The Renaissance Essay

The Renaissance Essay
The Renaissance which translates roughly as a rebirth and fresh thinking which lasted from the 14th through 17th centuries attempted to reapply the
ancient intellectual learning of the Greco–Roman Civilization. The thinkers and artists of this new era differed remarkably from their medieval
counterparts. Broadly speaking, Mediaeval period was a period predominantly dominated by Christian outlook. Moreover, All of the Civilizations
regarded as 'Heirs' of Rome paid significant tribute to their respective religion. Thus, it can be safely concluded that religion and politics were
interwoven in Medieval period. The Renaissance, however, represented a dramatic transformation from the Medieval outlook. Secularism humanism
and individualism were...show more content...
However, during the Renaissance individual ideas about humanism differed. Writers and philosophers of the Renaissance time period expressed their
opinions about human nature and human's roles in the universe through their writings. Humanism (the philosophy that people are rational beings)
became quite popular during the Renaissance. The dignity and worth of the individual was emphasized. Petrarch(1304–1374) is known as the first
great humanist. Humanism gained ground in the Renaissance in part as a revival of classical learning, and such a revival included new study of
classical humanism from the Greek and Roman world. Classical humanism placed an emphasis on philosophy and codes of ethics, notably embodied in
the writings of Plato and Aristotle and many of their contemporaries. On the other hand, the humanist thinkers broke from their medieval counterparts
in their outlook. However, Unlike humanist who sought a reconciliation between Christianity and classical philosophy, Pico Della Mirandola sought
out the reconciliation of every human philosophy and every human religion with Christianity Pico argued about the capability of humanity to
encompass the whole of creation. Moreover, he stated that the individual human being can express the whole of creation and can express the whole of
the divine. He was highly obsessed with tying up the Christian outlook of the medieval period to the secularism of the Renaissance. He said that people
can
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Renaissance Art Essay
Some of the techniques they used in the Renaissance is fresco. It is obtained when pigments are combined with water and applied to wet plaster. The
pigments are absorbed into the wall when it dries. The benefit of a fresco is durability; since the painting is part of the wall, it does not wear in the
same way that a painting does if pigments are applied topically. A major disadvantage is that because the artist works with wet plaster, he needs topaint
fast before it dries. Also, colors are usually opaque, and it has a matte appearance. Tempera is when pigments are mixed with egg to produce a
durable paint, it creates Tempera. The types of colors that painters could achieve were limited, but it was the medium of choice for most artists
working in Italy until the late fifteenth century, when oil paints were adopted. Oil is a slow drying, making it easy to make modify while it dries. Oil
painting allowed artists to create translucent effects because oil could be applied lightly as a glaze. Oil paints also offered artists the ability to paint
with a big variety of colors that they could with other paint types, which allowed them to sketch the human figure, architecture, and the natural
environment in more and more realistic visual terms.
Characteristics...show more content...
It refers to the rebirth of human beings. They also discovered fine arts, music, religion, literature, technology, science, spirituality, etc. Sculptors and
painters began to improve their skills and made three–dimensional perspective and others. Martin Luther started the Protestant Reformation in Germany
at this period. In this period, the Renaissance, the Pope Paul 3 created the Council of Trent. The Church of England and Jesuit Order of Roman
Catholic Priests also were discovered in this period. Sports were very popular at this period too. Shakespeare also wrote many plays during this period,
the

The Renaissance
Renaissance is the period of European history that saw a renewed interest in the arts. The Renaissance began in 14th–century Italy and spread to the rest
of Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries. In this period, the fragmented feudal society of the Middle Ages, with its agricultural economy and
church–dominated intellectual and cultural life, was transformed into a society increasingly dominated by central political institutions, with an urban,
commercial economy and lay patronage of education, the arts, and music. The term renaissance, meaning literally "rebirth." Modern scholars have
exploded the myth that the Middle Ages were dark and dormant. The thousand years preceding the Renaissance were filled with...show more content...
Medieval Italian merchants developed commercial and financial techniques, such as bookkeeping and bills of exchange. The creation of the public
debt, a concept unknown in ancient times, allowed these cities to finance their territorial expansion through military conquest. Their merchants
controlled commerce and finance across Europe. This fluid mercantile society contrasted sharply with the rural, tradition–bound society of medieval
Europe; it was less hierarchical and more concerned with secular objectives.
The recovery and study of the classics entailed the creation of new disciplines–classical philology and archaeology, numismatics, and epigraphy–and
critically affected the development of older ones. In art, the decisive break with medieval tradition occurred in Florence about 1420 with the invention
of linear perspective, which made it possible to represent three–dimensional space on a flat surface. The works of the architect Filippo Brunelleschi and
the painter Masaccio are dazzling examples of the uses of this technique.
Donatello, who is considered the founder of modern sculpture, created the bronze David, the first life–size nude since antiquity. From the mid–15th
century on, classical form was rejoined with classical subject matter, and mythological motifs derived from literary sources adorned palaces, walls,
furniture, and plates. The

