As we discovered from the various readings on the topic, the Renaissance is a period in the History of the West, which is often viewed as the birth of Modernity. But after a more careful look how really modern was the Renaissance? The first historian to dub this time period the "Renaissance" was the nineteenth-century French historian, Jules Michelet, who saw a drastic break from the Middle Ages when looking at the culture and intellect of the time. Not too long after Michelet's magna opus was published, did Jacob Burkhardt compose his tome, The Civilization of Renaissance Italy, in which he further defined this break with the Middle Ages by asserting that it was the genius of the Italian despots in the fourteenth century that propelled the West into the Modern Age. Is this all the Renaissance was? Or is there a more comprehensive way of looking at this remarkable time frame? As we have seen in our study of the Middle Ages, history is never one dimensional and therefore we must look at this time period from multiple angles to discern its true meaning. Moreover, we would be remiss if we also did not include a juxtaposition of the Renaissance with that of the Medieval period, in order to derive a more scholarly way of defining this important epoch.
One of the ways in which the Renaissance did witness a clear break from the Middle Ages was in the culture realm. The paintings, sculptures, architecture, as well as the literature all saw shifts in composition and theme. As was witnessed in the past several weeks, Medieval world was dominated by Christian themes, which emphasized the spiritual world. The heroes, such as Roland, King Arthur, and Robin Hood were lionized for a strong sense of morality and chivalry. In the fourteenth century, however, there was a shift in theme towards humanism. Dante, for example, provides a rich allegory in the Divine Comedy that illustrates the human qualities of sin and redemption. While there is still very much a presence of Christianity in the works of these artists, the focal point seems to be more on our life on earth, rather than the metaphysical world after death.
This secular conception of life called humanism was a movement that emphasized individualism. The ideal person was one who used his opportunities, demonstrated control , and attempted mastery in multiple areas. A dancer, a fighter, a poet, and a wooer of women, where just some of the skills that "Renaissance Man" aspired to be because these skills amounted to a quality called virtu. No where is this more clearly illustrated than in the great Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini.
That notwithstanding, the Renaissance was not just about culture. Arguably the most important development that occurred between the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries was in the political arena. While Italy transformed into a hub for European exports, it also gained in secular control as a result of the split in the Papacy during the Avignon term. The merchants of Genoa, Venice, and Florence gained significant wealth and affluence during this time and began to enjoy la dolce vita. They built luxurious homes and stressed the present rather than world after death. Wealthy families such as Medici ascended to power and created despotic city-states in Northern Italy. Although these city-states were strong and influential they did not ascend to the political unity of the new monarchies elsewhere in Europe.
Following the Hundred Years' War France, under the Valois dynasty, emerged as a strong unified and nationalistic state. The victorious Charles VII (1429-1461) first cultured this birth of nationalism by becoming more of a central role in the country. Besides kicking the English out of his land, he also did not consult an Estate General for taxes, and subsequently he grew extensive wealth locally. Louis XI (1461-1483) followed his father Charles VII and while he was extremely unpleasant and unkingly, he also was an effective ruler who was popular with the rising middle class. Louis XI did not leave his power up to the chance of war, instead he would often negotiate duplicitous deals that built France up to a dominant presence on the European continent.
England also witnessed the birth of a new powerful monarchy and nationalism during this age. After Henry VI lost all of his lands in France, the noble families in England began to bicker over power and control. Through the process known as "livery and maintenance" did these wealthily nobles form private armies and forged England's first Civil War. This war was called the "War of the Roses" since the primary two house fighting the York's (White Rose) and Lancaster's (Red Rose) had roses in their coat of arms. The York's through the art of cunning and military ability dominated most of the war. Both Edward IV (1460-1483) and his brother Richard III (1483-85) became English Monarchs, and were strong ones at that. However, in 1485 Henry Tudor, the Earl of Richmond, challenged Richard III with his weak Lancastrian claim, (his mother was a descendant of John Gaunt the third son of Edward III) and killed Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field, August 21, 1485. Henry VII (1485-1509) was crowned the first Tudor monarch and he immediately passed laws against livery and maintenance to prevent any challengers of the crown from raising an army. Later in 1487, he established the Court of Star Chamber which allowed Henry to try offending nobility swiftly without a jury.
