Europe 1300 - 1600

The Renaissance

What was it?The RenaissanceA rebirth of art and learningLasts from approx. 1300 – 1600

People wanted the good old days Classical Greece and Rome By doing so they invented new

artistic styles and schools of thoughtImportance of the individual was key

As Italian merchants’ profits increased and governments collected more taxes, funding for the visual and performing arts increased Even for the

“common man”

How it starts

Rich merchants drive the Renaissance

The Medici of Florence Became rich and

powerful through banking

They support the arts as a way to demonstrate wealth and power

What did they believe in? Humanism

Focused on human potential and achievement

Renewed interest in history, literature, and philosophy

Secular (worldly) Living/thinking of this world rather than

the afterlife. Supporting the arts

Churches, merchants, and rich people put a lot of money into art.

St. George Slays the Dragon

A Revolution in Art

The Middle Ages:Not realistic looking

Mostly religious TWO (2) dimensional

The Renaissance: Realistic style Lots of Greek and

Roman scenes Use of

perspective3 dimensional appearance

Leonardo, the Artist:From hisNotebooks of over 5000

pages (1508-1519)

The Last Supper - da Vinci, 1498& Geometry

Refractory

Convent of Santa

Maria delle

Grazie

Milan

Renaissance Art in Northern Europe Should not be considered an appendage to

Italian art. But, Italian influence was strong.

Painting in OIL, developed in Flanders, was widely adopted in Italy.

The differences between the two cultures: Italy change was inspired by humanism with its

emphasis on the revival of the values of classical antiquity.

No. Europe change was driven by religious reform, the return to Christian values, and the revolt against the authority of the Church.

More princes & kings were patrons of artists.

Van Eyck:

The Crucifixion

&

The Last Judgment 1420-1425

Giovanni Arnolfini and His

Wife(Wedding Portrait)

Jan Van

Eyck

1434

Jan van Eyck - Giovanni Arnolfini

& His Wife (details)

Quentin Massys (1465-1530) Belonged to the

humanist circle in Antwerp that included Erasmus.

Influenced by da Vinci.

Thomas More called him “the renovator of the old art.”

The Ugly Dutchess, 1525-1530

HieronymusBosch

The Garden of Earthy Delights

1500

HieronymusBosch

The Garden of Earthy Delights(details)

1500

Bruegel’s, Niederlandisch Proverbs, 1559

Bruegel’s, The Triumph of Death, 1562

The Reformation

CORNELL NOTES TODAY PLEASE!

Background

1. By the 1100’s the Catholic Church is the dominate force in Europe

People begin to think that the church is corrupt.

Specific Problems With the Church

Catholic Church clergy (pope, bishops, priests, etc.) were:Spending lots of $$Having kidsDrinking and gambling

Martin Luther (1483 – 1546) A monk/teacher in

Germany In 1517 he decides to

take action against clergy who were selling indulgences Reduced time in purgatory Some in the Catholic

Church gave people the idea that this was a way to buy their place in heaven

Someone copied them and sent them to a printer Kicks off the REFORMATION

Leads to churches that did not accept the Pope’s authority

Luther hates the idea of indulgences• He writes 95 Theses attacking the practice and nails them to a church door on Oct 31, 1517

What was Luther’s Deal?Luther realizes there are more problems with the Church than indulgences His three big ideas for change:

1. You can only get to heaven through faith NOT faith and good works

2. All church teachings should be based on the Bible Not the word of the Pope

3. All people with faith were equal No need for priests to interpret the Bible

What helps the Reformation succeed?1. The printing press (Social)

Spreads humanist and secular ideas Makes the church unhappy

2. Some rulers begin to challenge Church’s authority (Political) – HUGE IDEA!

Most people at the time obey the Pope rather than their local ruler

3. Merchants didn’t like paying taxes to the Catholic Church in Rome (Economic)

SO WHAT?Religious conflict helped to fuel social and political problemsWitch HuntsWars (30 Years War)

Witch HuntsWitches supposedly made alliances with the devil for special powers Became a cause of “unfortunate” events

Poor harvest, fires, sudden deaths, etc. 85% were women

Usually older, widowed, poor, etc.No one to protect them

Reflects the stress and strain of European society during the early modern period

30 Years War Religious tension leads to wars between Roman

Catholics and Protestants King of Spain tries to get England to come back to

Catholicism in 1588 Results in the Spanish Armada (England defeats a huge fleet of

ships) 30 Years War (1618-1648)

Holy Roman Emperor tried to force some of his subjects to be Catholic

Mainly in Germany Involves most of Europe Most destructive war in Europe until the 20th century

1/3 of German population dies Leads rulers to seek diplomatic solutions to problems rather

than war = stronger more stable monarchies in the long run

New Monarchies

In the long run: Centralizing monarchs benefited most from the Reformation As the Holy Roman Empire falls apart, other monarchs

increased revenue and authority to create powerful states. Also NO empires in Europe = various regional states

Constitutional States England

Becomes a constitutional monarchy following the English Civil War (1642-1649) Over taxation of nobles (don’t worry too much about it) Royalists (Charles I) vs Parliament (Oliver Cromwell)

Parliament wins Charles I captured and executed Cromwell becomes a dictator

Parliament restores the monarchy in 1660 More of the same problems The Glorious Revolution

King kicked out and power given to William and Mary But they had to agree to a Constitution

Power is on Parliaments side

Kenilworth Castle – Destroyed by Cromwell in 1649

Absolute MonarchyBased on the Divine Right of KingsAuthority came from god – only person they answer to

King made ALL policy decisions and laws

France is the best example of this philosophyLouis XIV

The Sun King (Louis XIV) “I am the state” Built Versailles

HUGE palace w/ outrageous standard of living Had the nobility live there too – they exchanged

living the high life for absolute rule of Louis XIV Louis and his advisors:

Maintained a huge army to enforce laws and to expand territory (wars)

Promoted economic developmentWorks in the short term but sets the stage

for the eventual fall of the French Monarchy