The Northern Renaissance Chapter 1 Section 2
Main Ideas In the 1400s, the ideas of the Italian Renaissance began to spread to Northern Europe. Renaissance ideas such as the importance of the individual are a strong part of modern thought.
The Northern Renaissance Unlike Italy, England and France were united under strong monarchs. Monarchs purchased paintings from artists, as a way to support the arts. Northern traditions blended with renaissance ideas to form a new blend.
Spread of Artistic Ideas Trying to flee war, many Italian artists fled to Northern Europe. Northern Europeans, studying in Italy, also brought back ideas from the Italian Renaissance.
Christian Humanist New ideas led to critiques of the Christian Church for a failure to inspire people to live a Christian life. Christian humanists sought to reform society, particularly education.
Christian Humanists Desiderius Erasmus Thomas More Praise the Folly – poked fun at greedy merchants, heartsick lovers, etc. Thomas More Utopia – Model of Society (no war, corruption or greed) Utopia – Greek term that means no place. Now used to mean an ideal place.
Elizabethan Age Period when Renaissance spread to England (~mid-1500s). Named after Elizabeth I. Supported development of English art and literature.
William Shakespeare Deep understanding of humans and their flaws. Macbeth, Hamlet, Othello, Romeo & Juliet, King Lear, A Midsummer Night’s Dream & The Taming of the Shrew.
Printing Spread of Ideas ~1440 Johann Gutenberg invented the printing press. Produce books quickly & cheaply. Bible was first book printed with movable type. How did this help spread ideas?
Legacy of the Renaissance Period of great artistic & social change. Changes in Art Drew on techniques & styles of Greece and Rome. Paintings were individualistic & realistic. Secular works. Vernacular languages, instead of Latin, were used. Praised individual achievement.
Legacy of the Renaissance (cont.) Changes in Society Printing – more information available & less expensive. Increased desire for learning. Published new discoveries & legal proceedings. Views on how life should be lived. Questioning political structures & religious practices.