1. Explain the ways in which Italian Renaissance humanism transformed the ideas about the individual’s role in society.

2. In the beginning there was…
…Humanism

3. Francesco Petrarch (1304-1374)
“Father of Humanism”
secular views
Private scholar; not a clergyman
Rekindles interest in the ancient Greek and Latin classics
Investigates info. from source, not traditional

4. Renaissance Humanism
Curriculum based on Liberal studies: grammar, poetry, rhetoric, history, politics, and moral philosophy
Belief that study of the classics is path to virtuous and balanced lifestyle and personality
Importance in human, not divine, matters
Information gathered from source, not traditional
Devoted majority of life to the discovery and practice of the classics
Anti-”scholasticism”, which was the educational curriculum of the medieval times.

5. Religion

6. Before Humanism Catholicism dominates people’s lives Criticism crushed
No “other religions” hold any strength
Catholic Church “monopolized” religion in europe

7. Humanists on Religion
Criticize the Catholic Church about mistakes, misinterpretations, and corruption
Liberal knowledge was used to denounce church often in literary works that circulated Europe
Criticize the Church’s written sources, such as the Vulgate, writings by the Church Fathers, and many other important religious documentation.

8. Lorenzo Valla ( )
Pope attempted to assert lands from the King of Naples through the Donation of Constantine
Used knowledge of Latin to prove the document was a forgery by the Church
Demonstrated that Latin expressions and patterns varied with time period

9. Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536)
Wrote many anti-clerical satires and dialogues
Revised the Vulgate
Translated the New Testament into Greek and lay
Strong on church reform, believed that early bible and classic study the best reform

10. Erasmus and the Reformation
Wrote mostly against the church and its corruptness
Criticized the Catholic institution and the turmoil, chaos, and selfish corruption taking place within it
Although he was not a Lutheran and denied being so, he wanted Catholic reform, not its replacement

11. How this affected individuals
Catholic Church and her clergymen became more “exposed” and lost reverence
Loses a lot of influence in the general populace’s daily life
Lutherans began to acquire more ground
Humanist works credited by later reformations

12. Society

13. Before Humanism
People acted like children; there was very little personal upkeep or manner expectations
Women were excluded from many social “gatherings”
Birth was the defining point for social standing and status
Education and personal capability didn’t exist within the social developments of medieval society

14. Humanists on Society
Humanists believe one should uphold personal manners and good-behavior
Many humanists published guides and manuals for being a successful courtier
Believe that education and universal capability should contribute to social success

15. Christine de Pisan ( )
The Treasure of the City of Ladies, “Renaissance woman’s survival manual”
Spread humanism to French courts
Helped to incorporate women more importantly into courts

16. Baldassare Castiglione
Very influential in Renaissance courts
Believed to be a successful courtier; polite, balanced, skilled; by peers
The Book of the Courtier, a guide to proper etiquette and manners in courts, as well as perquisites for being a “successful courtier”

17. How this affected individuals
Transformed society from “barbaric” to “civilized”
Women introduced to balance male “manliness” with female “tenderness”
Personal qualifications play greater role in status, giving initiate for “bettering oneself”
Birth loses some substance
Preceded gentry, forerunners

18. Intellectual

19. Humanists on Intellect
Liberal arts introduced: grammar, poetry, rhetoric, history, politics and moral philosophy
more practical, useful than scholasticism
Education offered to wide audience
Rekindled interest and influence of Greek and Roman classics
Incorporated a necessity for literary truth, original and “uncorrupted”
Desire to investigate info. at source creating large collections of original manuscripts
Brought a greater purpose to learning: virtue and balance in life through study of classics

20. Before Humanism Educated men were clergymen
“Schools” were places to learn of God and spreading his will
Educational curriculum was scholasticism
Abstract and unpracticed; useless
Educational power was held by few, allowing manipulation of lay peoples

21. How this affected individuals
No longer just clergymen
Humanism replaced scholasticism
New universities and humanist academies offer greater education
As well as learning, students gain a greater virtuous and balanced personality
With larger girth of education, powers less able to use it to manipulate subjects