Ch 5 Notes

World History

 

Italian Renaissance-

Renaissance- mean “rebirth”

-         rebirth of the Greek and Roman times (Classical periods)

-         starts in Italy, spreads to the rest of Europe

Features-

1.      Italy was an urban society

a.       City states dominated Italy as it wasn’t united

b.      A secular (worldly view) developed b/c of wealth

c.       Decline of Church power

2.      recovery from disasters (plague, political turmoil)

a.       sparked new interest in Roman world (ruins were everywhere)

3.      rise of individual freedoms, abilities- man can do everything

a.       well rounded person with lots of talents was the ideal (Renaissance Man)

Effect on people-

-         mainly on the rich b/c they were the ones with time to spend on art, lit, and thinking

-         some effect on commoners as art and stuff could be seen everywhere

 

Italy-failed to be united under a single monarchy, instead, several independent city states emerged, 3 were big time

            - profited from controlling trade routes to Asia

Milan- northern Italy, controlled trade heading into Alps region to N. Europe

Venice- Also in N. Italy, also much access to Mediterranean Sea

Florence- central Italy

-         dominated by  the de’Medici family, controlled city gov’t

 

Italian Wars-

-         France invades Italy

-         Italian city states ask Spanish for help

-         After fighting for a long time w/o pay, Spanish troops sack Rome

-         Spain left as a power in Italy

 

Niccolo Machiavelli- wrote The Prince- book about how to acquire and keep power

-         said humans were self centered, therefore political activity should not be limited by morals

-         “the ends justify the means”

-         “better to be feared than loved”

-         “be the first to break a treaty, not the 2nd”

 

Renaissance Society-

-         Nobility-

-small % of the population (2-3%), but served as advisors and military companions to the king

-3 characteristics of a perfect noble-

            1. born into it- have character, grace and talent

            2. two skills- be a warrior, enrich life with the arts

            3. code of conduct- show off their achievements w/o bragging

 

-         Peasants and townspeople-

-as cities grew, fewer peasants- but still 90% of pop

-serfs decline as manorial system declined and cities grew

-peasants rent changes from work due to $

city folk

1.      Patricians- wealthy from trade, banking, etc- dominated the politics of the town

2.      Burghers- shopkeepers, artisans, guild members- made goods, services

3.      wage workers and unemployed- poor, 30-40% of pop

 

-         Family and Marriage-

-marriages were often arranged by by the parents

            -to strengthen political or economic ties w/ another family

            -wife’s family gave a dowry- $, to the husband at time of marriage

            -kids- adulthood when father went to court and “freed” them

 

5.2

Humanism-

-study of the classics (Roman/Greek)

-poetry, grammar, rhetoric, history, philosophy (human created things)- today = humanities

-early humanists-just sat around and studied all the time

-later humanists- active role in society, advisors to leaders

 

Literature-

Vernacular- local languages (French, English, etc)

Vernacular Authors-

-         Dante- Divine Comedy- a souls journey through, hell, purgatory, heaven

-         Geoffrey Chaucer- The Canterbury Tales­- people of all walks of life on a pilgrimage to a martyr’s grave

-         de Pizan- female author- wrote that women can learn as well as men, given the chance

 

Education- produce people that will follow a path of virtue and wisdom

-         studied that “liberal arts”- math, language, history, poetry, astronomy, music

-         also learned physical skills- “sound mind in a sound body”

-         few females- those that did attend learned morals and religion- so they could be “good Christian ladies,” wives and mothers

 

 

Art-

-new techniques-

            -Masaccio developed perspective (allowed figures to look more realistic, lifelike, have depth

            -sculpture begins to look more realistic

            -architecture- goes back to Roman/Greek columns and rounded arches

Artistic Masters-

Leonardo da Vinci- Mona Lisa, The Last Supper,

Michelangelo- ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, David, Pieta,

Raphael- lots of “madonna” pictures

Art in N. Europe was a little different, but OK too

 

5.3

Protestant Reformation- religious reform movements in Western Europe

Christian humanists- humans have the ability to reason, improve themselves

            -reading Christians works would make them better people

Erasmus- wanted to reform the Church

-         believed living a good life, inward feelings were more important than rituals (fasting, seeing relics, making pilgrimages)

-         did not want to break away from the Church, just reform it

 

Probs in the Church-

1.      corruption- popes too involved in politics and worldly interests

-         one pope led armies against his enemies

-         worried more about moving up the ladder, political ambition than salvation of the people

2. indulgences- something to cut your time in purgatory

            - could be bought, or accumulated by finding relics

 

Martin Luther

-Church said faith and good works needed for salvation

-Luther- said only faith was enough, good works not needed

-put 95 Theses (grievances) vs the Church on door, printed and circulated around Germany (1517)

-Beliefs

- no indulgences

- only 2 sacraments (baptism, communion)

- faith for salvation, not good works

- let priests marry

            - called on princes to overthrown the Church in Germany and create own thing

            - called to appear before Charles V- Holy Roman Emperor

            - Edict of Worms- Luther to be arrested

            - protected by his ruler

 

Lutheranism-

-         many rulers support Luther and take over Church lands/properties in Germany

-         state controlled churches

-         services changed from Catholic services

-         peasants revolt- Luther backs the princes- becomes even more dependent on them for church to grow

 

Political things that helped Lutheranism to grow-

-Charles, King of Spain and Holy Roman Empire (German lands) had many problems

                - rivalry and war with France (Pope backed French king)

                - Ottoman Turks invade from the east

                - local rulers in Empire supported Luther as a way to show their own authority over the Empire (and take land from the Church)

 

Peace of Augsburg- gave German rulers the right to proclaim what religion their regions would follow (but not freedom of religion for individuals)

 

5.4

Other Protestant leaders-

-John Calvin

                - predestination- God already determined if one is saved or not

-John Knox

                - Calvinist leader in Scotland- leads to Presbyterianism

 

England-

Stayed Catholic until Henry VIII

-          Henry wants a male heir to the throne, but wife can’t have one

-          Wants to divorce her, but the Pope says no

-          So he orders the archbishop of Canterbury to issue an annulment and marries new wife

-          Declares himself as the head of the new Church of England (Anglican)

-          Dissolved Church holdings and sold off their property

 

After Henry-

-          his only son takes over at young age, but dies early

-          throne goes to his 1st daughter, Mary

-          Mary is daughter of 1st wife = Catholic, goes on rampage against Protestants in England (Bloody Mary), actually strengthening Protestantism

 

Anabaptists-

-          didn’t want religious power to belong to the state

-          believed in adult baptism (Catholics/Lutherans = infant)

-          each church chose own minister and anyone was eligible

-          viewed as radicals b/c they were kind of anti-gov’t

 

Catholic Reformation-

Church takes efforts to reform, keep from losing people

-          Jesuits- missionaries and also spread education, many US colleges are Jesuits (SLU e.g.)

-          Reformed the papacy

-          Council of Trent- organized Catholic doctrine

1.        faith and good works needed for salvation

2.        importance of all of the sacraments, not just 2

3.        indulgences still important, but can’t be sold