The Renaissance, Reformation, and Exploration.PPT

Renaissance Literature Humanism - Intellectual and literary movement based upon the classics. Focused on human potential and individuality of their subjects; concerned with everyday problems Reflected values of an urban, secular society Wrote in vernacular – local language Petrarch – father of humanism; wrote sonnets (14 line poems); in Latin Boccaccio – The Decameron – stories about people trying to escape the plague Renaissance Machiavelli – The Prince Politics and power Leaders sometimes have to mislead the people for the good of the state The end justifies the means Better to be feared than loved Christian Humanists Wanted to reform society, Church, etc. Erasmus – The Praise of Folly – poked fun at greedy merchants, the Church, etc. Sir Thomas More – Utopia – a perfect society William Shakespeare Human experience – drama, comedy Macbeth, Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othelllo, King Lear, The Taming of the Shrew The Printing Press Johan Gutenberg - Germany Block printing from China too slow Movable type printing press Gutenberg Bible Revolutionized printing Spread of ideas, more books, cheaper books Growth of literacy, reading, education Spread ideas of humanism and reformation The Reformation Reformation Typical medieval question: What must I do to be saved? Martin Luther and others (Wycliffe, Hus) have a different answer to this question than what the Catholic Church believed. Eventually creates a complete break with the Catholic Church and destroys religious unity in the Western Christian World. Background Christian Humanism (or humanism) had already begun changes People could REASON and improve themselves Desiderius Erasmus - should live good daily lives rather than focus on being saved Praise of Folly – criticized church abuses, wanted reform not to destroy church Problems Popes involved in politics; less spiritual Spent $ on art, architecture (St. Peter’s Basilica) Held multiple positions in church (pluralism), absenteeism, simony (selling positions in th