Renaissance and Reformation

Outline• The Renaissance

– Why Italy?– Impact of Classical Ideas– Impact on Art and Literature– Impact on Political Thought

• The Northern Renaissance– Ideas Spread North– Reform Movements in Western Europe– Influence of Patrons– Impact of the Renaissance

• The Reformation– Criticism of Church– Martin Luther– Henry VII and Protestant England– John Calvin

• The Catholic Reformation– Ignatius of Loyola– Council of Trent– Legacy of the Reformation

Why Italy?• Renaissance, or rebirth of

classical ideas, begins in Italy– Rebirth of Greek and Roman

worlds

• Why?– Thriving Urban city-states in

perfect areas of trade– Wealthy merchant class

• Patrons would order paintings and sculptures from artists

– A heritage stemming from Roman Empire (and Greece)

Impact of Classical Ideas• Study of classics leads to

humanism– Movement focusing on human

potential and achievements

• Focus on human ability pushes away from religion, making society more secular

• New view of people– Baldassare Castiglione’s The

Courier describes the characteristics of a perfect Renaissance noble

– Men were to be skilled in many areas, while women held little influence outside of art

Impact on Art and Literature• Artists like the “Big Four”

copied Greek and Roman style to portray religious subjects– Wanted to perfect the human

body through art

• Francesco Petrarch – “Father” of Italian Renaissance humanism– Poet and artist that wrote in

Italian and Latin

• Giovanni Boccaccio – Known for his Decameron, wrote about the human experience

Impact on Political Thought

• Niccolo Machiavelli argued the human spirit in his book The Prince– Said humans are inherently

bad– The best rulers think for

the people, not themselves

• Vittoria Colonna expressed personal emotions of women of the time

Ideas Spread North

• Following plague and war, rulers and merchants in Northern Europe began to sponsor artists

• Artists like Albrecht Durer, Hans Holbein, and Jan van Eyck attempt to illustrate everyday lives of nobles and poor

• Johann Gutenberg’s printing press (Early 1450s) helps spread Renaissance ideology

Reform Movements in Western Europe• Christian Humanism

– Renaissance thinkers critical of failures of Church

– Most famous was Desiderius Erasmus

– Wanted Christianity of heart, not ceremony

– Thomas More’s Utopia described a mythical land without war or greed

• Women’s Reforms– Most famous feminist is

Christine de Pizan– Wrote The Book of the City of

Ladies, questioning difference in treatment of girls and boys

Influence of Patrons

• Elizabethan England– Elizabeth I encouraged

Renaissance art and literature

– Also wrote and participated in movement

• William Shakespeare– Most famous writer of

the Elizabethan Age– Drew from the classics for

inspiration and plots

Impact of the Renaissance

• Changes in Art– Focus on perfecting the

individual– Secular and religious works

• Changes in Society– More info available thanks

to printing press– Christian humanists

questioned how life should be lived

– Questioning of political and social structures

Exit Slip

• Describe the relationship between Humanism and the Church

• Perfect Renaissance men were expected to do what?

• Perfect Renaissance women were expected to do what?

The Reformation:Criticism of the Church

• Reformation – movement for religious reform

• Why?– Social

• Humanism led to secularism & questioning of Church

• Spread of ideas through printing press

– Political• Pope viewed as a foreign ruler and

challenge to current monarchs

– Economic• People hated taxes to Church• Church wealth draws attention of

monarchs

– Religious• Church leaders corrupt• Viewed as “too worldly”

Martin Luther

• Luther (1483-1546)– German (Holy Roman Empire)

• Despised sale of indulgences– Donated money served as a

pardon for sin– Claimed you could not “buy”

your way into Heaven

• October 31, 1519 – Luther posts 95 Theses on the door of the church in Wittenberg– Condemns Church practices– Began to not only criticize the

Church, but to actively teach change

Heresy or Legitimacy?• At first, Church has no response

to Luther• 1521 – Charles V (Holy Roman

Emperor) declares Luther a heretic with Edict of Worms

• By 1522, Luther’s followers are calling themselves Lutherans

• 1524 – Peasant revolt in HRE, squashed by prince

• 1529 – Two sides emerge (Pope supporters and those against him)– Eventually, the princes protesting

would be known as Protestants, or Christians that were not part of the Catholic Church

Luther’s War

• Charles V (Holy Roman Emperor) not happy, declares war against Protestants– Wins in 1547, but cannot

force them into Church

• 1555 – Peace of Augsburg is signed, agreeing that German states can be Catholic or Protestant– Charles V forced to sign to

stop fighting

Henry VIII and Protestant England• King Henry VIII wanted to get an

annulment (divorce) from his first wife, Catherine– Wanted a son– 1527 – Pope says “No”

• Thomas Cramer, head of the highest church court in England, said “yes” in May 1533

• Act of Supremacy of 1534 made the King head of the Church of England– Now has the power of the Pope

• Still followed mostly Catholic teachings, but Pope removed from authority in England

• Henry would end up with two daughters (Mary, Elizabeth) and one son (Edward)

Henry VIII Consequences• Following Henry VIII’s death in

1547, 9 year old Edward VI became ruler and the church moved in a more Protestant direction– Weak and sick, passes away at 15

• Mary (Catholic) took over in 1553, she had 300 Protestants burned to death– “Bloody Mary”

• Elizabeth (Protestant) continues her father’s work, with help of Parliament– Set up the Church of England– Protestants in England known as

Anglicans

John Calvin• Calvin (1509-1564) took over

movement begun by Huldrych Zwingli in Switzerland– Agreed with Martin Luther in most areas– Said the ideal gov’t was a theocracy

controlled by religious leaders

• Differed with Luther in belief of predestination– Said God determined in advance who

would be saved and who would be condemned

• Created a powerful religious city in Geneva– By mid 1500s, Calvinism replaced

Lutheranism as the most popular form of Protestantism

• Influenced John Knox, who would later form the Presbyterian Church

Exit Slip

• How did Henry VIII impact the Reformation?

• How did Elizabeth I impact the Reformation?

• How did John Calvin impact the Reformation?

The Catholic Reformation:The Church Needs Change

• Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) sought to change the image of the Church– Gained popularity through his

book Spiritual Exercises, a daily devotion

– Made leader of Jesuits, or the Society of Jesus, by the Catholic Church

• Society of Jesus goals:– Founded schools throughout

Europe– Convert non-Christians to

Catholicism– Stop the spread of Protestantism

Council of Trent• Pope Paul III (1534-1549)

– Began Inquisition– Created Jesuits– Called for council of Church

leaders to meet in Trent, Italy

• Between 1545-1563, Council of Trent makes several changes to Church– Banned selling of indulgences– Church was ultimate authority on

the Bible – anyone else was a heretic

– Faith and good works were needed for salvation, not just faith

Legacy of the Reformation

• Religious and Social Effects:– Protestant churches

flourish– Catholic Church more

unified– More focus on education

• Political Effects:– Catholic Church power

declines, modern nations begin to emerge

Exit Slip

• What was the significance of Ignatius of Loyola?

• List one of the three goals of the Society of Jesus

• What was the purpose of the Council of Trent?