helped spread knowledge.

7.          Development of Science – The inventions of Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, Newton, not only increased man’s knowledge but also broadened the mental outlook of the people.  The work of the renaissance scientists based on learning by questioning, observation and experimentation gave a severe blow to old beliefs, blind faith, dogmatic attitude and superiority of the church.

8.          The fall of Constantinople – Constantinople was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. The Turks captured Constantinople and cut off this trade route between Europe and the East. They also burnt down the library that contained valuable manuscripts and Rome became the new centre of art and learning.

9.          Spread of Humanism – the Medieval scholars paid great attention to theological questions and subjects and laid great stress on future life. Later writers stress the study of present life concerning man, his nature and interests.

10.      Cooperation of Kings, Popes, Nobles and Wealthy people – kings, popes, nobles and wealthy people patronized the renaissance movement. Wealthy people began to buy antiques and invited artists to decorate their homes. They also encouraged art, literature and music.

 

RENAISSANCE LITERATURE

The beginning of the Renaissance can be traced to the writings of a number of scholars, poets, philosophers – called the Humanists. Humanism was the philosophy or attitude which, makes concern with man and his life on earth its central theme and has faith and confidence in the unlimited capacities of man to develop himself. The outstanding Humanist scholars who contributed immensely to the growth of the Renaissance literature were Dante, Petrach, Boccacio, Erasmus, Machiavelli, etc.

Dante – was an Italian poet. He wrote the epic poem Divine Comedy which describes a dream journey through hell, purgatory and paradise with the purpose of opening to its readers a vision to direct one from wretchedness to blessedness. The poem was a criticism of the way people behaved in Dante’s own time.

Petrarch – poet who criticized the society of his times especially its system of education.

 

RENAISSANCE ARTISTS

The Renaissance Spirit flourished in Italy in the works of Leonardo da Vinci, Michaelangelo and Raphael. They were commissioned to produce works of art by Popes and members of the Medici family.

Leonardo da Vinci – His portrait of a woman generally known as Monalisa whose unfathomable brooding smile has become a symbol of mysterious charm is considered a masterpiece.

‘The Last Supper’ one of his most famous pictures – is a scene depicting living drama exhibiting the freedom and daring of the new age. According to some art critics this is probably the world’s greatest painting.

Michelangelo – he was a talented sculptor. The statue of David in Florence is a masterpiece.

The Pieta - bring out deep emotion (realism) of the virgin seated, holding across her knees the crucified Christ.

His greatest work is the painting of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. (work undertaken under Pope Julius in 1508). He decorated the ceiling in nine panels drawing the subjects from Christian mythology but giving it an intense human interpretation. His panels include – the Creation of Man, The Last Judgment, the Fall of Man.

RENAISSANCE SCIENTISTS 

Copernicus – propounded the Heliocentric Theory stating that the sun is the center of the universe and the earth rotates on its axis daily and revolves round the sun annually. He was opposed by religious scholars who could not accept his new theory because it did not agree with the Bible. His treatise was banned by the church in 1616 as being false and dangerous.

Galileo Galilei – constructed telescopes to observe the sun, stars, character of the moon and discovered Jupiter’s satellites. He was a firm believer in Copernicus’ Heliocentric Theory, but he was forced by the Inquisition to recant in 1633.

Effects

The renaissance in Europe marked the end of the middle Ages and heralded the dawn of the Modern Age. It revolutionized mans thoughts and ideas. 

1.          End of Blind Faith – people began to question the teaching of the church, its dogmas and rituals. They began to attach great importance to worldly life.

2.          Scientific outlook – in the Middle Ages people believed in superstitions, supernaturalism and mysteries. The renaissance developed in them a critical and scientific outlook.

3.          Weakening of the Church – In the Middle Ages the church dominated all spheres of life. Now the people began to question the authority of the church. This weakened the church considerably.

4.          Development of Humanism – people were now more interested in man, his interests and his life in this world.

5.          Spread of Education and Literature – with the invention of the printing press books became cheap and easily available. Schools, colleges and universities were opened in various places, which helped in the spread of education and knowledge. It also led to the growth of vernacular languages and literature.

6.          Encouragement of Arts and Science – the renaissance encouraged the study of different sciences and led to many inventions and discoveries.

7.          New geographical discoveries – the renaissance created a spirit of adventure and instilled enthusiasm in the minds of the people. This led to great explorations and discovery of new lands.

8.          Development of trade and commerce – contact with the east led to the promotion of trade and industry. This resulted in increase in the national income and rise of middle class.

9.          Reformation – The spirit of enquiry made people question the authority of the church. This led to a revolt against the evils in the church, thus paving the way for the reformation.