The Renaissance

The Renaissance French word meaning “rebirth” New interest in science, art, literature Great advances in science and education New social order Interest in humanism “Vision of Ezekiel” by Raphael, 1518

Printing Press 1430s: first mass-produced books; no longer had to be hand-copied Used interchangeable letter block templates, oil-based inks, and high-quality paper Made books (esp. the Bible) widely accessible for the first time

Protestant Reformation Martin Luther (German monk) Protested sale of indulgences (and other practices) by Catholic church Nailed 95 Theses to church door Reformation led to Protestantism Had a huge influence on society, politics, and the economy

Renaissance Worldview Middle Ages – people focused energy on religion and the afterlife Renaissance – people focused energy on life on earth Emphasis placed on individual and his/her human potential “Renaissance Man” a well-rounded person who cultivated his talents to the fullest

“Age of Exploration” European nations “discovered” other nations for commerce Contributed to later imperial domination and exploitation

Major Scientific Advances Alchemy, astronomy, medicine, geography, inventions. Nicolaus Copernicus (1473–1543) and Galileo ( )—theory of heliocentrism controversial with Church

Medical Advances Many medical advances—learned more about anatomy, surgery, and treatment of disease; used knowledge from earlier Islamic physicians Leonardo da Vinci, “Fetus in the Womb” Page from an Ottoman manuscript describing how to make medicines

Rulers of Note: Tudors and Stuarts King Henry VIII 17 when crowned 6 marriages 1530—broke with the Catholic church and created Church of England (a.k.a. Anglican Church )

Sumptuary Laws King Henry VIII wanted to be able to tell upon first glance what social class someone belonged to Laws specified the kinds of cloth, colors, and accessories that were forbidden to people beneath a certain rank Breaking sumptuary laws punishable by loss of possessions, title, or even life.

Social Classes Middle class continued to grow with emergence of global trade—especially merchants Four main classes: royalty, nobles, merchants, and peasants First three classes often patronized the arts “The Peasant Dance” by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, 1569.

Social Classes: Merchants Pieter Aertsen, “A Cook with Poultry,” 16 th c. Quentin Metsys, “Money Changer and His Wife,” 1514

Social Classes: Nobles Jan Gossaert, “A Noble Man,” 1530.Jan Mostaert, “Portrait of an African Noble,”

Elizabeth I ( ) Created and supported art Turned England into a world power Last of the Tudor Line Considered the epitome of beauty: white skin, fair hair, red lips

Stuarts James I ( ) Anglican Church supporter Charles I ( )- harsh leadership led to Puritan exodus and civil war Cromwells and commonwealth took over until 1660, ending the Renaissance Charles I

Renaissance Literature Writers, like artists, gained patronage from wealthy people Pastoral poetry: idealized depictions of nature and rural life –Used courtly language with meter and rhyme Popular poets: Edmund Spenser, Sir Walter Raleigh, Christopher Marlowe, William Shakespeare Depiction of a scene from Spenser’s Faerie Queene

Rise of Humanism Literature reflected “humanism” – new ideas about the worth and importance of the individual Humanists were often devote Christians Sir Thomas More – Wrote Utopia about a perfect society

Sonnets 14-line poems Petrarchan (1300s) and Shakespearean (1500s- 1600s) Iambic pentameter –5 feet = 10 syllables –1 foot = 1 unstressed syllable, 1 stressed syllable William Shakespeare

Pastoral Poems Poems that portray shepherds and rustic life in an idealized manner. Poems not written in the voice of the common shepherd Speakers used courtly language rather than common speech

Metaphysical Poets Broke with convention Employed unusual imagery Attempted to encompass the vastness of the universe and explore life’s complexities and contradictions Most famous poet - John Donne

Metaphysical Poems Poems had Irregular meter elaborate metaphors Themes of death, physical love, religious devotion Dealt with vastness of the universe