This document provides an overview of humanism during the Renaissance era. It defines humanism as an intellectual movement that focused on education, classical learning, and the dignity of man. Key aspects discussed include the emphasis on secularism and reason over religion, the influence of classical Greek and Roman thinkers, and the focus on man as an individual. The document also examines the rise of humanism through important figures like Petrarch and Erasmus, and how it spread and took on different forms in places like Florence, Rome, and England.

1. TOPIC: HUMANISM IN RENAISSANCE ERA
AUTHOR: SHAHAN AHMED ID: 2013168042
NORTH SOUTH UNIVERSITY,DHAKA, BANGLADESH
Mail: shahan.ahmed@northsouth.edu
“The essence of humanism consisted in a new and vital perception of the dignity of man as a
rational being apart from theological determination and in further nature in the plenitude of
intellectual and moral freedom” -------------Syonds 1898
WHAT IS HUMANISM?
Humanism is one of the most significant features of Renaissance Era. Now there is a question
that what the word means “HUMANISM”.
In a short words, we can say that Humanism is basically “Intellectual and liberal movement that
focused on education and the classics.”
During the Elizabethan Age, which is called the Golden age, the Renaissance scholar revived the
knowledge of the Greek language and give birth to a new culture that is called “HUMANISM”.
Basically it is an old idea from Ancient Greece and Rome. This idea was based on the Socratic
and Platonic ideas of observation and reasoning.
BASE IDEA OF HUMANISM
Though Humanism is basically an old idea and that idea was “Man, not God, was the center of
the universe”. All the Renaissance people gave importance to their human life. They start to
believe that man controls his own destiny. They try to believe that man is the best and above all,
there is nothing over them. They rely on that man can learn about themselves and understand this
beautiful world by observation and reason without God’s help. Basically this consideration
helped to spark a new age of secular learning and the development of early modern schools and
universities such as Oxford and Cambridge. This unwanted and awkward conspiracy made many
to question both governments and the institutional Church on that time.
“HUMANITIAS” THE ORIGIN OF THE WORD HUMANISM
The term humanism is complex but enlightening. As the word “humanismus”, it was engaged by
German scholar in 19th century. They designated the Renaissance emphasis on Classical studies
in their education system. The late 15th century, the German educators purposed the endorsed
these studies as “umanisti” for the professors or students of classical literature. “umanisti” word
come from studia humanitatis which was a course of Classical studies in 15th century and
consisted of grammar, poetry, rhetoric, history and moral philosophy.

2. All in all, the forms of Renaissance humanism are defined by itself and straining toward this
ideal. No discussion of humanism, therefore, can have validity without an understanding
of humanitas.

3. STARTING AND SPARED
In the opinion of the majority of scholars, it began in late-14th-century Italy, came to maturity in
the 15th century, and spread to the rest of Europe after the middle of that century. Humanism
then became the dominant intellectual movement in Europe in the 16th century.
(Oxfordbibelography, n.d.) In England, the root of Renaissance is “Humanism” which means
that by Humanism, Renaissance was established in England. During the 14th century, humanism
strengthened, diversified, and spread, with Florence remaining at its epicenter. The three figures
who were most critical to the rise of the humanist movement during this period were Petrarch,
Boccaccio, and Salutati.
FACTORS OF SPREADING
There are some factors works to this spreading such
as-
Journeys: This was very easy and permitted to
Exchange of idea between intellectuals from different
countries. So that they can easy move on from one
place to another place for this purpose.
Academies: This was founded by the Renaissance
and for that they can spread the knowledge about
classic culture. So that it helped them to explore a lot.
Invention of the printing press: They started
circulation that books could be produced a greater
number and the price should be low. So that it was a great step for them and this was much better
idea. The printing press was invented in around 1448 by Gutenberg, a German goldsmith who
perfected Chinese printing techniques by using moveable metallic type for each letter. Which
could be reused.
Invention of
the printing
process
Academies
Journeys

