Renaissance in the NorthRenaissance in the North

““North” = Northern EuropeNorth” = Northern Europe

• Ideas spread north from ItalyIdeas spread north from Italy

• Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, BritainBritain

• Printing press invented in 15Printing press invented in 15thth century by Guttenberg, a German.century by Guttenberg, a German.

• Copies of the bible printed 1455Copies of the bible printed 1455

Flanders, on the North Sea, was one of the main centers of the Renaissance in Northern Europe.

Florence, center of the Renaissance in Italy.

What does this quote What does this quote reveal? reveal?

• ““All the world is full of knowing men, All the world is full of knowing men, of most learned schoolmasters, and of most learned schoolmasters, and vast libraries; and it appears to me vast libraries; and it appears to me as a truth, that neither in Plato’s time as a truth, that neither in Plato’s time or Cicero’s…there was ever such a or Cicero’s…there was ever such a convenience for studying, as we see convenience for studying, as we see at this day there is” – Francois at this day there is” – Francois Rabelais 1532Rabelais 1532

Questions to consider: Questions to consider:

• Why was the Bible the first book that Why was the Bible the first book that Guttenberg printed? Guttenberg printed?

• How did the printing press encourage the How did the printing press encourage the spread of ideas? spread of ideas?

• How would life be different if the printing How would life be different if the printing press had never been created? press had never been created?

• Would information be harder to get? Would information be harder to get? Would the levels of education and literacy Would the levels of education and literacy among people be different? among people be different?

Before the invention of the printing press, books were copied by hand.

Half a century after the printing press, some 20 million + books printed.

Key peopleKey people• Desiderius Erasmus – Dutch scholar, priest. Promoted Desiderius Erasmus – Dutch scholar, priest. Promoted

humanist ideas – called for bible to be printed in local humanist ideas – called for bible to be printed in local languages.languages.

• Thomas More – English scholar & humanist. Wrote Utopia – Thomas More – English scholar & humanist. Wrote Utopia – about an ideal society.about an ideal society.

• Francois Rabelais – French writer and humorist. Created Francois Rabelais – French writer and humorist. Created satirical cartoons.satirical cartoons.

• William Shakespeare – English playwright.William Shakespeare – English playwright.

• Jan Van Eyck – Dutch painter – highly realistic scenes of Jan Van Eyck – Dutch painter – highly realistic scenes of village life.village life.

• Albrecht Durer – German painter who developed engraving Albrecht Durer – German painter who developed engraving as an art form. as an art form.

Durer self-portraitDurer self-portrait

• ““In Italy, I am a In Italy, I am a gentleman, at gentleman, at home I am a home I am a parasite.”parasite.”

Thomas More quoteThomas More quote

• ““[how can anyone] be silly enough to [how can anyone] be silly enough to think himself better than other people, think himself better than other people, because his clothes are made of finer because his clothes are made of finer woolen thread than theirs. After all, woolen thread than theirs. After all, those fine clothes were once worn by a those fine clothes were once worn by a sheep, and they never turned it into sheep, and they never turned it into anything better than a sheep.” anything better than a sheep.” ― ― Thomas More, , Utopia

Eramus quoteEramus quote

• ““A constant element of enjoyment A constant element of enjoyment must be mingled with our studies, so must be mingled with our studies, so that we think of learning as a game that we think of learning as a game rather than a form of drudgery, for rather than a form of drudgery, for no activity can be continued for long no activity can be continued for long if it does not to some extent afford if it does not to some extent afford pleasure to the participant.”pleasure to the participant.”

• Why did humanists like Erasmus call for Why did humanists like Erasmus call for translating the Bible into the vernacular? translating the Bible into the vernacular?

• How did Moore’s visions of a utopian How did Moore’s visions of a utopian society fit in with the ideas of Erasmus? society fit in with the ideas of Erasmus?

• What would your Utopian society be like?What would your Utopian society be like?– With the people around you decided on three With the people around you decided on three

things that you must have in your Utopian things that you must have in your Utopian Society.Society.

– What are three rules of your Society.What are three rules of your Society.– Pick a climate/location for your Society. Pick a climate/location for your Society. – Your group must reach a consensus. Your group must reach a consensus.

• What contributed to the popularity of What contributed to the popularity of entertainment? entertainment?

Rabelais Comic Masterpiece Rabelais Comic Masterpiece

• In Gargantua and Pantagruel we hear In Gargantua and Pantagruel we hear the adventures of two gentle giants. the adventures of two gentle giants. – On the surfaceOn the surface

•Comic tale of travel and warComic tale of travel and war

– In the deepIn the deep•Commentary on religion, education and other Commentary on religion, education and other

serious subjects of his time…serious subjects of his time…

• Following are some pictures Following are some pictures

ProloguePrologue

• Images and stories you can access Images and stories you can access through project Gutenberg. through project Gutenberg.

• http://www.gutenberg.org/files/http://www.gutenberg.org/files/8166/8166-h/8166-h.htm#image-8166/8166-h/8166-h.htm#image-00070007