The Renaissance and Why Its Important Essay
Q: What was the Renaissance and why was it important?
The Renaissance was a radical and comprehensive change of thinking and lifestyle that took place in European culture during the 15th and 16th
centuries. The Renaissance was the reformation of many old ideas and the formation of many new, this brought many changes to Europe such as the
birth of vital subjects, such as mathematics, geometry, and algebra. As well as sciences such as chemistry and astronomy which led to technological
advancements. In my essay I will explain how the flourishing culture helped to inspire new developments in art, clashing views in the Church and
religion and the concept of multiculturalism which helped to inspire teaching and learning?s of a broader range...show more content...
Fillippo Brunelleschi is famous for such ideas and projects as the Dome in Florence and for the way he converted forms of classical architecture
according to the new spirit of his age. Durer was a brilliant painter, draftsman, and writer, though his first and probably greatest artistic impact was in
the medium of printmaking. He was most successful when he released his book which he designed, published and illustrated. It told a mythological tale
from the Apocalypse using the most beautifully crafted wood cut carvings. Leonardo Da Vinci was one of the great masters of the Renaissance, well
known as a painter, sculptor, architect, engineer, mathematician and scientist. His sincere love for knowledge and research was the basis of both his
scientific and artistic endeavours.
The Renaissance saw a dramatic change in many people?s thinking towards religion and the Church. Individualism and humanism were becoming
prominent as citizens started looking towards themselves for answers, rather than to God or Religious institutions. The spread of freethinking and
rebellion resulted in the Reformation of the Catholic Church, this led Martin Luther to question the Catholic Church and the use of indulgences. Martin
Luther was a priest of the Catholic Church, however, on a visit to Rome in 1510, Luther was conclusively shocked by how wealthy and luxuriously the
Roman Church lived. He became distressed that the

Essay about Early Renaissance Art
Art has gone through many significant developments throughout history. The most important turning point was the renaissance. Art took a huge turn
before the 1500's and even after. The Renaissance has assisted the world of art in breaking away from a classic structure and shaping it to what it is
day. Prior to this cultural rebirth, artworks were mostly not made to scale. Paintings were unrealistic and disproportionate. Religious figures seemed to
be the focus of many works. The Renaissance changed the old social context of art by introducing humanism, new themes and techniques.
The Renaissance was a time when people began to think and see things differently. It was a time for new innovations. People wanted to study the...show
more content...
These factors help explain why the Renaissance started in Italy.
Renaissance patrons wanted art that expressed life's pleasures and joy in human beauty. It needed to be more real. Art was finally taking its turn.
The use of foreshortening to create depth within art was getting better. The surroundings in art were realistic. The studies of shadow and light
began. Even shading to create depth was better. Statues expressed natural beauty. Artists began using new techniques such as frescoes. In the
middle ages, the perspective was limited to some modeling figures. Lines drawn along the edges of the withdrawing planes would go to different
points, which was done to give the viewer the sense of being in several different areas of the painting. However, in Europe, an attempt was finally
being made to be realistically rendering space, which was not exactly perfected until the Renaissance. In the Renaissance, new techniques were
invented such as One Point Perspective. It created a real sense of depth. Each of the planes going into the back of the space combined at one point
corresponding to the eye of the viewer, just as it does in life. Renaissance art was more visually accurate due to the source of funding for the arts,
revival of the Greco–Roman style, humanism and the invention of new artistic techniques.
Humanism in visual arts was a huge influencer. Renaissance Humanism centred itself on Humanity's potential for

