Humanism Renaissance and Merchant Class - 1743 Words

Essay on Humanism The Renaissance is the label we put upon the emergence of a new perspective and set of ideals in Europe. This does not mean that it was sudden, neat and clean. It was gradual, inconsistent, and variable from place to place. The Renaissance had its origins in Italy because a powerful merchant class arose in its cities that replaced the landed aristocracy and clergy as the leaders of society. This new class, along with many aristocrats and clergy, embraced humanist ideals. Generally speaking, humanism was a new worldly ideal to replace the medieval focus on eternal life. Humanism was founded on the idea that humanity is capable of greatness by its own means--through wealth, knowledge, art--and does†¦show more content†¦Medieval scholars had long studied ancient Greek and Roman authors, but had, like St. Thomas, devoted themselves to integrating the ancient ideas into the theology of the church. Starting with Petrarch in the early 1300s, however, humanists became inter ested in the ancient writers on their own terms. Humanists came to admire the more worldly wisdom of values of ancient Greece and Rome, and eagerly sought out new texts in an effort to recover as much of the ancient knowledge and spirit as possible. Why such enthusiasm for the ancients? The worldly spirit of the ancients seemed more suitable to the prosperous merchant class, and they provided an important foundation of prestige and authority for a new class of men as they asserted their right to rule. The writings of Nicolo Machiavelli are the single most important example of this new humanist thought. Drawing from ancient Roman writers, Machiavelli developed a worldly concept of politics, and was one of the first in the modern period to discuss the virtues of republican government and a system of checks and balances. He is perhaps most famous for his rejection of Christian idealism in politics. Princes and other leaders, he argued, must view human affairs must as they really are, not as we hope ideally they should be. The rules of worldly power (best understood by theShow MoreRelatedThe Medici s Influence On The Renaissance1662 Words   |  7 Pagesfeudalist society where the nobles rule over the vast majority of the population. Even into the Renaissance, this prevalent societal structure still existed with the elitists in control. However, there are several factors that contributed to the demise of feudalism. One of these factors ironically being a powerful family of ban kers. Arguably the most prosperous family leading up to and throughout the renaissance, the Medici’s widespread influence changed countless aspects of life that we still benefitRead MoreThe Ugly Renaissance Discussion Of Italy1575 Words   |  7 PagesThe Ugly Renaissance Discussion 1. Why did the Renaissance originate in Florence and prosper for so many years? In many ways, Italy had benefits over northern Europe in detaching from the feudal system and accumulating enormous amounts of wealth. I think that above all else, geography was Italy’s anchor in this respect. Being a projecting land mass sticking out into the Mediterranean Sea, and beneficially located between the main part of Europe and the Byzantine Empire, cities within Italy had littleRead MoreInfluence Of The Renaissance On Modern Europe1174 Words   |  5 Pageswere more significant than the Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation, and the French Revolution. Of these three events, the Renaissance proved to be the most important event in shaping a modern Europe, with developments in education, class structure/order and social change issues, religion, building construction/use, Medici banking system, art and architecture, humanism, printing and the printing press, and the scientific and medical changes of the Islamic Renaissance. The changes in the developmentRead MoreThe Renaissance in Europe1418 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Renaissance†, which is French for â€Å"rebirth†, perfectly describes the rebirth of art and learning that occurred in Europe between the 1400s and 1600s. During the era known as the Renaissance, Europe underwent a cultural movement in which people regained interest in the ancient cultures of Greece and Rome. A renewed interest in philosophy and human individuality lead to the development of more worldly and nonreligious focuses. Europe sought knowledge from the ancient world and moved out of the DarkRead MoreThe Renissance was a Cultural Movement of Humanism718 Words   |  3 PagesThe Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned the period roughly from the 14th to 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term renaissance came from the French word meaning rebirth. The defining concept of the Renaissance wa s humanism. Humanism was a distinct movement because it broke from the medieval tradition of having pious religious motivation for creating art or works of literature. The Renaissance humanism was a collectionRead More Patrons and Artisans of the Renaissance Period992 Words   |  4 PagesThe Renaissance period (1400 to 1700) covered art, literature, philosophy and government. Renaissance culture spread outwards from Florence, to other Italian cities and then, over the following centuries, to the rest of Europe. It is widely understood that it was a unique combination of several different influences that led to the Renaissance, with the social and political conditions of the era, combined with great wealth and the large number of talented artists and artisans in Florence; influencingRead MoreRenaissance - English Enhancement Worksheets786 Words   |  4 PagesThe Renaissance Explanatory Notes to Teachers Level: S2 Topic: The Renaissance Supporting Teaching Materials: Students’ worksheet Students’ Prior Knowledge Before this ELA unit, students have learnt about the masterpieces and inventions during the Renaissance. In these lessons, they should have learnt some English terms related to this topic. Aims and Objectives I. Content Objectives After the ELA activities, students should be able to 1. learn about the features of the Renaissance 2. understandRead More Humanism Essay example1241 Words   |  5 PagesHumanism Humanism was a new way of thinking that came about in fourteenth century, the time of the Renaissance.   Many scholars refer to it as the Spirit of the Renaissance.   Humanism was a lay phenomenon that emphasized human beings - as opposed to deities - as well as their interests, achievements and capabilities.   Humanism is derived from the Latin word humanitas, which Cicero, the noted orator of the Roman Empire, referred to as the literary culture needed by anyone who would be consideredRead MoreThe Italian Renaissance And The Renaissance1424 Words   |  6 PagesThe Italian Renaissance was an explosion of art, writing, and thought, that roughly lasted between 1300 to 1600. In this time each citizen, countrymen, or villager had and performed different jobs and careers. Humanism the study of Greek and Roman writings, art, and architecture, initially jump started the Renaissance, and the need for art. Artists now were inspired to use life like art and linear perspective, so a rt seemed and was more realistic. The start of the Italian Renaissance was the startRead MoreRenaissance and Political System1193 Words   |  5 PagesRenaissance and Political Institutions Name: Instructor’s Name: Class: Date: Introduction Renaissance is a French term meaning rebirth or revival. Renaissance period in the history of Europe starts from the beginning of 15th century to the end of 16th century. The Renaissance manifested the transitional phase from the medieval ages to the modern era. It was a time of social and cultural changes in Europe. It is believed to be the beginning of the modern world and hence the new phase of the