210 likes | 357 Views
Explain the ways in which Italian Renaissance humanism transformed the ideas about the individual’s role in society. In the beginning there was…. …Humanism. Francesco Petrarch (1304-1374). “Father of Humanism” secular views Private scholar; not a clergyman
E N D
Explain the ways in which Italian Renaissance humanism transformed the ideas about the individual’s role in society.
In the beginning there was… …Humanism
Francesco Petrarch(1304-1374) • “Father of Humanism” • secular views • Private scholar; not a clergyman • Rekindles interest in the ancient Greek and Latin classics • Investigates info. from source, not traditional
Renaissance Humanism • Curriculum based on Liberal studies: grammar, poetry, rhetoric, history, politics, and moral philosophy • Belief that study of the classics is path to virtuous and balanced lifestyle and personality • Importance in human, not divine, matters • Information gathered from source, not traditional • Devoted majority of life to the discovery and practice of the classics • Anti-”scholasticism”, which was the educational curriculum of the medieval times.
Before Humanism • Catholicism dominates people’s lives • Criticism crushed • No “other religions” hold any strength • Catholic Church “monopolized” religion in europe
Humanists on Religion • Criticize the Catholic Church about mistakes, misinterpretations, and corruption • Liberal knowledge was used to denounce church often in literary works that circulated Europe • Criticize the Church’s written sources, such as the Vulgate, writings by the Church Fathers, and many other important religious documentation.
Lorenzo Valla (1406-1457) • Pope attempted to assert lands from the King of Naples through the Donation of Constantine • Used knowledge of Latin to prove the document was a forgery by the Church • Demonstrated that Latin expressions and patterns varied with time period
Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536) • Wrote many anti-clerical satires and dialogues • Revised the Vulgate • Translated the New Testament into Greek and lay • Strong on church reform, believed that early bible and classic study the best reform
Erasmus and the Reformation • Wrote mostly against the church and its corruptness • Criticized the Catholic institution and the turmoil, chaos, and selfish corruption taking place within it • Although he was not a Lutheran and denied being so, he wanted Catholic reform, not its replacement
How this affected individuals • Catholic Church and her clergymen became more “exposed” and lost reverence • Loses a lot of influence in the general populace’s daily life • Lutherans began to acquire more ground • Humanist works credited by later reformations
Before Humanism • People acted like children; there was very little personal upkeep or manner expectations • Women were excluded from many social “gatherings” • Birth was the defining point for social standing and status • Education and personal capability didn’t exist within the social developments of medieval society
Humanists on Society • Humanists believe one should uphold personal manners and good-behavior • Many humanists published guides and manuals for being a successful courtier • Believe that education and universal capability should contribute to social success
Christine de Pisan(1363-1434) • The Treasure of the City of Ladies, “Renaissance woman’s survival manual” • Spread humanism to French courts • Helped to incorporate women more importantly into courts
Baldassare Castiglione • Very influential in Renaissance courts • Believed to be a successful courtier; polite, balanced, skilled; by peers • The Book of the Courtier, a guide to proper etiquette and manners in courts, as well as perquisites for being a “successful courtier”
How this affected individuals • Transformed society from “barbaric” to “civilized” • Women introduced to balance male “manliness” with female “tenderness” • Personal qualifications play greater role in status, giving initiate for “bettering oneself” • Birth loses some substance • Preceded gentry, forerunners
Humanists on Intellect • Liberal arts introduced: grammar, poetry, rhetoric, history, politics and moral philosophy • more practical, useful than scholasticism • Education offered to wide audience • Rekindled interest and influence of Greek and Roman classics • Incorporated a necessity for literary truth, original and “uncorrupted” • Desire to investigate info. at source creating large collections of original manuscripts • Brought a greater purpose to learning: virtue and balance in life through study of classics
Before Humanism • Educated men were clergymen • “Schools” were places to learn of God and spreading his will • Educational curriculum was scholasticism • Abstract and unpracticed; useless • Educational power was held by few, allowing manipulation of lay peoples
How this affected individuals • No longer just clergymen • Humanism replaced scholasticism • New universities and humanist academies offer greater education • As well as learning, students gain a greater virtuous and balanced personality • With larger girth of education, powers less able to use it to manipulate subjects