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Topic 9: The Renaissance

Teaching Flow

Objectives

KnowledgeTo understand the background of the RenaissanceTo understand the importance of the invention of printingTo know the impact of humanism on thoughts, architecture and artSkillsTo use concepts to master historical conceptsTo use charts to compare similarities and differencesTo understand various historical sourcesTo synthesize and analyse historical sourcesAttitudeTo train the spirit of thinking and questioningTo develop the attitude of appreciating art

ItemsFormatTeaching ObjectivesContent1Question to ponderQuestioningTo introduce briefly how the topic will be treatedHow did humanism in the Renaissance times affect thoughts, architecture and art of later times?2Task 1PicturesTo understand printing and its relationship with the RenaissanceCompare printing methods in China and in Europe3Task 2Data-based questionTo understand impact of humanism on thoughtsSimilarities between Vergerius’ views and the Greeks’ ideals4Task 3Model makingTo understand impact of humanism on architecture of the Renaissance, such as dome and arch Impact of humanism on architectureRoman ideals of architecture5Task 4PicturesTo understand the impact of humanism on artCompare Greek sculptures with those of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance A method of art expression during the Renaissance - perspectives 6ConclusionSummary chartTo respond to the topicRestate the relationship between the Renaissance and printing, humanism, architecture and artImpact of the Renaissance on Europe7Extended activityTopical studyTo enrich students’ understanding of the topicStudents may compare works of two artists during the Renaissance period, so as to explore the relationship between their works and perspectives, anatomy or reversion to classical style

Question to ponder

How did humanism in the Renaissance times affect thoughts, architecture and art of later times?

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To know more (1): What is “the Renaissance”?

By 1450, a new movement was coming over Europe. This was the Renaissance. The word means “rebirth”. Unlike many words used by historians to deal with periods of history, this one was created by contemporaries. They believed that after the fall of the Roman Empire, they had gone through a “Dark Age” and, by their own time, they were emerging from that age.What was so new about the age of rebirth? It was the rediscovery of Greek books. Before the Renaissance, intellectual discussions had focused on the Bible. However, the Renaissance view saw people as free agents. Education was needed to develop their qualities. This was also the Greek view.

To know more (2): Why did a revival of Greek learning take place at this time?

The Muslims had preserved Greek learning. After the Crusades, by way of trade and exchange, knowledge of Greek learning would have come to the Christians from the East. Moreover, Constantinople fell to the Turks in 1453. The fall of the city might have driven some people to move back to Christian Europe.

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Suggested answer: The invention of printing in the 15th century contributed to the emergence of the Renaissance. The emergence of printing led to the printing and circulation of large quantity of books, which enabled the spread of knowledge in cities. In addition, printing also resulted in more books printed and published in vernaculars. The use of vernacular facilitated literature and art creation.

Task 2: Impact of humanism on thoughts

Study Sources D and E, and answer the following question. Source D: A passage written in 1400 by Petrus Paulus Vergerius on the need of education:

We call those studies liberal which are worthy of a free man; those studies by which we attain and practice virtue and wisdom; that education which calls forth, trains and develops those highest gifts of body and of mind which ennoble men, and which are rightly judged to rank next in dignity to virtue only.

We come now to the consideration of the various subjects which may rightly be included under the name of “Liberal Studies.” Amongst these I accord the first place to History, on grounds both of its attractiveness and of its utility, qualities which appeal equally to the scholar and to the statesman. Next in importance ranks Moral Philosophy, which indeed is, in a peculiar sense, a “Liberal Art,” in that its purpose is to teach men the secret of true freedom.

Source: Petrus Paulus Vergerius, De ingénues moribus et liberalibus studiis, trans. by W.H. Woodward, Vittorino da Feltre and other Humanist Educators (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1897), 102-110. Part of text from Source Book on Middle Ages: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/vergerius.html

Source E: Below is a source covered in the topic on Greece.

Our form of government does not enter into rivalry with the institutions of others. We do not copy our neighbours, but are an example to them. It is true that we are called a democracy, for the administration is in the hands of the many and not of the few.… we have not forgotten to provide for our weary spirits many relaxations from toil; we have regular games and sacrifices throughout the year; our homes are beautiful and elegant; and the delight which we daily feel in all these things helps to banish melancholy. Because of the greatness of our city the fruits of the whole earth flow in upon us; so that we enjoy the goods of other countries as freely as of our own.

Source: Leon Bernard and Theodore B. Hodges, Readings in European History, New York: Macmillan, 1958, p. 6

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Topic 9 The Renaissance

Suggested answer:SimilaritiesDifferences (tools / methods)European PrintingUsed printing mouldsUsed paper

used movable type made in metalused a pressChinese Printingbrushed the paper by handalthough the Chinese also used movable type, the Chinese did not use a press2 With reference to Source C, identify how the invention of printing promoted to the

development of the Renaissance.

Source C

Before the invention of printing, people in the West were used to the idea of making patterns from seals. The late invention of printing in the West could be due to the lack of paper. Until paper was invented, again an idea in which China was ahead of Europe, printing served little purpose. Another reason might be the shortage of readers. It was worth printing books only when there were many readers. For that to happen, there had to be more people living in cities, using writing in their daily lives. The spread of printing resulted in more and more books printed and published in vernaculars.

Task 1: How did the invention of printing promote the development of the Renaissance?

Identify the differences between printing in 16th-century Europe (Source A) and the old-style printing in China (Source B), and fill in the chart below:

Source ASource B

Source: Department of History, Source B: photo provided by Professor David FaureChinese University of Hong Kong

Topic 9 The Renaissance

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Identify the similarities between Vergerius’ views on education and the Greek ideals of life. Explain your answer with reference to Sources D and E.