4. BASIC PRINCIPALS OF HUMANISM
There are a lot of principles of humanism
which helped to give the movement a unique
character and would shape its future
development. Now I am trying express the
major 5 principles which are: Classism,
Secularism, Realism, Critical Scrutiny,
Individual and Man and at the last Active
virtue.
Classicism: It means the interest in Greek. The Greek as we know where the pioneer of the
philosophy and there were the Greek of men were rational being as with they believe that man is
the major of everything that humanism is provides the basis for the understanding of everything
that human mind that critical thinking. They are the most aspects of life and credit moves in
producing Cicero and his writing contemporaries which were ultimately circuit in humanistic
education.
Secularism: Humanism has a philosophy that was a reaction against medieval religion, taxes
and academic philosophy. Under the impact of humanism, the humanist philosophers' believed
that there was time to separate religion from daily lives. That tried to rescue and from the
clutches of faith and, the main idea of humanism was that there should be no religion interface
into day to day working of human beings that they should be free.
Realism: Early human is a share in part of realism that rejected by traditional assumption and
aimed in instead at the objective analysis of experience. The efficient time analysis is the people
there and, the humanist and, we owe the modern social science that they use what we now find
something very commonly. Their credit that they changed human words and problems of life and
later information of all the modern science.
Critical Scrutiny: I think that by focusing on reason and with focus on realism, the human
being was started critically about whatever was happening and they tried to find the relation of
cause and what was happening in the earth and daily life. After a while, humanistic realism made
to order a comprehensively critical attitude. At least in the secular world, the production of early
humanism constituted a manifesto of independence from all preconceptions and all inherited
programs. The same critical self-reliance shown by Salutati in his textual emendations and
Boccaccio in his interpretations of myth was evident in almost the whole range of humanistic
endeavor. It was cognate with a new specificity, a profound concern with the precise details of
perceived phenomena that took hold across the arts and the literary and historical disciplines and
would have profound effects on the rise of modern science. The increasing prominence of
PrinciplesClassicism
Secularism
Realism
Critical
Scrutiny Concern with
detail
Individual
and Man
Active
Virtue

5. mathematics as an artistic principle and academic discipline was a testament to this
development. (Britannica, n.d.)
INDIVIDUAL AND MAN: The most significant impact f humanism and Renaissance
was the discovery of man as an individual. When we call a man as an individual, it means that-
the man has an agency, the man has the initiator of action, the man is rational and capable of
different thinking. He does not need any help or solves his or her problem. He can use his reason
and logic to find the solution to facing difficulties.
ACTIVE VIRTUE: On my opinion, giving emphasis on virtual action as the goal of life
was the founding principle of humanism and it exert a strong influence throughout the courses of
the movement continuously. After a while, humanism would boarded and diversify the theme of
action virtue. Machiavelli saw action not only as the goal of virtue but also as the basis for
wisdom. Castiglione developed in his idea courtier a psychological model for active virtue,
stressing moral awareness as a key element in just action. (Britannica, n.d.)
Endorsement of active virtue, as will be shown, would also characterize the work of English
humanities from Sir Thomas Elyot to Jhon Milton. Now a day, the importance of this principle
can be shown in modern active virtue.
RISE OF HUMANISM BY THOSE HANDS
 Petrarch
o Francesco Petrarch (1304-1374)
o Petrarch has been called the father of “Italian Humanism”.
o Belief: Classical; writings as moral guidance that could improve humanity.
o Blended it with Cristian thought (became more secular again later)
o He was not only a poet but also a Greek scholar and greatly impressed by the Greek
learning.
 Machiavelli:
o He is from Italy. He was a political thinker. He believed in unfair means in politics.
o He wrote a very famous book “The Prince (1513).
o His famous quote is “Everything is fair in war and politics”
o He exclude morality from politics and he believed in strong prince and state.
o He adopted secular attitude towards politics and he brought change in politics.
 Sir Thomas More:
o He was from England and he was a politician, scholar and parliamentarian.
o He wrote a very famous book “Utopia”. Which was written in 2 Part. 1st
Part was
written in 1515 and 2nd
part was in 1516. It was in Latin language.
o Utopia was a satire on the Government in which he gives the picture of the book.
o The idea of Utopia is based on Plato’s republic.