Monarchs such as the ones from France and England were exactly what Niccolo Machiavelli wished to see the despots, such as Lorenzo Medici, become in his beloved Italy. In his groundbreaking work, The Prince, Machiavelli argued that what makes a ruler good is not Christian morality but rather the ability to be as ferocious as a lion, and as cunning as a fox. The way Machiavelli viewed the world was simple--the ends always seem to justify the means. Machiavelli longed for a unified Italy, which he believed would only emerge if the Italian princes acted more like the new monarchs in Northern Europe. Despite all the criticism leveled against The Prince and Machiavelli what can be said of this short, but potent book is that it further illustrates the rise of the individual in society, which clearly points to a change in European Civilization.
As we discussed in class, it was this individualism in society that was paramount to the development during the Renaissance. To return to Burckhardt who stated "that it was not the revival of antiquity alone, but its union with the genius of the Italian people, which achieved the conquest of the Western World." As one can see, according to Burckhardt the Renaissance was characterized by the discovery of the world and man. However, multiple medieval historians have pointed out, as we have seen in the previous weeks, that the Middle Ages did possess striking similarities to change much earlier than the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. For example, Etienne Gilson describes passionate individuals, such as Abelard and Heloise from the twelfth century. The thirteenth century gave the world intricate theories of the state in the writings of Thomas Aquinas. Lastly some of the most important cornerstones to the modern world were all medieval institutions, namely parliamentary government, the legal system, as well as university education.
In sum, the best way for one to look at the Renaissance is not as a definitive break with the period that came before it, but rather to see it as a gradual change. In other words, the real culture of the Renaissance can be described as a boy growing into a man. As you prepare for next week's class on the Reformation, look for the connections in the rise of the individual in society. How is this process is seen in the Protestant Reformers such as Martin Luther and John Calvin?
England also witnessed the birth of a new powerful monarchy and nationalism during this age. After Henry VI lost all of his lands in France, the noble families in England began to bicker over power and control. Through the process known as "livery and maintenance" did these wealthily nobles form private armies and forged England's first Civil War. This war was called the "War of the Roses" since the primary two house fighting the York's (White Rose) and Lancaster's (Red Rose) had roses in their coat of arms. The York's through the art of cunning and military ability dominated most of the war. Both Edward IV (1460-1483) and his brother Richard III (1483-85) became English Monarchs, and were strong ones at that. However, in 1485 Henry Tudor, the Earl of Richmond, challenged Richard III with his weak Lancastrian claim, (his mother was a descendant of John Gaunt the third son of Edward III) and killed Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field, August 21, 1485. Henry VII (1485-1509) was crowned the first Tudor monarch and he immediately passed laws against livery and maintenance to prevent any challengers of the crown from raising an army. Later in 1487, he established the Court of Star Chamber which allowed Henry to try offending nobility swiftly without a jury.
Monarchs such as the ones from France and England were exactly what Niccolo Machiavelli wished to see the despots, such as Lorenzo Medici, become in his beloved Italy. In his groundbreaking work, The Prince, Machiavelli argued that what makes a ruler good is not Christian morality but rather the ability to be as ferocious as a lion, and as cunning as a fox. The way Machiavelli viewed the world was simple--the ends always seem to justify the means. Machiavelli longed for a unified Italy, which he believed would only emerge if the Italian princes acted more like the new monarchs in Northern Europe. Despite all the criticism leveled against The Prince and Machiavelli what can be said of this short, but potent book is that it further illustrates the rise of the individual in society, which clearly points to a change in European Civilization.
As we discussed in class, it was this individualism in society that was paramount to the development during the Renaissance. To return to Burckhardt who stated "that it was not the revival of antiquity alone, but its union with the genius of the Italian people, which achieved the conquest of the Western World." As one can see, according to Burckhardt the Renaissance was characterized by the discovery of the world and man. However, multiple medieval historians have pointed out, as we have seen in the previous weeks, that the Middle Ages did possess striking similarities to change much earlier than the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. For example, Etienne Gilson describes passionate individuals, such as Abelard and Heloise from the twelfth century. The thirteenth century gave the world intricate theories of the state in the writings of Thomas Aquinas. Lastly some of the most important cornerstones to the modern world were all medieval institutions, namely parliamentary government, the legal system, as well as university education.
In sum, the best way for one to look at the Renaissance is not as a definitive break with the period that came before it, but rather to see it as a gradual change. In other words, the real culture of the Renaissance can be described as a boy growing into a man. As you prepare for next week's class on the Reformation, look for the connections in the rise of the individual in society. How is this process is seen in the Protestant Reformers such as Martin Luther and John Calvin?
world-civilization-week-4.ppt |