SOC SCI 3145

WORLD HISTORY: Modern to Contemporary

1st Semester AY 2020-2021

MODULE I: RENAISSANCE

Objectives:

At the end of the session, students should be equipped with the following:

1. To understand the definition, background, meanings and important events

that
happened during renaissance.
2. To give deeper knowledge about the causes and consequences of the
beginning
of Renaissance in Italy.
3. to know how Humanism evolved including the intellectual and artistic
Renaissance in Europe.
4. To be familiar about the Renaissance ‘s contributions in Art, Science,
Literature
and others.

Target Concepts:

The citizens of each of the nations in Western world share a common culture and History that
differ from those of the other countries. All of the countries of the Western World, however,
share similar artistic and religious heritages and beliefs.

There was a vigorous rebirth of creativity. This rebirth began in Italy and quickly spread
throughout Europe. As you go on with this module, think about how the individualism
expressed during the Renaissance that affect your ideas and beliefs.

Meaning and Insights:

Renaissance:

- The word Renaissance is French for rebirth. It originally referred to a new

interest in the learning of Ancient Greece and Rome which began in 1300s.

- It was a movement or period of vigorous artistic and intellectual activity. The

Renaissance in Europe spanned the years 1350-1600.
Let us recall your memory:

How the European Nations Grew? What do you mean by National States?

A change began to occur near the end of Middle Ages and by 16th century , people in
developing European countries were becoming linked to a larger comminity or nation. In
addition, people in various European countries shared a common language religion, ruler, local
lord, remote king, emperor, dukes, barons, and feudal nobles. National states started in 1500s
which means large territories that a ruler had consolidated under one government. People in
this land generally shared a common cultural heritage. In the early 15th century, the kings of
England, France, spain and Portugal as well as Russian tsars, had consolidated their authority
over large territiry.

To enhance our awareness, let us read and review the following sub-topics:

1. The roles of gunpowder, firearms and cannons in the form of National States in
Western Europe.
2. The Royal power in Europe

2.1. Henry VII

2.2. Louis XII
2.3. Spanish nations
2.4. Holy roman Empire
2.5. The Russian nations

How Should We Look Renaissance As a Whole?

The Renaissance was a period of great artistic creativity that began in Italy and spread
through Europe. As early as 1300s, some scholars began to study the works of classical Greek
and Roman artists and thinkers. These scholars who came to be called humanists, laid the
foundations for Renaissance as they turned to Ancient Greek and Roman architecture, art and
writing.

The spirit of Renaissance also inspired European explorers to make long voyages to distant
parts of the globe. Their discoveries led to the establishments of vast empires, trade and new
wealth brought sweeping changes in the European economy.Another step away from Medieval
attitudes was taken as reformers challenged some church teachings and questioned the actions
of the clergy. As a result of these protests, people in many parts of Europe left the Carholic
church to follow new branches of Christianity.

Political changes had began in Middle Ages continued as European rulers unified their
countries and created strong centralized governments. At the same time, the people of some
states found ways to secure their rights and limit their ruler’spowers. Still another step towards
modern times was the growth of spirit of scientific curiousity. Seventeenth century thinkers no
longer accepted older explanations of nature but used observation and experiments to find
natural laws. Similarly in the enlightenment of the 18th century, philosophers tried to use reason
to understabd people, politics and society.

1. RENAISSANCE BEGINS IN ITALY:

By 15th and 16th centuries, a mature civilization was evolving in Europe. Population, trade
and industry expanded in 15th century Italy, cities approached the size of the larger citiesof the
Middle East. Italian cities grew wealthy from trade between Asia and Europe. City rulers, rich
merchants and church officials spent large sums of money to build and beautify churches and
public buildings. they also supported artists and writers. The cities of Italy therefore, became
cultural centers.

Venice: Linking Past and Present

When the Renaissance began in Italy, a unique and varied culture was already
flourishing in the rich city of Venice on the Arcahic coast. Built in more than a hundred islands,
linked by canals and bridges, Venice drew thousands of travelers and tourists just as it does
today.It was the center of trade and finance between Europe and the East. Spices, gold and
other prized goods from Asia passed through the offices of Venetian merchant and bankers.

