The Renaissance
European Renaissance which involved a renewed
emphasis on the spirit of enquiry, marked the start of modern period in Europe.
The
Renaissance is credited with bridging the gap between the Middle Ages and
modern-day civilization. The term, ‘Renaissance’, means ‘rebirth’ or ‘revival’.
This movement started in Italy around 15 century CE and soon spread to the
whole of Europe. It was characterised by a reawakening of interest in the study
of ancient classics. Human existence became the focus of many disciplines
during this period. Knowledge was pursued to understand human affairs and find
solutions to human problems. This new attitude was called Humanism. Shakespeare
and Milton are two authors who excelled in tis time period with their works on
various aspects of Life. Dante and St. Thomas More wrote about the society. Other
renaissance scholars, like Francesco Petrarch and Giovanni Boccaccio, wrote in
their national language, Italian, about secular themes. This was a stark
contrast from earlier times, when religious themes were the only important
subjects of study for all scholars.
Renaissance also gave rise to new art forms.
Inspired by the spirit of humanism, the artists produced paintings which were
natural and realistic. They studied the human form along with its expressions
and movements. They saw grace and perfection in it. Leonardo da Vinci,
Michelangelo and Raphael were the greatest artists of this period.
Leonardo was a painter, scientist, philosopher and
poet, and is regarded as the symbol of Renaissance. The Last Supper and Mona
Lisa are his masterpieces.
Sculpture was also inspired by the grace of human
form. Greek and Roman art greatly influenced the sculptors. It was the first
time in history that free-standing figures were made in sculpture.
The Renaissance movement also reawakened the spirit
of scientific enquiry, which motivated men to accept something only after
experimentation and observation. These scientific experiments and observations
led to the questioning of established Church beliefs. Previously, education and
learning were confined to the four walls of the Church. Copernicus, a polish
astronomer, proved that the Earth revolves around the Sun. This new
heliocentric theory shattered the long-held Christian belief that Earth was the
centre of the Universe. 40 years later, Galileo, who invented the telescope,
also proved that the theory of Copernicus was correct. However, the church
still refused to accept this. Eventually, Sir Isaac Newton proved that all
heavenly bodies move according to the law of gravitation.
Other areas of science like medicine, chemistry, and
the physical sciences also underwent a revolution. In medicine, the human
anatomy was studied in depth. William Harvey discovered the circulation of
blood. About this time, John Gutenberg of Germany invented the printing press
and books became easily available. This helped in the spread of the new
knowledge. Earlier, the only books available were handwritten manuscripts which
were very rare in circulation. Therefore, knowledge was limited to very few
people.
While many artists and thinkers used their talents
to express new ideas, some Europeans took to the seas to learn more about the
world around them. In a period known as the Age of Discovery, several important
explorations were made.
Voyagers launched expeditions to travel the entire
globe. They discovered new shipping
routes to the Americas, India and the Far
East, and explorers trekked across areas that
weren’t fully mapped.
Famous journeys were taken by Ferdinand Magellan,
Christopher Columbus, Amerigo Vespucci (after whom America is named), Marco
Polo, Ponce de Leon, Vasco Núñez de Balboa, Hernando De Soto and other
explorers.
Scholars believe that the demise of the Renaissance was
the result of several compounding factors. By the end of the 15th century,
numerous wars had plagued the Italian peninsula. Spanish, French and German
invaders battling for Italian territories caused disruption and instability in
the region. Also, changing trade routes led to a period of economic decline and
limited the amount of money that wealthy contributors could spend on the arts.
Later, in a movement known as the
Counter-Reformation, the Catholic Church censored
artists and writers in
response to the Protestant Reformation. Many Renaissance thinkers
feared being
too bold, which stifled creativity. Furthermore, in 1545, the Council of Trent
established the Roman Inquisition, which made humanism and any views that
challenged
the Catholic church an act of heresy punishable by death.
By the early 17th century, the Renaissance movement
had died out, giving way to the Age of Enlightenment.
European Renaissance which involved a renewed
emphasis on the spirit of enquiry, marked the start of modern period in Europe.
