Humanism and The Printing Press Unit 3, SSWH 9 c and g
Humanism Study of classical texts, an intellectual movement that focused on human potential & achievements Studied them to understand ancient Greek values Influenced artists and architects to carry on classical traditions
Continued Popularized the study of subjects – history, literature, and philosophy Examined traditional teachings of the church
Petrarch Father of Renaissance humanism Great poet: wrote both in Italian and Latin
Dante Wrote using vernacular (wrote in everyday local language) and about secular (worldly) things Famous: wrote The Divine Comedy in Italian
Erasmus “ Christian Humanist” Said society should be reformed through education (women, boys, and girls) Famous: wrote The Praise of Folly: poked fun at the greedy merchants, heartsick lovers, quarreling scholars, & pompous priests To Improve society, all people should study the Bible
Gutenberg & The Printing Press Chinese invented block & moveable type Block printed items reached Europe in the 1200s 1440, Johann Gutenberg developed a printing press Process produced books cheaply & quickly
Continued First complete book printed: Gutenberg Bible in 1455 Printing press allowed books to be made cheap & it increase the amount of available knowledge in society Spreading ideas quickly (people began to challenge established institutions more)