Essay on The Early Renaissance
The Early Renaissance
Today, what is considered to be the modern times began with the Early Renaissance at the start of the 15th century. As time has progressed, things have
modified within societies to mold with the new ways of thinking for that time. Between the years of the 1400's and the 1800's this world has undergone
many changes. Focusing on Europe, the major forces of change were in politics, economics, and religion. In modern European history political effort
were supplied by the state. Early in the 15th century political warfare was the theme of everyday life. It was not until the Peace of Lodi in 1454 that
a balance of power was established and ended the hundred years war. Early in the 16th century there is a rise...show more content...
Banking was over run by the Germans. Trade in the East came to an end with the fall of Constantinople. By the end of the 16th century, economics had
shifted from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic with the Spanish discovery of the New World. With this trade shift the worldwide economy was in the
makings. In the 17th century mercantilism is very prominent. Things such as state–granted monopolies, regulated exports and imports, tariffs, custom
duties, quotas, slavery, colonial taxes, and plantation system were in full effect. By the 18th century, a supply and demand economy had produced.
Through mercantilism, state regulations lowered the living standards of workers. The every day lives that were led in modern Europe where
primarily surrounded by religious ideas. In the times of the 15th century, religion in Europe revolved around the religious beliefs of the Papal Court.
Though there were many religious battles over the Church, few doubted the Church, following its every demand. By the 16th century, many began to
challenge that of the Papal State. People felt that the beliefs and efforts of the Church had traveled way off track, and was in need of some repair.
Martin Luther began the radical attempt to fix what had gone wrong within the Papal State by posting his Ninety–five Theses upon the door of the
Wittenberg University. The outcome of Luther's efforts supplied Europe with beginnings

Dbq Essay On The Renaissance
The Renaissance was a period of renewed interest in the Classical World and new understandings. The term Renaissance means the rebirth of the
Classical world, which brought new ideas, understandings and new ways of doing things, and a progression from the Medieval way of thinking. The
traditions of Ancient Greek and Rome had a dramatic impact on the way people thought in the Renaissance. This was evident in the areas of art and
architecture, Science and the philosophy of humanism.
During the Renaissance new ideas were gained and the values and features of the Classical World were brought back through art and architecture.
Before the Renaissance began, art and architecture was done inside the church and was mostly on biblical themes, but this...show more content...
People began to value the church and religion a lot less and started to emphasize on the values of people and the world. With people enjoying life
rather than treating it as a sufferance people started to explore the Classical World, which had a significant influence on the way people thought about
the world and humans. Giannozzo Manetti says that "the world in indeed created by god, but humankind has changed and improved it", which is
saying that the world was created by god but without us humans, it wouldn't be the same nor as pleasant (1396–1459). Source B says "people began to
think more about themselves and their place in the world" and that "they became less interested in thinking about god and the church", which is
implying that the new philosophy of humanism was more about what people could achieve and the world around them rather than religious beliefs and
the church. Humanism was a new way of thinking that was influenced by the Ancient Rome and Greek civilization.
The Renaissance was a period of renewed interest in the Classical world and new understandings. The Classical World was recreated through the areas
of art and architecture, Science and the philosophy of humanism. Ancient Greek and Rome was a significant part of the new era, and with that, came
new understandings, ideas and ways of doing things, which changed the way people thought and a step forward from the medieval way of

Essay on The Renaissance
During the 1400s and 1500s in mainly Italy there was a major change that took place in all aspects of life. This was called the Renaissance and was a
movement that helped give rebirth to culture and the arts. This movement went away from the medieval times that had forced a feudalist system on its
people. The Medieval times were a dark period in European history that saw a major decline in arts and government. This declining can be attributed to
a number of different reasons. One of which was the Bubonic Plague that spread throughout Europe and Asia and killed millions of its inhabitants. This
was the final nail in the medieval coffin. Throughout these times the major focus for government and the arts were all religion oriented. The Black
...show more content...
Many of these advancements came in the form of the arts and theology as well as politics. The arts went retro so to speak and focused more on the
humanity of its subject rather than a rough interpretation of what the artist saw. The subject of the art was given a sense of personality and realism.
This had not been seen since Greek and Roman art so it was heavily inspired by these societies. Arts became vivid and celebrated and beautiful works
of art started to arise and amazing artist such as Michelangelo and DiVinci. In medieval time's arts was primarily for cathedrals and other religious
needs and the worked seemed to lack spirit but when the Renaissance began art became an expression of the world around it. Just looking at this art
you can see the vivid differences and mood of the artist that created these masterpieces. The ability to think outside the box heavily influenced these
artists and had they been alive in a feudalistic society many of these works would never have been created. Another vast improvement that the
Renaissance saw was in the form of architecture. This art form went through the peak of its craft during this time and can be seen by looking at these
amazing achievements that we still have today. Much like art, the idea of architecture went back towards a classical view of interpretation. It was
heavily influenced by the Greeks and Romans and was a huge advancement from building techniques of the

