The Northern Renaissance Preview Main Idea / Reading Focus The Renaissance Spreads North Philosophers and Writers Artists

The Northern Renaissance Main Idea Renaissance ideas soon spread beyond Italy to northern Europe by means of trade, travel, and printed material, influencing the art and ideas of the north. Reading Focus How did the Renaissance spread to northern Europe? What contributions did writers and philosophers make to the northern Renaissance? How did the works of northern artists differ from those of the Italian Renaissance?

The Renaissance Spreads North Trade, the movement of artists and scholars, and the development of printing helped spread Renaissance ideas north from Italy. As cities grew, vast trading network spread across northern Europe Network dominated by Hanseatic League, merchant organization, 1200s to 1400s Protected members from pirates, other hazards Built lighthouses, trained ship captains Trading Goods Northern Europeans traded ideas, goods; spread Italian Renaissance north Fleeing violence, Italian artists brought humanist ideas, painting techniques north Northern scholars traveled to Italy, brought ideas home Universities started in France, Netherlands, Germany Trading Ideas

A Book Revolution Printing Press Printed Word Available to More Mid-1400s, Johannes Gutenberg cast letters of alphabet on metal plates, locked metal plates on wooden press; perfected movable type printing Result, one of most dramatic upheavals world has ever known Printed Word Available to More Before only way to reproduce writing was by hand; long, painstaking process With movable type, text quickly printed; producing books faster, cheaper Easier access to books prompted more people to learn to read Italics Gutenberg’s first publication, 1,282-page Bible Printers soon appeared in other cities, made books quickly, inexpensively Explosion of printed material quickly spread Renaissance ideas

How did Renaissance ideas spread to northern Europe? Find the Main Idea How did Renaissance ideas spread to northern Europe? Answer(s): Ideas were exchanged through trade; artists and scholars traveled between Italy and the north; printing press allowed easier bookmaking; ideas spread with printed material.

Philosophers and Writers Northern humanists expressed their own ideas Combined interests of theology, fiction and history Created philosophical works, novels, dramas, and poems Combined Christian ideas, humanism Wrote of pure, simple Christian life, educating children Fanned flames of discontent Roman Catholic Church censored, condemned works Desiderius Erasmus More’s best-known work, Utopia, contains criticisms of English government, society Presents vision of perfect, non-existent society based on reason Sir Thomas More Italian-born writer focused on role of women in society Grew up in French court of Charles V; turned to writing when widowed Championed equality, education for women Christine de Pisan

Shakespeare and His Characters Many believe English playwright William Shakespeare greatest writer Plots not original, but treatments of them masterful Drew inspiration from ancient, contemporary literature Knowledge of natural science, humanist topics expressed in plays William Shakespeare Use of language, choice of themes made plays appealing even to uneducated Plays helped spread ideas of Renaissance to mass audience Focused on lives of realistic characters, unlike morality plays By Shakespeare’s death, 1616, London scene of thriving theatre district Spread Renaissance Ideas

What are some characteristics of Renaissance writers’ work? Summarize What are some characteristics of Renaissance writers’ work? Answer(s): expressed humanist ideas, scientific knowledge, realistic experiences, and social conditions

Artists Like literary counterparts, northern European artists influenced by Italian Renaissance Adopted Italian techniques Works reflected more realistic view of humanity Italian artists tried to capture beauty of Greek, Roman gods in paintings Northern artists tried to depict people as they really were

Dürer and Others Flemish School Everyday Life 1400s, German artist Albrecht Dürer visited Italy On return, used Italian techniques of realism, perspective Oil paintings exhibit features unique to northern Renaissance Oils reproduced textures; reflection of objects, scenes outside window Artists of Netherlands developed own style, Flemish School Used technique perfected by Jan van Eyck, 1400s Fused the everyday with religious; lit candle represents God’s presence Flemish School 1500s, Pieter Brueghel the Elder used Italian techniques Paintings showed scenes from everyday peasant life Different from mythological scenes of Italian paintings Everyday Life

Contrast How did northern Renaissance artwork differ from that of Italian artists? Answer(s): depicted everyday objects, people as they actually were