Chapter 15 Section 2The Northern
Renaissance
Review Which approach to study included critical
analysis of material? The Renaissance began in Italy because
the ________ increased trade and brought them in contact with Byzantine scholars
Italian Renaissance writers reflected whos teachings?
increased trade and brought Italy in contact with Byzantine scholars (who preserved Greek and Roman ideas) as well as contact with new ideas from where?
The Spread of Ideas
Italian Renaissance ideas began to spread northward mostly by students who had studied in Italy
Another way the ideas spread was the process of printing
Scholars believe that in about 1450, Johannes Guttenberg became the first European to use moveable type to print books
Guttenberg’s invention was not totally well received by some. They believed books made from paper would not last long, that hand written manuscripts were far more beautiful, and scribes feared for their jobs
Skepticism did not stop the spread printing press. By 1475 printing presses were used in England, France, Germany and
Italy
Northern Renaissance Writers
The most influential humanist of Northern Europe was Desiderius Erasmus
{Erasmus differed from Italian scholars in that he studied the works of early Christians} as well as Greek and Roman scholars. He believed that the ideas of Christianity and of classical civilization could be harmonized
In Erasmus’ most famous book The Praise of Folly he criticized fasting, pilgrimages and even the church’s interpretation of the Bible
Believing medieval scholars had made Christianity less spiritual and more complicated, he suggested a return to the original simple message of Jesus
Desiderius Erasmus
Thomas More Thomas More, an English humanist, took a similar
view In 1516 he published Utopia in which he condemned
governments as corrupt and argued that the private ownership of property causes unnecessary conflict between people
Thomas More contrasted life in Europe with his idea of a perfect society where every man was equal and everyone worked to support the society
After refusing to agree that the king was the supreme head of the church in England, King Henry VIII had him executed
400 years later he was sainted by the church
Thomas More
King Henry VIII
By Hans Holbein the Younger
William Shakespeare &Christopher Marlowe
English literature reached its peak in the late 1500’s and the early 1600’s
Whereas classical dramas portrayed angry gods punishing humans {writers such as Shakespeare and Marlowe focused on human actions and emotions}
Marlowe used powerful language and imagery to convey his thoughts
Shakespeare built upon the ideas of Marlowe but he portrayed human emotions and personality with a skill that few other writers have matched
Christopher Marlowe
William Shakespeare
Northern Renaissance Artists Painters from northern Europe began to study under
Italian painters, spreading the new style In Flanders a group of artists developed their own
style. The painters known as the Flemish School are credited with perfecting techniques of painting on oil canvas
The Flemish brothers Jan and Hubert van Eyck paid great attention to detail, especially in facial expressions
One of the most famous Flemish artists, Pieter Brueghel the Elder, came out of this era
An alter piece created by Jan and Hubert van Eyck
Continued….
Germany also produced many great artists as well. Albrecht Durer was famous for his copper engravings
and woodcuts. He was one of the first to suggest illustration in books
Hans Holbein the Younger traveled through Europe painting portraits of famous people
Although northern Europe was influenced by the Italian Renaissance style, it did develop its own personality and style
Example: most Italian art depicted men as athletic figures with rippling muscles and flawless physiques. On the other hand, the northern styles were more like the Europeans of the 1500’s- bald, frail and imperfect
Italian Renaissance Flemish Renaissance
Review Erasmus differed from Italian scholars in
that he studied the works of who? What did writers such as Shakespeare
and Marlowe focus on? Which approach to study included critical
analysis of material? The Renaissance began in Italy because
the ________ increased trade and brought them in contact with Byzantine scholars
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