Essay on Renaissance Art
The Renaissance was a period of European history that began in 14th–century Italy and spread to the rest of Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries. In
this period, the feudal society of the Middle Ages (5th century to 15th century) was transformed into a society dominated by central political
institutions, with an urban, commercial economy and patronage of education, the arts, and music. The term renaissance, literally meaning "rebirth,"
was first employed in 1855 by French historian Jules Michelet (Paolucci 14). Swiss historian Jakob Burckhardt, in his classic work The Civilization of
the Renaissance in Italy (1860), defined the Renaissance as the period between Italian painters Giotto and Michelangelo (Paolucci 18). Burckhardt
...show more content...
Classical manuscripts such as the dialogues of Greek philosopher Plato and the works of the Greek dramatists were rediscovered and critically edited
for the first time. These activities and other humanistic studies and artistic endeavors were supported by leading families such as Medici of Florence,
and also by papal Rome and the doges of Venice (Cole 60). From the mid–15th century on, classical form was rejoined with classical subject matter,
and mythological scenes adorned palaces, walls, and plates (Cole 61). The Renaissance ideals of harmony and proportion culminated in the works of
Italian artists Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo in the 16th century.
Progress was made in medicine, anatomy, mathematics, and especially astronomy, with the innovative work of Nicolaus Copernicus of Poland, Tycho
Brahe of Denmark, Johannes Kepler of Germany, and Galileo of Italy (Gilbert 36). Geography was transformed by new knowledge derived from
explorations. The invention of printing in the 15th century revolutionized the dissemination of knowledge. The use of gunpowder transformed warfare,
and in political thought, Renaissance theorists such as Machiavelli contended that the central task of government was to maintain security and peace,
and not preserve liberty and justice (Ackerman 122). Renaissance clergy patterned their behavior after the

Essay on The European Renaissance
After the great advances of what is now ancient Greece and Rome, also known as the "classics"; Europe fell into a period of darkness. Within it,
learning was suppressed and knowledge didn't advance. However, by a turn into the 1400's, there was a "rebirth" of learning: the Renaissance. The
Renaissance was marked by an intense awaking in the visible world and in the knowledge derived from the experiences rather than religion and wise
tales. It turned away from the abstract speculations and interest in life after death which is characterized in the Middle Ages. Although Christianity was
not forgotten completely, the holy culture of the Middle Ages were largely rejected.
The interest in classical literature began in the Middle Ages. The late...show more content...
In the era of the Renaissance, William Shakespeare emerged as a great playwright and poet. However, it would be until centuries later that he would
be famous for the impact of his literary work. Shakespeare is recognized for his plays, that depicted the immense social, ethical, and political issues of
his own age. His literary contributions were an essential measure to England's transformation. Shakespeare's production of the plays Hamlet, Macbeth,
Romeo and Juliet, and A Midsummer Night's Dream were just among many he produced. In addition to his plays, he also composed over a hundred
sonnets. William Shakespeare came from humble origins. He was born in the quaint market town of Stratford–Upon–Avon, which is ninety miles
northwest of London. His birth date still remains a mystery, but he first came to public notice on April 26, 1564; on the day his baptism was first
recorded in the Parish Church of Stratford–Upon–Avon. However, his birthday is traditionally on April 23, 1564. He married Anne Hathaway and had
several children. His plays reflect many of the questions that were being asked during the Renaissance Movement. In his play Macbeth, the question
arises of whether fate is created by God or if individuals have the power of free–will. This question challanged the archaic view that an idividual's life
is pre–destined and all of his/ her decisions are made. The tragic hero,Macbeth encounters three witches, who

