The Renaissance Moving North
Why Later? In 1494, a French king invaded northern Italy so many artists and writers fled for a safer life in northern Europe.
Italian Ren. Vs. Northern Ren. Divided into city- states Secular (non- religious) themes were popular Unified under strong monarchs More interested in religious ideas
Erasmus Christian humanist Wrote The Praise of Folly Thought to improve society, everyone should study the Bible
Sir Thomas Moore Christian Humanist Wrote Utopia which means “no place” About an imaginary land inhabited by a peace- loving people
Shakespeare English playwright Themes included dramatic conflict, human flaws, and human nature Macbeth, Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Machiavelli Wrote The Prince which discusses the imperfect behavior of human beings Believed that “the end justifies the means”, or that leaders may use any method to achieve what is best for the state
The Printing Revolution Johann Gutenberg reinvented movable type around 1440 He then invented the printing press, a machine that presses paper against a tray full of inked moveable type With this, he printed a complete Bible in 1455
Effects of the Printing Revolution Enabled a printer to produce hundreds of copies, all exactly alike, of a single work Books were cheap enough that many people could buy them New ideas spread more quickly than before Books encouraged people to learn to read People interpreted the Bible for themselves, were more critical of priests, led to demands for religious reform