The Renaissance and the Foundations of Western Modernity

I. Cultural change in crisis

A. Theological challenges 1. John Wycliffe quality of sacrament - Church authority

2. Jan Hus religion and nationalism - language č š ž

3. Increased threat of Heresy - Waldensians no authority but the Bible - Albigensiansextreme ascetism “Heretics” often preached austerity not found in Church, popular w/ peasants The Inquisition “what a show” The Inquisition “what a show”

4. William of Ockham Argued against Aristotelian theory - must argue from specific to general Ockham’s razor scientific method

B. Vernacular literature 1. Reliance on Latin declines - expression of cultural, national, religious independence (Gutenberg press)

2. Dante Alighieri The Divine Comedy allegory – historical figures, contemporary critique Redemption of Man – in Italian! “Abandon hope, all ye who enter here”

3. Geoffrey Chaucer The Canterbury Tales middle English - ribald, low brow comedy, social satire

4. Christine de Pizan City of Ladies a. status of aristocratic women improving b. all levels of patriarchy challenged

Giovanni Boccaccio The Decameron Juan Ruiz The Book of Good Love - “Mr. Melon of the Vegetable Garden”

II. Awakenings Rebirth Overcoming constraints of the Middle Ages by re-discovering ancient ideas Humanism Theocratic culture vs. Humanism It ain‘t no sin to be glad you‘re alive. It ain‘t no sin to be glad you‘re alive.

A. Luxury and lifestyle 1. Plague and commodities

2. Merchant republics (1100s) Byzantine trade routes “bourgeois” culture

the Medici family Lorenzo de Medici, il magnifico Lorenzo de Medici, il magnifico The Florence trade route The Florence trade route Platonic Academy of Florence Platonic Academy of Florence Papal creditor Papal creditor

Jakob Fugger Augsburg Multinational company, mining, banking, fur&textile trade Multinational company, mining, banking, fur&textile trade „Creditor of the Empire“ „Creditor of the Empire“

B. Crafts and guilds 1. primacy of skilled workers - art and status

C. Fall of the Byzantine Empire 1. “Practical” humanism 1453, Constantinople falls to Ottoman Turks - liberal arts education - monasticism v. humanism = contemplative v. activist lifestyle

III. Renaissance Idealism A. The Humanistic Tradition 1. Petrarch “Father of Humanism” Study of classical history, philosophy, language - artist (writer) at center of art

2. Giovanni Pico della Mirandola Oration on the Dignity of Man - Oration on the Dignity of Man Great Chain of Being v. Neo-Platonism - “progressive” outlook on politics, psychology & history - “progressive” outlook on politics, psychology & history

B. Christian Humanism 1. Thomas Moore Utopia tolerance, equality, pacifism - Social Gospel: revolutionary or reactionary?

2. Erasmus In Praise of Folly Church inconsistencies Moore/Erasmus - restore direct connection between individual & textual basis of Christianity textual basis of Christianity

3. Literary Criticism - methods and goals - philology Polyglot Bible Polyglot Bible

IV. Renaissance Style,

A. Reason and art 1. Use of proportion/ perspective (da Vinci)

Scientific rebirth – Leonardo da Vinci Scientific rebirth – Leonardo da Vinci The Last Supper, 1483 The Last Supper, 1483

2. Study of anatomy

Scientific research by artists Scientific research by artists Leonardo da Vinci – „Anatomic Studies“, 1480s Leonardo da Vinci – „Anatomic Studies“, 1480s

B. Classicism 1. Neoplatonism (Michelangelo) fused classical with newer techniques art should reflect spiritual, metaphysical evolution art should reflect man’s rise to “godliness”

Donatello Bronze sculptures Bronze sculptures Greek myths – perfection of nature Greek myths – perfection of nature

Men as God´s children Albrecht Dürer – „Self Portrait“, 1500 Albrecht Dürer – „Self Portrait“, 1500

B. The Northern Renaissance Flemish painters Albrecht Durer Jan van Eyck Jan Vermeer Jan Vermeer

Peter Bruegel

Rembrandt van Rijn interest in business class

„Burgeois paintings“ „Burgeois paintings“ Jan van Eyck – „Portrait of Jan de Leeuw“, 1436 Jan van Eyck – „Portrait of Jan de Leeuw“, 1436

Perfection – St. Peter´s Basilica A Medici becomes Pope A Medici becomes Pope Italy´s best: Italy´s best: –Bramante –Bernini –Raphael –Michelangelo

Humanism – the new theology

The icing on the cake – The Sistine Chapel Michelangelo, „Last Judgement“, 1530s Michelangelo, „Last Judgement“, 1530s

The Sistine Chapel Michelangelo, „Genesis“, 1530s Michelangelo, „Genesis“, 1530s