Suggested answer: Both centred around human beings. Both consider freedom precious. In Source D, it stated that liberal studies were worthy of a free man and Moral Philosophy aimed at teaching men the secret of true freedom. In Source E, it pointed out that the Greek city-states were called a democracy because the administration was in the hands of the many and people enjoyed freedom in their daily lives.

Task 3: Impact of humanism on architecture

Group Activity (Please refer to Sources F, G and H)

Teaching Tips

Each group is to use a kind of material, such as newspaper, drinking straws and ice-lolly sticks, to build a roofed building within a specific period of time, and then report its difficulties. (The teacher may show Source F to let students see how pieces of stone were put together to bridge a wide space. The Romans used arches widely, and turned arches into domes. Then study Source G. It is a picture of the Pantheon in Rome, built in 125 AD, which illustrate how difficult it could be to build this dome. Lastly, show Source H – a beautiful architectural example of Renaissance buildings – St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.)

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To know more (3)：What is the impact of humanism on architecture?

Humanism has the meaning of reviving Greek values. It has great impact on art and architecture, in particular, how Renaissance art and architecture differed from the Gothic. The architects of the Renaissance, who were the same people as the painters and sculptors, rediscovered the Greek and Roman ideals of architecture. They recovered some of the skills of the Romans, for example, in using domes. Domes came to be very commonly used from the 16th century. However, the change was not only technological. The Renaissance artists believed they had rediscovered how mathematical proportions might be related to human lives. They believed that the classical traditions (Greek and Roman) fitted better with these proportions.

Task 4: Impact of humanism on art

1. Identify the difference of the three sculptures in Sources I, J and K, and fill in the table below.

Suggested answer:

GreeceMiddle AgesRenaissanceProportion of body parts AppropriateNot in right

proportionAppropriateFacial expressionEnrich, passionateRigidEnrich, passionateBody

LinesBeautifulNot obviousBeautifulMuscleCan be seen clearlyNot obviousCan be seen

clearly

Source I: GreeceSource J: Middle AgesSource K: the Renaissance

Source I: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Dionysos_pediment_Parthenon_BM.jpgSource J: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:France_Paris_St-Denis_Trinity.jpgSource K: photo provided by Ms Joan Cheng

Sources F, G and H: Concepts of Roman Architecture

Source F Roman Architecture - arch Source G The Pantheon in Rome

Source: The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Source H

Source： Wikimedia Commons,http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Pantheon-panini.jpg

Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:St._Peter%27s_Basilica_Facade%2C_Rome%2C_June_2004.jpg

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To know more (4): How did the drawing style of the Renaissance differ from that of the Middle Ages?

The same humanist thinking — a reversion to the classical, is Greek and Roman style — was apparent in painting and sculpture. The objective was to capture human beings as human beings. The Greeks had considered the human form itself graceful, and were not shy of representing it in the nude. The style of the Middle Ages (known as Gothic) had departed in a different direction. Medieval artists produced many statues, but they preferred the symbolic more than the realistic. Their work expressed the beauty of lines and curves, rather than the accurate representation of the human body.

2. List the features of the perspectives technique with reference to Source L.

The martyrdom of St Sebastian, by Piero del Pollaiuolo and Pollaiolo del Pollaiuolo, 15th centurySource L: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Antonio_Pollaiuolo_003.jpg

Suggested answer:Background of Picture(size and distance of objects)The landscape slopes away, and the objects towards the far end look smaller than objects at the near end.Grouping of people in the picture

(Number of groups and number of people in group)The two in the front who are bending down one can see their front and back. The other four one can see in four different directions. Each group shows really the same model, drawn from different perspectives.Distance and angle at

viewing objectsAllows for the distortion of distance and the angle at viewing the objects.

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To know more (5): The use of perspectives

One of the Renaissance methods of art representation was the use of perspectives. We use perspectives nowadays not only in paintings, but also in engineering and architectural drawing and so this invention has not only enriched our artistic sense, but has also had very important practical applications.Allowance for perspective was an invention of the Renaissance. It was part of the classical interest to capture the world as it was. It involved the application of mathematics to art. It also implied an interest in the human body, and the attempt to portray from it the nature of the human being. Renaissance artists studied the human anatomy to make sure they painted the body right.

There are a lot to teach about the topic of Renaissance. This teaching sample focuses on: 1) the Renaissance is a concept already existing at the time; 2) The creation of knowledge is closely related to the invention of printing; 3) Architecture displays the use of classical styles, especially dome; 4) Painting and sculpture made use of perspectives and anatomy; 5) Artists in the Renaissance period integrated and utilized these different areas; they were not merely painters or sculptors, but also architects, scientists, engineers and scholars expert in every area. They were interested in the world, and dared to express it with new means.

Conclusion

To know more (6): Impact of the Renaissance on Europe

The Renaissance

14th -16th centuries

Influenced by humanism,

people began to explore new

things

People advocated new ideas

which was a break with the

ideological control in the

Middle Ages

People respected inborn

human rights

Voyages of Discovery

15th-16th centuries

Reformation 16th-

17th centuries

Enlightenment 17th-

18th centuries

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Extended activity:

In this chapter, we have avoided mentioning the names of artists, including those very famous ones. If time permits, the teacher may conduct the following topical study, which will be helpful to the students. Let students look for information on Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. They may focus on a few works of the two artists and explain their relationships with perspectives, anatomy, or reversion to classical style.

Summary Chart

Renaissance (rebirth)

Revived interest in Greek democratic tradition and Roman style in architecture and art

Humanism

Thoughts Architecture Art

Exit Dark Age

Europe in the 1450s

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