A1. Earlier Historical Art Period
In the early 1300s, Europeans began to shed the dark and oppressing mindsets of the Middle Ages. This sparked a revolution that would begin in Italy
and spread throughout Europe, and is known today as the Renaissance. The word Renaissance literally (and fittingly) means 'rebirth' – making it a
fitting title for a period where interest in learning, philosophy, and the classical arts were 'reborn'.
Where the Middle Ages took the meaning out of the arts – using paintings and sculptures for nothing more than decorations in houses of religion, for
instance – the Renaissance gave it back. Artists began to experiment and came up with new and original ideas instead of acting solely on old ones. As
people saw...show more content...
Churches were no longer the only beautiful buildings, as people took more interest in secular buildings such as libraries and theatres.
Also influenced by the classical world was literature. Religion was forced onto people in the Middle Ages, but when the Renaissance began, those
people started to look back on the philosophies of the ancient Romans and Greeks. Interest in humanism – the belief that one can rely on intellect and
common sense instead of a god – soared to new heights. Respect grew for the classical authors, and often Renaissance authors would copy the themes
and styles in classical literature.
A2. Later Historical Art Period
The eighteen hundreds saw the birth of Romanticism, a period of time where emotion was thought to be more important than reason. The preceding
period, called the Enlightenment, had put heavy emphasis on thought and intellect and rationalization. In response, Romanticism strove to put that
same emphasis on feelings and emotional response. Romantics turned to nature for true beauty and for means of escape, relied on intuition and insight,
admired the lower classes for their folk cultures, and stressed imagination and creativity. They believed that civilization as a whole only corrupted, and
did what they could to rebel against social conventions.
Literature, poetry especially, emphasized the importance of nature and childhood – two things they believed brought them closer

Renaissance Essay
The Renaissance was an era of change in human thought. It was characterized by a new philosophy, which included the rise of humanism,
individualism, and secularism. Writers and artists began to focus on the individual man and his potential. The Renaissance movement began in the
Italian city–states, especially Florence, and spread northward toward the rest of Europe. The Renaissance was the rebirth of new ideas in all aspects of
life such as: science, technology, classical art, and education. A variety of factors led contributed to the beginnings of the Renaissance. One main
factor which led to the start of the Renaissance was the Crusades. The Crusades was a series of wars by Western European Christians to recapture the
Holy Land...show more content...
This reformation changed the corrupt practices of the Catholic Church and formed many other religious sects in addition to Catholicism.
The Renaissance also had a great effect on literature and education. After Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press there was a greater thirst
for reading books all over Europe. Because Gutenberg's press could produce books quickly and with relatively little effort, bookmaking became
much less expensive, allowing more people to buy reading material. In the Middle Ages, books had been costly and educational books were rare;
only the wealthy had been regular readers and owners of books. However due to the Renaissance, the educated middle classes, could now afford
books and they demanded works in their own languages. Furthermore, readers wanted a greater variety of books. Therefore, all kinds of books such
as almanacs, textbooks, romances, poetry and especially Bibles were all published at this time. As the demand for books grew, the book trade began to
thrive throughout Europe, and industries related to it, such as papermaking, increased as well. The result of all of this was a more literate nation and a
stronger economy.
The Arts also flourished as well, during the Renaissance as people created new techniques and discovered new subjects to paint and sculpt. The most
obvious changes during Renaissance times are seen in the paintings and sculptures.

Essay On Northern Renaissance
Development of Northern Renaissance
The Renaissance in Northern Europe took place during the fifteenth and sixteenth century. The word renaissance is a French derivative for "rebirth" as
this era brought about some of the greatest changes in Northern Europe as well as the methodology artist used throughout their work. Techniques such
as engraving sculptures and oil paintings were primitive. In this era, decorative arts that portrayed everyday life were very influential. This can be
seen in many oil pieces where artists would display the wealth of their subjects by meticulously arranging objects, paying great attention to detail. Not
only did this era change the face of art, but it also came out with inventions such as the printing press and international trade. Those are just a few
examples of why the northern renaissance was a great turning point in history. The northern renaissance took off after the...show more content...
It is unknown what the exact meaning of this portrait is, but there are many ideas. What we do know is this couple is already married and the male
depicted in the photo is an Italian merchant. In looking at the dГ©cor and their clothing, it is known that these two subjects are wealthy. This can
also be concluded due to the oranges on the left side of the portrait near the window as oranges were expensive in this era. If you focus on the mirror
in the back of the room, you can see that there are visitors. Around the picture frame is the passion of the Christ. Note the attention to detail in this
portrait. Van Eyck used a technique in this oil painting that hadn't been used by creating such voluminous and rich colors by applying many layers of
thin paint to get the colors you can see in this portrait. This technique is what made the colors glow as beautifully as they do. There are so many
different aspects in this photo that gives it so many layers and meaning, and that is what renaissance art was

