The Renaissance 1485-1660 French word meaning “re-birth” Refers to a renewed interest in classical learning or the writings of Greece and Rome Began in Italy

Previously, during the Middle Ages Scholars used Latin instead of Greek Most people were illiterate Most text was church doctrine Most people in Europe and Britain were Roman Catholic, so the church was rich and powerful, even in political affairs

Renaissance Person Energetic and productive Interested in science, literature, history, art, etc… Personal renewal of the human spirit

Humanism Intellectual movement of writers and artists Used old Latin and Greek classics to answer such questions as: What is a human being? What is a good life? How do I lead a good life? Christianity answered these, but humanists sought to harmonize the Bible and the classics

cont. Humanists recovered copies of ancient writings in Italian monasteries They became teachers so the young could become wise and virtuous rulers Education was not to produce scholars but to prepare students to “perform justly, skillfully, and magnanimously all the offices both private and public, of peace and war.”

Printing Press Johannes Gutenberg printed the first book, a Latin Bible, at Mainz, Germany around 1455 By 1476, printing reached England By 1500 inexpensive books were available William Caxton set up the first printing press in Westminster Now commoners had access to written material

The Reformation Reformers rejected authority of pope English resented financial burdens imposed by Vatican, the pope, in Italy Martin Luther (1483-1546) founded new Christianity, not from what the pope said, but a personal understanding Beginning of the Lutheran Church (Anglican, Calvinist, Anabaptist faiths) creating Protestants (Methodist, Episcopal, Presbyterians) or anyone against the Catholic Church Caused Pope Paul III to convene the Council of Trent to investigate selling of indulgences, religious pardons, & abuses

Henry VIII Pope Clement VII would not divorce Henry VIII from his Spanish wife, Catherine of Aragon, even though she had been married to his deceased brother Arthur, because Catherine’s nephew, the emperor of Spain, controlled the pope She had given him a princess, but not a male heir He wished to marry Anne Boleyn, he had seduced her sister earlier Declared himself head of the English Church & appointed a new archbishop of Canterbury who granted the divorce, but Catherine wouldn’t accept it Henry then closed the monasteries and sold the buildings to his subjects

Henry VIII’s family The 5 Tudor (name given to an architectural style) rulers of England: Henry VII, Henry VIII and 3 of his children Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard, and Catherine Parr Divorced, beheaded, died, Divorced, beheaded, survived. Children: Mary, daughter of the Spanish princess, Catherine of Aragon; Elizabeth, daughter of Anne Boleyn; and Edward, son of Jane Seymour

Henry VIII’s Children Edward VI , son of Jane Seymour, became king at age 9 Mary, a devout Catholic, who wanted to avenge her mother’s, Catherine of Aragon, wrongs – restored the pope’s power in England and hunted Protestants, burning about 300 at the stake, giving her the name “Bloody Mary” Queen Elizabeth, daughter of Anne Boleyn

Queen Elizabeth Brilliant & Successful monarch Restored law and order Re-estalished the Church of England and rejected the pope’s authority (she was excommunicated by the pope) Pretended that she might marry her widowed brother-in-law, King Philip, to keep Spain appeased The Virgin Queen “To be a king and wear a crown is more glorious to them that see it than it is pleasure to them that bear it”

Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots Queen Elizabeth’s cousin, not “Bloody Mary” Had a French mother and Henry VIII’s nephew, James V, was her father Married young to Francis II of France She returned to Scotland after her husband’s death to claim the throne Elizabeth had her beheaded at Fotheringay Caused Spain to invade England with the Spanish Armada The Royal Navy defeated Spain

James VI of Scotland Became king after Queen Elizabeth Only son of Mary, Queen of Scots Became James I of England because he was the first James to rule England His reign is called the Jacobean Period -Jacobus is Latin for James Favored divine right of kings, was against tobacco, & patronized Shakespeare He sponsored a new translation of the Bible – The King James Version

End of the Renaissance Charles I followed his father’s rule, but was beheaded England was ruled by Parliament and the Puritan dictator, Oliver Cromwell Political climate changed after Queen Elizabeth’s death

Major People from the Renaissance Leonardo da Vinci: known for the Mona Lisa; sfumato, an artistic style; scientific study of water movement & human anatomy; engineer who designed planes & military machines; drew the human figure in circular proportions Michelangelo: painted the Biblical scenes on the Sistine Chapel in Rome; architect of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome; wrote poetry; sculpted the 17’ tall marble figure of David Sir Thomas More; inspired the literary genre of the utopian novel and distopia Christopher Wren; architect who designed St. Paul’s Cathedral and others Menasseh ben Israel: founded the modern Jewish community Galileo: developed the Copernican view that the earth revolved around the sun Gerardus Mercator: first flat map of the round earth Johannes Kepler: discovers that the orbits of the planets are elliptical

Fashions of the Renaissance They displayed their new costumes from 10 to 12 noon, strolling up and down the center aisle of St. Paul’s Church. They insisted on rich fabrics: velvet, taffeta, gold brocade, and fur. They wore the finest silk stocking and cork platform shoes. They curled their hair, perfumed their gloves, and (if daring) wore makeup. They showed off favorite jewels in earrings, bracelets, and designs sewn all over their clothes. The men in the Renaissance were peacocks indeed! Hoop skirts, farthingales, were 4’ at the hips with “stomachers”, ribbed bones, to pull the women’s bodies into rigid tightness Men had peascod bellies, goose bellies, begun in Spain, to create a big belly by stuffing horsehair into doublets Colors & designs had symbolic meaning Green meant love, white & tawny showed patience in adversity, a pansy represented sadness, a snake flattery, and so on

Historical Connections Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) Silk and textile industry flourished in China, and trade with the far east, across the Silk Route, brought to Europe the growing use of elaborate costumes. In Elizabethan England, a person’s costume revealed whether he or she was wealthy or noble In China, the decoration or embroidery on a robe revealed the wearer’s rank and social status