1. The Renaissance and the Reformation: 1300-1600
Chapter 6
Mechikoff /Estes, A History and Philosophy of Sport and Physical Education, Fourth Edition © 2006, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

2. Renaissance and Reformation
Had a significant impact upon the church
Significant for how the body was viewed
Renaissance reintroduced Greek and Roman thought to intellectual elite
Church had to compete with philosophies, literature, and paganism of ancient world

3. Renaissance and Reformation
The Reformation: an effort to reform the church
Church had become a political as opposed to a religious institution
Popes sought personal gain—not spiritual perfection

4. Renaissance/Reformation: Impact
The Renaissance was an intellectual reawakening
Idealism of the Classics
Concept of the Universal man
The Reformation was a religious reawakening
Renaissance and Reformation were very threatening to the church
Church told people what to think in past
Renaissance and Reformation would change this

5. Reformation Henry VIII Fought wars for popes, went unrecognized
Married several times
Wanted divorce that pope would not grant
Formed the Anglican church after renouncing Catholicism

6. Reformation Beginning of Protestant religion
Protestants different from Catholics
Reformation resulted in “protest” against Catholic church
Became Protestant movement
Creation of Protestant religious beliefs
Did not recognize supreme authority of Pope

7. Renaissance, Reformation, and Views of the Body
Different theories/beliefs about the body emerged
Different attitudes about sport and physical education developed
Plato and Aristotle had a profound impact during the Renaissance

8. Humanists Placed focus on secular concerns and humans
As opposed to “other worldly” concerns
Ancient Greeks believed that body played an important role in human existence
Appealed to Renaissance way of thinking
The Renaissance Man: “One who uses the mind and body—the well-rounded individual”

9. Renaissance, Reformation, and Views of the Body
Scholars and leaders of both viewed body as more important than during Middle Ages
Humanistic philosophy
Reformation thought
Religious reformers argued that body housed the soul
“temple of the Holy Spirit”

10. Cultural Changes—The Renaissance
Rebirth/revival of the classics
Europeans described writings of ancient Greeks and Romans as “The Classics”
Secular-humanistic influence on thought and culture
Development of nations (apart from Church)

11. The Renaissance Marble statue of David by Michelangelo,
Florence, Italy. The sculpture portrays
David as a muscular, Classical hero.
Marble statue of David by Michelangelo (Florence, Italy)
Image source: Royalty-Free/CORBIS, courtesy of McGraw-Hill Higher Education

12. Philosophers and Educators of the Renaissance
Petrus Paulus Vergerius ( )
One of first great Italian Humanistis
Set forth basic ideas of humanist education
Education a matter of public interest
Should create good citizens of the state
Purpose of physical education is to prepare for military; physical education is part of the education of the total individual

13. Philosophers and Educators of the Renaissance
Vittorino da Feltre ( )
Most famous Italian Humanist
Blended Christianity with the classics and Greek concepts of physical education
Believed in mind/body and Christian education
Developed health of his students through mandatory participation in physical activity—2 hours daily
Devout Christian and humanist
Influenced by Plato

14. Philosophers and Educators of the Renaissance
Aeneas Silvio Piccolomini ( )
Physical training for lifelong well-being
Emphasize skills for military proficiency
Baldassare Castiglione ( )
Wrote The Courtier to teach young aristocrats how to behavior at court
Emphasis on well-rounded courtier

15. Reformation
Advanced by writings of Erasmus, though Erasmus himself did not support the “extreme” views of Luther
Erasmus criticized church as too political
Promoted idea that people could interpret the Bible on their own
Became rebellion/protest against the political, religious, and intellectual suppression by the Catholic church

16. Reformation Wanted to return to true meaning of Christianity
Church of England, Lutherans, Calvinists believed they were “closer” to scriptural truth than Catholics

17. Philosopher and Educators of the Reformation
William of Ockham ( )
Did not like religious intellectual arguments of Middle Ages and scholastics
Developed own system of thought
Ockham’s razor: simplest answer to any question is probably the correct one
Attacked the intellectual and Christian foundations of the period

18. Reformation Desiderius Erasmus (1469-1517)
Key Humanist but also played a role in the Reformation in northern Europe
Used humanistic scholarship and literature to criticize Catholic Church
Advocated a program of education that did not include physical education

19. Philosopher and Educators of the Reformation
Martin Luther ( )
Indulgences were wrong: Salvation is by faith
Catholic church is the not the “middle man”
Each person is responsible for self / own salvation
Paved way for much of democratic thought and thoughts on universal education
Luther advocated education for everyone
Religious education was most important

20. Reformation: Luther
Believed music, games, dancing were acceptable pastimes
Not evil in themselves
Practiced monastic lifestyle for a while
Eventually rejected
Individuals have an obligation to take care of their body for spiritual and health reasons
Allowed them to be hard workers
Differed from the general medieval view of denying the body to obtain spiritual purity

21. Reformation: Luther Statue of Martin Luther in Worms
Image source: Emma Lee/Life File/Getty Images

22. Reformation John Calvin (1509-1564)
Rejected humanist ideas and focus on this world
Returned thoughts back to the next world (heaven)
Theology: Predestination and Divine election
God in his sovereignty chooses some, not others
Lifestyle tended to show where one stood
Those focused on God spent more time at work and prayer than sport and games

23. Reformation: John Calvin
Time: cyclical view before Reformation
Calvin argued for linear view
Each minute, hour, day is “God given” and must be productive
Play and sport were not seen as productive
Physical education
Calvin’s beliefs impeded development of sport and physical education

24. Reformation: Calvin Portrait of John Calvin
Image source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C.