Crusaders had sailed to the holy land in Venetian ships. All marvelled at the city’s
elaborate palaces and chuches and at the thousands of sleek black boats or gondolas that
travelled the canals. Venice powerful fleet brought in an empire in the Mediterranean and
make it the leading sea power of the time.

2. HUMANISM:

Rather than emphasizing religious ideas, writers and artists express more concern for
human. Although religion continued to be important, Renaissance thinkers concentrated on the
problems and experiences of the present life rather than the next one. Writers told stories
of everydal life even painters realistically portrayed nature and the human body.
 The word humanist derived from the Italian word umanista which means a teacher of
the humanities, particularly the Latin language.

The Renaissance Humanists studied the following:

A. Latin and Greek language and literature

B. Composition
C. Rhetoric
D. History
E. Philosophy
F. Music and Mathematics

take note:

“Renaissance scholars believed that the ancient Greek and Romans excelled in this
subjects and that classical ideas were good model to follow.

3. HUMANIST WRITERS AND PAINTERS:

A. Francesco Petrarch (1304-1374)

-Italian poet and led the rediscovery of classical literature

-He studied Roman Literature and Philosophy
-He discussed the ideas of Roman writers and imitated their style
-He wrote hundreds of poems in Italian

B. Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527)

-A diplomat and student of politics from Florence who drew on Roman history
to set up guidelines for rulers of his time.
-In his book “The Prince” (1513), he pointed out that succesful rulers often lied,
broke treaties and killed in order to gain and keep power.
-He said, policies must be judged only by their results.

The Role of Medici Family

They were bankers who had branch offices in cities throughout western Europe. They
became active in politics of Florence in the 1400s and controlled the city for most of the next
300 years. In 1450, Cosimo de Medici founded the Platonic Academy in Florence and it became
the center of studies in Greek Philosophy.

The best known member of Medici Family was Cosimo’s grandson Lorenzo (1449-1492)
also known as “The Magnificent”, a classical scholar, skilled architect and a talented poet who
wrote in a style of Petrarch. He hired painters and sculptors to create works of arts for his
palace, and also invited artists, painters and philosophers to his court. Finally, he expanded the
university at Florence to give young people an opportunity to study classical literature.
Isabella D’ Este (1474-1539)

During childhood, she and her sister Beatrice studied the humanities and learned to
read and speak Latin and Greek. She married Francesco Gonzaga, ruler of small state in
Northern Italy. As a patron of many distinguished writers and artists, she made her court
famous. A special room was built to display the paintings she commissioned. Her own learning
and encouragement of the arts made known in her time as “the first woman of the world”.

Trivia:

1. During Renaissance, men were expected to be a good swordsmen, and both men and
women took part in sports including an early form of tennis.
2. In 1450s, European first used movable metal type to print abook. A German Johan
Gutenberg from Mainz is usually credited with printing the first book, a copy of the
Bible. The oldest complete surviving book printed by Gutenberg is the “Constance
Missal”.

Knowing the Italian Painters:

A. The Realism of Giotto de Bondone:

- The son of a poor shepherd, he began as a young boy sketching on a rock with sharp
stone.
- He was employed to decorate the walls of churches and other religious buildings and
painted only sacred scenes.
- He used three dimensional rather than flat and drew objects in the foreground larger
than those in the background. Other artists discovered this technique called
perspective.

B. The Genius of Leonardo da Vinci:

- An architect, musician, botanist, and engineer, born near Florence in 1452. In tha alte
1460s, he was apprenticed to Andrea del Virrocchio, a famous painter and sculptor.
 - He believed that an understanding of how the body worked was an essential to an
artist. His drawings are the first accurate pictures of human anatomy.
- His model in Monalisa was named Lisa del Giocondo, a young wife of an Italian
merchant.

