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