1. Aim: Profile Key Northern Renaissance Writers During the Elizabethan Age

2. Northern Writers Try to Reform Society
By the late 1400’s, Renaissance ideas had spread to Northern Europe
Italian humanists were very interested in reviving classical languages and texts
People used them to examine traditional teachings of the Church
Northern humanists were critical of the failure of the Christian Church to inspire people to live a Christian life
Of particular importance to humanists was education 2

3. Christian Humanists 1509- Erasmus most famous work Praise of Folly
Best known of Christian Humanists were Desiderius Erasmus & Thomas More
1509- Erasmus most famous work Praise of Folly
Poked fun at greedy merchants, lovers, scholars, and priests
Believed in a Christianity of the heart, not of ceremonies
1516- More wrote Utopia
Tried to show better model of society
Utopia means “No Place” in Greek
Book about imaginary land where greed, corruption, and war don’t exist 3

4. The Elizabethan Age Mid 1500’s- Renaissance spreads to England
Period known as Elizabethan Age (Queen Elizabeth)
Did much to support development of English, Art, & Literature
William Shakespeare-
Most famous writer of Elizabethan Age
Revered the classics and drew on them for inspiration and plots
Works display masterful command of the English language and deep understanding of human beings
Plays include Macbeth, Hamlet, Othello, Romeo and Juliet, King Lear, & Midsummer Night’s Dream 4

5. Printing Spreads Renaissance Ideas
Chinese invented block printing in which a printer carved words or letters on a wood block, inked the block, and printed paper on it.
1440- Johann Gutenberg developed a printing press
Made it possible to produce books quickly and cheaply
Gutenberg printed a complete Bible (Gutenberg Bible)
Printing Press enabled a printer to produce hundreds of copies of a single work
Result: Books cheap enough that many could buy 5