Unit 3: The Renaissance
1500-1660
The Renaissance
The Renaissance began in Italy at the beginning of the 14th century. The Renaissance began as the rebirth of scholarship based on classical learning and philosophy. This movement sparked a gradual but lasting change in the World View of all Europeans and lead to a continual pattern of learning, growth, change, and progress that was almost nonexistent in the Middle Ages.
Middle Ages vs. The Renaissance
Middle Ages: Age of Faith
- Produced: Theologians
- Thomas Aquinas - World View: Theocentric (God centered). |
Renaissance: Age of Science
- Produced: Scientists, Philosophers, Artists, Writers
- Galileo - Copernicus - Sir Isaac Newton - Leonardo da Vinci - Michelangelo - William Shakespeare - Milton - Machiavelli World View: Homocentric (human centered) |
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages were concerned with studying theology, the nature of God, and how man can achieve salvation. What was being read and written were largely religious texts. Think of how many of Chaucer's pilgrims in The Canterbury Tales were members of the Church.
The Middle Ages is considered an age of faith because of the nature and power of the Church. Mass was conducted in Latin and the majority of the population was illiterate, so they had to believe based on what was told them. The Bible was in Latin, and biblical commentaries were in Latin, so an average person could never study the Bible on their own, they had to take the Church's word. The Catholic Church was also the only church that covered all of Europe, making Church leaders very powerful. The doctrine that a confessions and absolution of sin by the the power of the Church meant that the Church decided the the fate of a person's soul. The fear of hell due to miracle plays and the condemnation of the Church left even lowly priests very powerful in their community. The Pope then had power over each and every King in Europe. The people of the Middle Ages had to trust the Church to properly educate them and provide them with the means of reaching heaven.
With the powerful positions of the clergy and the blind faith of the people, corruption was a major problem within the Church. In The Canterbury Tales, only the Parson was a godly man. All of the other members of the Church were either corrupt or had reached success for reasons other than their heart for the lost. These problems in the Church paved the way for the two major events that ushered in the Renaissance: Modern Science and the Protestant Reformation.
The Middle Ages is considered an age of faith because of the nature and power of the Church. Mass was conducted in Latin and the majority of the population was illiterate, so they had to believe based on what was told them. The Bible was in Latin, and biblical commentaries were in Latin, so an average person could never study the Bible on their own, they had to take the Church's word. The Catholic Church was also the only church that covered all of Europe, making Church leaders very powerful. The doctrine that a confessions and absolution of sin by the the power of the Church meant that the Church decided the the fate of a person's soul. The fear of hell due to miracle plays and the condemnation of the Church left even lowly priests very powerful in their community. The Pope then had power over each and every King in Europe. The people of the Middle Ages had to trust the Church to properly educate them and provide them with the means of reaching heaven.
With the powerful positions of the clergy and the blind faith of the people, corruption was a major problem within the Church. In The Canterbury Tales, only the Parson was a godly man. All of the other members of the Church were either corrupt or had reached success for reasons other than their heart for the lost. These problems in the Church paved the way for the two major events that ushered in the Renaissance: Modern Science and the Protestant Reformation.
2 Major Occurrences to End the Middle Ages:
Background Information:
Renaissance: Rebirth
The Renaissance is the rebirth of classical learning and scholarship; but as scholarship grew, so did the realization of human potential for development. This resulted in the rebirth of the human spirit. This realization lead to new discoveries in art, literature, religion, science, and philosophy.
Renaissance: Also an Age of Discovery and Colonization
• Vasco de Balboa: First to View the Pacific Ocean
• Sir Francis Drake: Sailed around the world for England.
• Hernando Cortes: conquered Mexico for Spain, established Catholicism, and destroyed the Aztec civilization
• Jacques Cartier: explored Canada for France
Renaissance: Also an Age of Discovery and Colonization
• Vasco de Balboa: First to View the Pacific Ocean
• Sir Francis Drake: Sailed around the world for England.
• Hernando Cortes: conquered Mexico for Spain, established Catholicism, and destroyed the Aztec civilization
• Jacques Cartier: explored Canada for France
Art
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Literature
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Philosophy
Explorers
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Science
Religion
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The British Monarchy during the Renaissance
Religious Turmoil and the Church of England
• Henry VIII needs a Son: A son would make for an uncontested heir to the throne. Plus, Henry only has one child, Mary. Having more children would increase the likely hood of his line remaining on the throne.
• Catherine to beyond childbearing years: Catherine is older than Henry. She has delivered other children, but only Mary has lived. It is rumored that she cannot have children any more. • He asks the pope to have his marriage annulled on the basis that her marriage with Arthur was consummated. Historically, it is unlikely that Catherine and Arthur consummated their marriage, being that Arthur was deathly ill. Catherine remained adamant that she was a virgin until she married Henry. Henry asked to have an annulment granted by the church stating that the marriage was not holy before God, making it illegitimate. He believed the marriage to be cursed by God, the curse being that Catherine could not bear him a son. This separation would be a disgrace to Catherine, and her father the King of Spain. It would also mean that Princess Mary would be an illegitimate child and no longer a true heir to the throne. • The Pope Refuses • The Catholic Church is weakened after the Protestant Reformation. • Henry overthrows papal jurisdiction, • He marries Anne Boleyn, • and in 1534, with the help of Parliament, he: • splits from the Catholic Church • Makes himself the head of the Church of England • Makes England a Protestant Nation |