The Renaissance
Would it not be nice if we could go back in time to experience the Renaissance for ourselves? Being able to walk down the streets of Florence, Italy
and experience this time period that not only gave rebirth to old values and artistic ways of statement, but also were a period of great individualism.
(make this into a sentence…add a subject and a verb to make it flow). Indeed, Renaissance was a period of great individualism based on old
traditional values.
The Renaissance had its start in Florence Italy and was inspired by the values of ancient Greece and ancient Rome. During the Renaissance, people
from various levels of society began to study classical literature and art....show more content...
These people were all individuals each of whom made great contributions in their field by understanding and learning from the past and bringing that
into their works.
Leonardo da Vinci is a good example of the perfect personification of the Renaissance belief in man's power to shape his own destiny and to shape the
world as an individual. He was born as the illegitimate son of a Tuscan village notary and a 16–year–old peasant girl, and was said to have died in the
arms of the King of France. Throughout his life, Leonardo da Vinci accomplished many things as both a scientist and an artist. One of his greatest
works is The Last Supper. It represents the theme of Jesus sharing a last meal with his disciples telling them that one of them will betray him. The
interesting part here is that da Vinci brings a classical theme to life, but he does it using an experimental technique that unfortunately was doomed from
the beginning and caused the

Medieval Europe And The Renaissance Essay
1.Renaissance – The Renaissance was a time in which Medieval Europe transformed into more modern times. Renaissance means rebirth in French.
Medieval Europe had been fragmented and feudal with an agricultural economy, and the church controlled its thought and culture. During the
Renaissance, Europe grew national consciousness and political centralization. An urban economy based on organized commerce and capitalism and a
secular view on life emerged. The Renaissance showed the birth of humanism, which revives the use of classical writings for learning. Materialism
also emerged during this time, people started to focus more on themselves. And individualism and skepticism also came about. Banking was a great
supporter of the Renaissance, Italian bankers were bankers of the pope and all trade was going through them. Cities rise in importance and farms get
closed off and are owned privately which moves toward a market economy. The Renaissance was not an economic boom because the advancements
were happening in different places, at different times and at different rates. Literature was very important during this time. Literature was starting to
be written in the vernacular and the German printing press was developed. More and more people became patrons of the arts and art became more
for the people than for religion. Science was slowly changing and being slightly more accepted even though it was still morally wrong to most to
believe that earth was not at the center of the world

Renaissance : The Renaissance
(H) For the world to change, people need to change. This is exactly what happened from AD 1400–AD 1600, which we now call the Renaissance.
(O)The fall of the Roman Empire lead to the 'Dark Ages' where people began to decline any new changes. Then, in the beginning of the fifteenth
century, people began to change their outlook and look toward the Ancient world of Greece and Rome with admiration. This lead to a 'rebirth' of
greatness, the Renaissance. (T)The Renaissance brought a brand–new way of thinking, new inventions and art based off of ancient designs, and major
developments in the science, math and technology world.
(M)Gradually, people began to enjoy reading and studying the old Greek and Latin books. This opened their eyes to a whole new world. They began
to slowly add Greek and Roman designs to everything, from their art to their architecture. Their interests were redirected in a happy and efficient life
on Earth. (E) The fall of the church was a great contributor in forming the spirit of individualism. (A) Christianity restricted individual expression and
wanted unmovable faith from everyone. (E) Humanism then came into play, where people realized and understood the great potential of each
individual. (A) People began to act and think for themselves and bringing to life their own personal creativity. (T) This new way of thinking and the
bringing back of the classical world lead to grand new inventions and art that eventually turned the tables.
(M) Art and

A 12th Century Renaissance Essay
Renaissance is defined as "the activity, spirit, or time of great revival of art, literature, and learning." Was there a twelfth–century renaissance? This is a
question that still beckons an answer, and is often a topic of debate among modern historians. By definition, one can break it down: Was there a spirit
of revival of a classical theme regarding the subjects mentioned above? Surely there was, and with author R.N. Swanson's "The Twelfth–century
Renaissance" as a guide, we can investigate just what that revival involved, broken into the subjects of interest. It is often hard to disassociate the word
"renaissance" from the 14th–17th centuries, and names like Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo often spring to mind. However, we shouldn't...show
more content...
A pattern seems to be emerging in time with the twelfth century and ideas still proposed today. This stems from the12th century trend of the revival of
Roman law. An example of our modern day legal system can be found from this time: "Growing procedural complexity and formalityВ…encouraged
the emergence of legal specialists, as judges, and as lawyers employable for their knowledge. Greater emphasis on record keeping, on precedent and
rules, also aided the transition" (Swanson 80). This is indicative of the world of modern law, stemming from the renaissance of the twelfth century and
its revival of Roman traditions.
With law comes politics, and "By 1200, although politics were still primarily about lordship, ideological and theoretical interpretations and approaches
were becoming increasingly influential" (Swanson 82). The evolution of political thought and the processes of the actual installed governments of the
time mainly stemmed from the new practice of record keeping. Financial records, administrative records, and law came to the forefront with the change
from memory to written record. This also coincided with the change to a cash economy, perhaps the change that broke the flood gates on keeping
written records in the first place, and revolutionary in its own right. Greatest of all the governmental changes was the slow shift to monarchism, as "the
expansion and multiplication of administrations allowed the hierarchies of rule to become more formal"