The
Renaissance is credited with bridging the gap between the Middle Ages and
modern-day civilization. The term, ‘Renaissance’, means ‘rebirth’ or ‘revival’.
This movement started in Italy around 15 century CE and soon spread to the
whole of Europe. It was characterised by a reawakening of interest in the study
of ancient classics. Human existence became the focus of many disciplines
during this period. Knowledge was pursued to understand human affairs and find
solutions to human problems. This new attitude was called Humanism. Shakespeare
and Milton are two authors who excelled in tis time period with their works on
various aspects of Life. Dante and St. Thomas More wrote about the society. Other
renaissance scholars, like Francesco Petrarch and Giovanni Boccaccio, wrote in
their national language, Italian, about secular themes. This was a stark
contrast from earlier times, when religious themes were the only important
subjects of study for all scholars.
Renaissance also gave rise to new art forms.
Inspired by the spirit of humanism, the artists produced paintings which were
natural and realistic. They studied the human form along with its expressions
and movements. They saw grace and perfection in it. Leonardo da Vinci,
Michelangelo and Raphael were the greatest artists of this period.
Leonardo was a painter, scientist, philosopher and
poet, and is regarded as the symbol of Renaissance. The Last Supper and Mona
Lisa are his masterpieces.
Michelangelo is famous for his paintings in the
Sistine Chapel at the Vatican, which includes Creation of Adam, Fall of Man,
Last Judgement etc. He was also a great sculptor and an architect. These painters
observed the beauty and harmony of Nature.
Sculpture was also inspired by the grace of human
form. Greek and Roman art greatly influenced the sculptors. It was the first
time in history that free-standing figures were made in sculpture.
The Renaissance movement also reawakened the spirit
of scientific enquiry, which motivated men to accept something only after
experimentation and observation. These scientific experiments and observations
led to the questioning of established Church beliefs. Previously, education and
learning were confined to the four walls of the Church. Copernicus, a polish
astronomer, proved that the Earth revolves around the Sun. This new
heliocentric theory shattered the long-held Christian belief that Earth was the
centre of the Universe. 40 years later, Galileo, who invented the telescope,
also proved that the theory of Copernicus was correct. However, the church
still refused to accept this. Eventually, Sir Isaac Newton proved that all
heavenly bodies move according to the law of gravitation.
Other areas of science like medicine, chemistry, and
the physical sciences also underwent a revolution. In medicine, the human
anatomy was studied in depth. William Harvey discovered the circulation of
blood. About this time, John Gutenberg of Germany invented the printing press
and books became easily available. This helped in the spread of the new
knowledge. Earlier, the only books available were handwritten manuscripts which
were very rare in circulation. Therefore, knowledge was limited to very few
people.
While many artists and thinkers used their talents
to express new ideas, some Europeans took to the seas to learn more about the
world around them. In a period known as the Age of Discovery, several important
explorations were made.
Voyagers launched expeditions to travel the entire
globe. They discovered new shipping
routes to the Americas, India and the Far
East, and explorers trekked across areas that
weren’t fully mapped.
Famous journeys were taken by Ferdinand Magellan,
Christopher Columbus, Amerigo Vespucci (after whom America is named), Marco
Polo, Ponce de Leon, Vasco Núñez de Balboa, Hernando De Soto and other
explorers.
Scholars believe that the demise of the Renaissance was
the result of several compounding factors. By the end of the 15th century,
numerous wars had plagued the Italian peninsula. Spanish, French and German
invaders battling for Italian territories caused disruption and instability in
the region. Also, changing trade routes led to a period of economic decline and
limited the amount of money that wealthy contributors could spend on the arts.
Later, in a movement known as the
Counter-Reformation, the Catholic Church censored
artists and writers in
response to the Protestant Reformation. Many Renaissance thinkers
feared being
too bold, which stifled creativity. Furthermore, in 1545, the Council of Trent
established the Roman Inquisition, which made humanism and any views that
challenged
the Catholic church an act of heresy punishable by death.
By the early 17th century, the Renaissance movement
had died out, giving way to the Age of Enlightenment.
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