“To what extent and in what ways may the Renaissance be regarded as a turning point in Western intellectual and cultural tradition?” Question #2, 1977.

““To what extent and in what To what extent and in what ways may the Renaissance be ways may the Renaissance be regarded as a turning point in regarded as a turning point in

Western intellectual and Western intellectual and cultural tradition?”cultural tradition?”Question #2, 1977Question #2, 1977

Kim SmithKim SmithAP European HistoryAP European History

The Renaissance may be regarded as a turning The Renaissance may be regarded as a turning point in Western intellectual and cultural point in Western intellectual and cultural tradition through its science, philosophy, art, tradition through its science, philosophy, art, and social behavior and manners. First, the and social behavior and manners. First, the Renaissance provided a spirit of Renaissance provided a spirit of experimentation, curiosity and objectivity in experimentation, curiosity and objectivity in science, which set the template for current science, which set the template for current research efforts today. Second, the research efforts today. Second, the Renaissance gave birth to new and more Renaissance gave birth to new and more modern forms of art and artists. The renowned modern forms of art and artists. The renowned names of Da Vinci, Raphael, and Michelangelo names of Da Vinci, Raphael, and Michelangelo and the art they developed left a lasting and the art they developed left a lasting impression of this period in history. The Roman impression of this period in history. The Roman Catholic Church became less influential in the Catholic Church became less influential in the daily lives of people and man became more daily lives of people and man became more secular. In the area of social behavior, finally, secular. In the area of social behavior, finally, Castiglione in the Courtier provided a code of Castiglione in the Courtier provided a code of behavior that was adopted by people of that behavior that was adopted by people of that time. These are just some of the elements that time. These are just some of the elements that show how the Renaissance was the cornerstone show how the Renaissance was the cornerstone of today’s modern Western world.of today’s modern Western world.

I. Changes in Intellectual I. Changes in Intellectual TraditionTradition

A. The Renaissance and A. The Renaissance and the Scientific Revolutionthe Scientific Revolution

1. Scientists of the 1. Scientists of the Renaissance tried to Renaissance tried to emphasized concrete emphasized concrete experience over experience over abstract theoryabstract theory

2. 2. Dissections Dissections of human of human corpses corpses provided provided for the for the study of study of human human anatomyanatomy

3. Da Gama and 3. Da Gama and Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus contributed to contributed to discoveries in discoveries in navigationnavigation

4. Copernicus 4. Copernicus introduced the theory of introduced the theory of a a heliocentricheliocentric universe, universe, or the sun as the center or the sun as the center of the universeof the universe

B. Philosophy / B. Philosophy / Politics Politics

2. Humanism2. Humanism

3. Niccolo Machiavelli and 3. Niccolo Machiavelli and The Prince (1513)The Prince (1513)

4. Bruni4. Bruni

II.II. Changes in Cultural Changes in Cultural Traditions:Traditions:

A. Famous Artists A. Famous Artists from the Italian from the Italian RenaissanceRenaissance

1. Brunelleschi1. Brunelleschi

B. Art in the Northern B. Art in the Northern RenaissanceRenaissance

1. Albrecht Durer1. Albrecht Durer

C. Renaissance vs. Middle C. Renaissance vs. Middle Ages ArtAges Art

More secular than spiritualMore secular than spiritual Better sense of depth and Better sense of depth and

perspectiveperspective Linear perspective, chiaroscuroLinear perspective, chiaroscuro

Study of human anatomy helped Study of human anatomy helped painters show people in painters show people in distinctive and living attitudesdistinctive and living attitudes

Less symbolic, more a portrayal Less symbolic, more a portrayal of concrete realitiesof concrete realities

D. Social Behavior and D. Social Behavior and MannersManners

1. Castolioni and the 1. Castolioni and the CourtierCourtier

Unlike the Middle Ages, Unlike the Middle Ages, the Renaissance promoted the Renaissance promoted etiquette and “courtesy”, etiquette and “courtesy”,

the kind of behavior suited the kind of behavior suited for princely courtsfor princely courts

E. Schooling and E. Schooling and Education Education Middle AgesMiddle Ages

vs. vs. RenaissanceRenaissance Universities Universities

professional professional training in training in theology, theology, medicine, lawmedicine, law

Chaotic, Chaotic, repetitiousrepetitious

Different age Different age groups, levels groups, levels in separate in separate classes w/own classes w/own teacherteacher

Latin principle Latin principle subject w/many subject w/many new purposesnew purposes

ScholasticismScholasticism

The extent in which the Renaissance might be The extent in which the Renaissance might be regarded as a turning point in Western tradition is the regarded as a turning point in Western tradition is the substructure of the Western world today. The modern substructure of the Western world today. The modern ideas of science, politics, art, and social behavior ideas of science, politics, art, and social behavior were molded out of the complex speculations of the were molded out of the complex speculations of the Renaissance. Without the secular uprising from the Renaissance. Without the secular uprising from the Renaissance, the treasured creations of Michelangelo Renaissance, the treasured creations of Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci would never have been and Leonardo Da Vinci would never have been discovered. By embracing the curiosity of the discovered. By embracing the curiosity of the scientists and exploring human anatomy and the scientists and exploring human anatomy and the natural world, Europe would never have discovered natural world, Europe would never have discovered America or medicines to one deadly diseases. America or medicines to one deadly diseases. Machiavelli won admiration of Napoleon and Francis Machiavelli won admiration of Napoleon and Francis Bacon for his fascinating textbook of pragmatic Bacon for his fascinating textbook of pragmatic politics. Castolioni and hit Courtier were the politics. Castolioni and hit Courtier were the cornerstone of the respectable modern man. The cornerstone of the respectable modern man. The Renaissance was a critical turning point in intellectual Renaissance was a critical turning point in intellectual and cultural society of the Western tradition.and cultural society of the Western tradition.