C. The Frescoes of Raphael Santi:

- Among Raphael’s most famous works are “frescoes”, the art or technique of painting
with watercolors on wet plaster. From the German word frisc, meaning fresh.
- He was famous for his Madonnas-pictures of Mary, the mother of Jesus.
- He painted to decorate the Pope’s quarters in Vatican. Each wall in the room has an
arch to support the curved ceiling. He brilliantly incorporated the arches into the paintings.
The best known of these paintings is the School of Athens.

D. The Art of Michaelangelo Bounarroti:

- A sculptor, architect and a poet born in a village near Florence, where his father was a
government official.
- At the age of 23, he made the statue Pieta which shows Mary holding the body of Jesus
after the crucifixion. This work made him an instant fame.
- In 1508 Pope Julius II called Michaelangelo to Rome to paint religious scenes on the
ceilings of Sistine Chapel. The painting were to show biblical events from the Creation
to Greast Floods of Noah’s time. He finisheed the paintings after four years.

Northern Europe Renaissance Artists:

The center of the Northern Renaissance in art was The Neterlands, specially the region
of Flanders, now part of Belgiumand Holland. Although many painters from Northern Europe
travelled to Italy to study, they did not all share the Italian’s interest to classical themes and
styles. In their landscapes, portraits and other works, the Northern painters emphasized
precise, realistic detail and the use of light and shadows.

A. Jan van Eyck:

- The first master of oil painting and used his observation of detail to paint realistic
pictures by emphasize the lightings and used vivid colors to make his paintings come
alive.

B. Peter Brueghel, The Elder:

 - He used a wealth of detail and often sly humor , he created large, dramatic paintings of
farm workers and crowds of towns people at work and play.

C. Jan Vermeer and Jacob Van Puisdael:

- They were Dutch painters who continued the painting careffully detailed landscapes
and interior scenes.

D. Rembrandt:

- Dutch painter and remarkable for their use of light and color, his paintings dramatically
showed both the people and places of his time.

E. Albert Durer:

- German painter and the first to paint realistic nature pictures. He was also a master
portrait painter and best for engravings in copper and woodcuts showing people going
about their everyday affairs.
- He also wrote books in Geometry and artistic theory and the first writer to publish
scientific literaturte in German.

F. Hans Holbein, The Younger:

- German painter that created portraits vividly show his subject’s personalities as well as
their clothing and the objects around them.
- Two of his famous portraits were his friends Erasmus and sir Thomas More. He
illustrated numerous books including Erasmus’ Paraise of Folly. To escape the religious
wars in Europe, he moved to England where he became court painter to King
Henry VIII in 1536.

G. William Shakespeare:

- Born in England in 1564 who wrote plays and poems that many consider to be among
the best in English language. He illustrates universal human qualities. His plays
therefore have meaning beyond the time during which he lived.
 - Many lines from his plays and poems have become part of our everyday speech. He
created such familiar phrases as failplay, catch cold, forgone, conclusion and all’s well
ends well.

H. Francois Rabelais:

- Born in France and encouraged the idea of living a full busy life. A monk scholar and a
Physician. He was famous in “let nothing in the world be unknown to you”.
- He wrote five volume work, Gargantua and Pantagruel, a book witha combination of
humor, lively imagination and exciting advrntures with scholarship.

I. Michael de Montaigne:

- A French writer who lived quietly and wrote short and thoughtful essays that reflected
his personal thoughts and interests. He wrote in a conversational style exploiting ideas
about ffriendship education and many others. His works influenced European
literature into moderen times.

J. Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra:

- A Spanish writer and known for his masterpiece “Don Quixote”. In this book, Cervantes
mocked the way Medieval codes of chivalry distorted reality.
REQUIREMENTS

Activity: Choose and answer only one statement.

1. Read at least one topic or chapter in Niccolo Machiavelli’s book titled “The Prince” and make
a substantial explanation using political and educational aspects.

2. Read a play, work or writing of the Renaissance humanist writers and explain the famous
contribution of these works in the field of humanities and history.

Quiz: Choose and answer two statements only.

1. What do you mean by humanism? How this view evolved including the intellectual and
artistic
Renaissance in Europe?

2. Give and explain the Renaissance contributions in Art, Science, Literature and Politics.

3. Explain the importance of Greek and Roman writers to Renaissance thinkers.