6.  Erasmus:
o He was from Holland and he started his career from Church.
o During the time he lives of Priests were becoming corrupt.
o Hi famous book was “The Praise of Folly”. He was respected by ancient writes too.
o He has been considered the central figure or person in Humanism because he kept
Humanism from place to place.
 John Colet
o He was a Christian humanist.
o He saw humanism as a way for change. I that for him, majority of Renaissance were
in Cristian and it spread to Northern Part.
o He use Bible as guide through life and wanted to restore Christianity.
o He was English scholar, and Dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.
 Leonardo
o He was a painter, scientist, also humanist.
o He believe that every individual possess potentialities, but need proper environment
to express his potentialities.
o His ideas were one of the most dominant ideas in Renaissance.
o He respected the ancient writers but he has no more appeal for nature that is a guide.
 John Wyclif is the morning star in the sky of “Humanism”.
 Erasmus and Colet are regarded as the innovators of the Humanism Movement.
 The others are Niccolo Machiavelli, Francesco Guicciardini, Rudolphus Argricola, Sir
Thomas More, Francis Bacon, Lefebvre d’Etapies, Michel Montaigne, Francois Rabelais.
Humanistic Motives:
1) The Humanist turned away from monastic life and concentrated on the immediately
perceptible values of human and nature.
2) The Humanist turned to ancient Greek and Roman writers for guidance.
3) The Humanist were not anti-religious but they were against the evil practices of the
church and wanted to remove them or reform.
4) There is a fusion of classic and Christian thoughts in humanism.
5) The Humanists worked for the promotion and advancement of art and literature.
Humanistic Ideas:
1) There are no supernatural beings.
2) The material universe id the only things that exist.
3) Science provides the only reliable source of knowledge about this universe.
4) We only lives this life- there is no after- life and no such thing as reincarnation.
5) Human beings can live ethical and fulfilling lives without religious beliefs.

7. DomenenceofHumanism
Civic Humanism
Florentine Humanism
Roman Humanism
Venitian Humanism
Italian Humanism
German Humanism
Franch Humanism
Spenish Humanism
English Humanism
Bablical Humanism
Rhetonic Humanism
Pedagogical Humanism
6) Human beings derive their moral code from the lessons of history, personal experience
and thought. (BBC, n.d.)
THE DOMENINANCE OF HUMANISM
Though a lot of can be discussed but I will try to express
myself to the most important topics.
Civic Humanism
A new interpretation of Renaissance humanism that called
“Civic Humanism” was articulated by Hans Baron. According
to Baron, humanism developed in two stages: in the 14th
century it was scholarly and literary, and in the early 15th
century it became civic. Humanism became civic during the
political crisis when duke rule Florentine Republic and it
struggle for its existence against Milan. Civic Humanism
added a new intellectual of history and Cicero, a surety of the
ethical value of the condition of civic life and humanists were
admire the classical writer. Civic humanism created the
intellectual foundations for a transformation of Italian culture
in the Renaissance and, ultimately, the modern world.
Florentine Humanism
After Civic humanism, it is accepted by most scholar mainly English speaking world that there
was a connection between politics and humanism. When humanism took its place for classical
taxes as inspiration and models of learning, I took different coloration and attitudes in variety of
political and social settings. The chancellorship, a high civil service position all were filled by
major humanists of Florence and cancellers were involved in both intellectual leaders and
political.
Roman Humanism
Roman humanism is different from Florentine. They elected a monarch pope who was governed
both an international church and the Papal States in central Italy. Most Humanists were
clergymen rather than heads of families and civic office holder and they did not celebrate
republicanism or duties to family. Historical research since the late 20th century demonstrates
that Roman humanism was just as intellectually rich as that of Florence.
Venetian Humanism
Venice is the longest-lasting republic in Renaissance Italy. They had a strong humanist culture
their humanists were almost always Venetian patricians and citizens who emphasized unanimity,
civic responsibility, and allegiance to Aristotelian philosophy.

8. English Humanism
During the reign of Henry, Humanism grown up a significant intellectual force in England.
Though the English humanism was bound up with the Tudor monarchy and Henry’s religious
policies.
Hay studies a pioneering humanist. McConica and Mayer describe the growing influence of
humanists at the court and the roles that they played in Henry VIII’s religious policies,
while Gleason describes a non-humanist who founded a humanist school, and Surtz studies a
humanist churchman who opposed Henry VIII and was beheaded. Thomas More was the most
accomplished and famous English humanist, and Utopia (1516) was his most famous work.
CONCLUSION: I do believe that Humanism is one of the best part of Renaissance Era and now
a days this is always in a running process. So that there is a question that “Am I support
Humanism?” At the end I call that I am not a humanist but I think that there are a lot of thing we
should support that. Humanism has created a great influence in modern English literature. From
them, there is a revolutionary changed to modern science, education and so on. So that we should
take the moral dignity about Humanism to our own way.
References
BBC. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions
Britannica. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/topic/humanism/Basic-principles-and-
attitudes
Humanism, D. o. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.assignmentpoint.com/science/psychology/renaissance-humanism.html
Oxfordbibelography. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780195399301/obo-
9780195399301-0002.xml#obo-9780195399301-0002-bibItem-0001
Starting. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-
9780195399301/obo-9780195399301-0002.xml#obo-9780195399301-0002-bibItem-0001