1. The Renaissance
“A Flourish of Genius”

2. “Renaissance” A French word meaning “rebirth” Starts in Italy
Renewal of the human spirit - new energy, curiosity, and creativity
Renewed interest in classical learning

3. Extraordinary People Leonardo da Vinci Michelangelo
Christopher Columbus
Galileo
Shakespeare

4. Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel

5. Humanism:
Intellectual movement that focuses on human values and concerns
“What is a human being?”
“What is a good life?”
“How do I lead a good life?”
Sought to harmonize these two great sources of wisdom: the Bible and the classics.

6. The New Technology: A Flood of Print
Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in
Transformed the way information was exchanged.
First book printed was an immense Latin Bible in Germany around 1455.
Printing press reached England in 1476.

7. The Reformation England breaks away from the church
Church needed reform
Pope controlled all of Europe
Ignorance and idleness of monks
Loose living and personal wealth of priests and bishops
Henry VIII wanted to get rid of his wife of 24 years (Catherine)
Lost five babies and had only one girl (no heir)
Another younger woman Henry wanted – Ann Boleyn

8. The Reformation Pope refuses Henry a divorce in 1533
Henry appoints a new archbishop of Canterbury , who declares Henry’s marriage to Catherine invalid.
In 1533, Henry breaks away from the Catholic church by declaring himself head of the new English church.
Beginning of Protestantism
Sir Thomas More – one of Henry’s subjects who remained loyal to the pope. Henry had him beheaded.

9. Henry VIII In all Henry VIII had six wives. Divorced, beheaded, died,
Divorced, beheaded, survived
Had 3 children
Mary – daughter of the Spanish princess, Catherine of Aragon
Elizabeth – daughter of Anne Boleyn
Edward – son of Jane Seymour, a noblewoman.

10. Continued… Edward Mary Became king at the age of 9
Ruled for only 6 years and died of Tuberculosis
Mary
“Bloody Mary”
Ruled for 5 years
Strong-willed Catholic (Spanish)
Restored the Pope’s power in England
Burned about 300 of her subjects at the stake
Died childless of a fever

11. Queen Elizabeth (1558 – 1603) “The Virgin Queen”
Knew that her strength lay in her independence
Restored law and order
Rejected the Pope’s authority and restored the Church of England again
Firmly established a religious and national identity
People loved her; symbol of peace, security, and prosperity
Inspiration for literature – even wrote herself
English started writing as never before

12. Renaissance Iconography (symbols used in art) Queen Elizabeth’s “Rainbow Portrait”
“There can be no rainbow without the sun”
Snake: wisdom
Rainbow
Eyes & Ears:
She sees and hears all that goes on in her kingdom