Essay on The Renaissance
The Renaissance
Due to the work of Byzantine and Islamic scholars, ancient Greek science and scholarship found their way into the West. Europeans had been separated
from their classical cultural heritage for almost eight centuries. No other world civilization had experienced such a disjunction from its cultural past.
There were many events in history prior to this that led to the unfolding of this classic revival. Between 1300 and 1500, education had become far more
accessible, their was the birth of humanism, and the invention of the printing press. Many prominent men influenced this time: Dante, Chaucer,
Erasmus, Calvin, and Leonardo. The later Middle Ages were thus a period of growth and creativity leading into the renaissance....show more content...
Chaucer wrote several highly impressive works, but his masterpiece is unquestionably the Canterbury Tales, dating from the end of his career.
Chaucer's stories are told in sparkling verse instead of prose, and they are recounted by people of all different classes– from a chivalric knight to a
dedicated university student to a thieving miller. Each character tells a story that is particularly illustrative of his or her own occupation and outlook
on the world. By this device Chaucer is able to create a highly diverse "human comedy." His range is frank, witty, and lusty as the Italian, he is
sometimes more profound. ~'
Desiderius Erasmus, Dutch humanist and theologian, was known as "the prince of the Christian humanist." Erasmus was extraordinarily learned and
witty. He excelled in irony and created dazzling verbal effects, and coined puns. Erasmus propagated what he called the "philosophy of Christ." He
published three different categories: clever satire meant to show people the error of their ways, serious moral treaties meant to offer guidance toward
proper Christian behavior, and scholarly editions of basic Christian texts. The most widely read of Erasmus work, is from the first category– The
Praise of Folly. In which he pilloried scholastic pedantry and dogmatism as well as the ignorance and superstitious credulity of the masses.
A twenty–six–year–old French Protestant named John Calvin, who had fled to the Swiss city of Basel to escape

Essay On The Renaissance
The Renaissance was a period of a drastic change in European history. Renaissance, meaning "re–birth", was a time of intellectual excitement, when art
and literature grew and groundbreaking scientific developments were made. The time before the Renaissance was commonly named as the Middle
Ages which lasted from 500 C.E to 1350. The European culture started to change when peasants started to be more self–sufficient, movement called
humanism started, and so one. This starts to leads to the of question "How did the Renaissance change European's perspective of the world and
themselves?". There may have been many ways of how the European's perspective of themselves and others changed, but one of the clearest evidence
of the outbreak of the Renaissance...show more content...
He made a theory of the universe that was adopted to many of the scholars of the Middle Ages. This theory was called "The geocentric universe of
Ptolemy" Based on this, his theory meant that the universe was revolving around the Earth, and Earth was the center of everything. This rtheory was
also strongly agreed by the Catholic churches and popes of the time. Later on, the polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus lived from 1473–1543. This
was almost 150 years after the Middle Ages ended. Based on his mathematics, he developed a very different understanding of the universe from
Ptolemy. His theory was called "The heliocentric universe of Copernicus." According to Copernicus' Theory, the sun is the center and the earth is going
around it. The idea of Copernicus' theory was upsetting to the church. What explains this is the church has been backing up Ptolemy's theory and
declaring it to everyone. So when Copernicus brought up this idea with detail and mathematical backup, people started to doubt the church, and what
they have been saying. Even though the catholic churches had respect for Copernicus and his idea, till a wave of Protestant opposition led the church
to ban Copernicus' idea, Ways Copernicus influenced the way people thought about a man's place in the universe was it brought up ideas like orbit,
revolve,

The Renaissance Essay

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