the northern renaissance essential question: “to what extent does cultural diffusion impact...

The Northern Renaissance

Essential Question: “To What Extent Does Cultural Diffusion Impact Society?”

Northern Renaissance

Like the Greek/Roman writings inspired the Italian thinkers, the new arts, technology and ideas of the Renaissance inspired and spread to to Northern European countries such as France, England, and German

Ex. Painters: Durer (German), van Eyck (Flemish), Bruegel (Flemish)

Geographical Advantage of Italy

Why did the Renaissance Move North?

1450‘s - Bubonic Plague and Hundred Years War end -- leads population and urban growth in N. Europe

N. European monarchs begin to sponsor the arts, similarly to patrons like the Medicis

1459 - War erupted in Italy over political struggles - artists moved north out of Italy for safety bringing ideas with them

Artists from N. Europe studied in Italy and began to return home with new Renaissance ideas

Northern Renaissance: England

Made it to England in the mid 1500’s - Elizabethan Age

William Shakespeare - drew on classics for inspiration - plays drew on Greek framework - i.e tragedies and comedies

Tragedies: Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet

Comedies: Midsummer Nights Dreams, Taming of the Shrew

The Printing Press

Chinese invented block printing/movable type around 1045

During 1200’s, block printed items made their way to Europe

1440 - Johann Gutenberg invents movable type printing press to print complete books - facilitating the spread of ideas through books and pamphlets

Albrecht Durer

Hans Holbein

Jan van Eyck

Pieter Bruegel the Elder

Christian Humanism

Christian Humanists - a group of writers and thinkers concerned with improving society.

Believed Christianity was in the heart rather than through ceremonies/rulers

Tried to shed light on greed and corruption in society

Erasmus - “In Praise of Folly” - satire of greedy merchants and clergy

Sir Thomas More - “Utopia” - ideal place

What is a Satire?

• Satire - the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices

Vernacular

In both the northern and Italian renaissance, growth in writing in the common language versus latin.

Connecting to the Essential Questions...

• How is the Northern Renaissance and the concept of Christian Humanism an example of cultural diffusion?