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The Renaissance in Europe is the great movement which brought about the awakening of new interest in the old classics. It originated in the 14th-15th century and brought about a transition from faith to reason, from dogma to science. Literally the term ’Renaissance’ means "rebirth" and it signified the revival of the study of old classics. It was basically an enthusiastic study of the masterpieces of ancient Latin and Greek literature, with a new interest. Thus a new outlook was developed in the realm of thought and action.
In the broad sense, the Renaissance stood for an all-round development as well as a widening of horizons. There was a fresh realization that the world is full of interest and beauty. The Renaissance also gave rise to curiosity and the growth of the spirit of inquiry, which resulted in great discontent with the medieval spirit. Through its bold approach, the Renaissance encouraged an intellectual revolt against the rigid rules and traditions of the medieval period. The greatest service rendered by the Renaissance, was the release of the human mind and the birth of original thinking. This led to rapid progress in all spheres of activity. It also led to several movements, which took place simultaneously, such as the rise of a new political order, geographical discoveries and the reformation movement which ushered in the modern times.
Many causes led to the success of the Renaissance movement. Ideas that were not based on reason could not continue indefinitely. The clergy in the church, in actual practice, acted contrary to the principles of true Christianity that they preached. This undermined faith in the ideas of the universal church and the universal empire. Original thinkers such as Roger Bacon and Peter Abelard managed to weaken the intellectual authority of the church by blazing new trails.
Peter Abelard (1079-1142) felt that it was essential to apply reason to the principles given in the scriptures. In his opinion, the mysteries of Christianity were not to be taken for granted. They had to be tested in the light of reason and investigation. Another revolutionary thinker was Roger Bacon (1214-1294). He criticized Aristotle and the church severely. He accepted from the past whatever was reasonable and worked patiently for the cause of the new spirit. He had the foresight to anticipate several modern invasions and wrote about the possibility of having ships without rowers, vehicles without draught animals and flying machines. However, owing to their bold approach and original thinking, both of these thinkers were persecuted by the church.
The fall of Constantinople (1453) led to a widespread and systematic study of Greek heritage. After this great center of classical civilization and culture fell into hands of the Ottoman Turks, Greek scholars fled to various parts of Europe, where they diffused the great ideas of ancient Greece. Thus an enthusiasm in the study of the classics was injected into the minds of the Europeans.
A rapid spread of ideas was possible by the introduction of the printing press. In the middle of the 15th century, Johannes Gutenberg was successful in operating the first printing press at Mainz in Germany. In 1456, the first book was printed in.
Compared to manuscripts which were available to only a select few, printed books were easy and cheap to produce. This ensured widespread dissemination of ideas among masses. Also, at the same time literature started to be written in local languages like German, French, Spanish, Italian, English etc. thereby increasing its spread among commoners who could not understand Greek or Latin, the dominant literature languages of the time.
New ideas were brought to Europe owing to the Crusades which brought about contacts with the Arabs and other people in the East. Voyages were conducted to new countries by adventurers. The geographical explorers and travelers felt that it was essential to absorb the ideas of the East and also to create new ideas. Their voyages of exploration and discovery led to wealth and prosperity, as well as to a broader vision.
A great role was played by progressive kings & Popes in fostering the Renaissance. Some of the nobles and rich merchants also patronized art and scholarship. For example, artists like Michael Angelo and Leonardo ad Vinci were patronized by the brilliant Medici family of Florence. Indeed the most generous patrons of artists and men of letters in Europe were the heads of great Florentine banking firms like the Medici.
The Renaissance had its origin in Italy where it blossomed and later spread to the other countries of Europe. There were several causes leading to the origin of the Renaissance in Italy which became the school of Europe in the Renaissance.
The characteristics of Renaissance were humanism, nationalism, a new approach to life, and a new spirit in art, architecture, literature and learning, the growth of the vernaculars, and scientific investigation.
The Renaissance scholars were known as "humanists" and their subjects of study, came to be called the "humanities." Petrarch is regarded as the Father of Humanism. This movement could be regarded for the turning away from the medieval traditions of asceticism and theology towards an interest in man’s life on this earth. The works of Renaissance scholars were permeated with the faith that man with an active mind and body is capable of knowing and controlling the world.
The rise of the rational spirit and of scientific investigation gave rise to a new approach to life. Whereas the medieval approach was one of absolute conformity and obedience, the new approach was based on reason. It laid emphasis on the importance of critical examination and evaluation of ideas and principles[1].
During the medieval age, all the important writing was done in Latin, which was the language of the Church. The cultured people generally looked down upon the European vernaculars. However in the 13th century, Dante wrote The Divine Comedy in Italian rather than Latin. This great Italian poet is regarded as the link between the medieval and the modern world. With this began an era of development of vernacular literature.
The spirit of revival was evident in the field of art too. Some of the distinctive features of Renaissance architecture were round Roman arches, rows of Greek columns, Oriental domes and Islamic decoration. Gothic architecture with its pointed arches and flying buttresses was discarded. The great cities of Europe were adorned with great churches and cathedrals like St. Paul’s at London, St. Peter’s at Rome, and St. Mark’s at Venice.
The highest expression of Renaissance architecture was reached under the direction of great architects like Raphael and Michelangelo by designing the vast basilica of St. Peter, in Rome and also under Leonardo Da Vinci through his beautifully designed buildings at Milan, Pavia and other cities.
In France, kings like Francis I admired the classical style in building, resulting in public structures such as the celebrated palace of the Louvre which now houses one of the world’s largest art collections.
In Spain classical architecture received encouragement after 1550, from King Philip II, while in England, the famous architect Inigo Jones designed the classical banquet house in Whitehall in 1619.
Humanism was reflected in Italian sculpture in the 14th century.
During the 16th century, the “new sculpture” spread in Western Europe, as Italian sculptors were invited by Henry VII to England, as well as by Francis I to France. The tomb of Ferdinand and Isabella in Spain was carved on classical lines.
The change in painting was even more striking than in sculpture. Before the 16th century, most of the paintings were frescoes, which are pictures made directly on plaster walls, or on wooden panels. However in the 16th century, easel painting, detached pictures on canvas, wood or other materials developed, while the art of oil painting was mastered. In the Renaissance view, world was a place of beauty and delight. The artists concentrated their efforts on the physical aspects of man's existence rather than that of the religious. Four of the world’s greatest painters namely Leonardo da Vinci (“Mona Lisa”, “The Last Supper”), Michelangelo (“The Last Judgement”), Raphael (“Madonna”) and Titian (Venetian school) flourished in Italy during the 16th century.
The “new painting” soon spread from Italy to become the heritage of all Western Europe. Francis I took Italian painters to France where they trained French painters. Philip II encouraged painting in Spain. Holbein and Durer painted magnificently in Germany.
The golden age of Renaissance music began in the 16th century, when the crude musical instruments of the Middle Age took on modern forms and sweeter tones. The harsh rebeck was replaced by the violin and the harpsichord by the piano.
The Roman school of music produced the master composer Palestrina who is rightly called the “father of modern church music”. The other great musicians were Josquin Des Prez and Giovanni Gabrieli (Venice); Thomas Morley and John Wilbye (England); and Orlandus de Lassus (Germany).
The spirits of inquiry created by the Renaissance movement led to great progress in science. In the 13th century, Roger Bacon laid the foundations of modern science, by insisting on the experimental method, and discovered the uses of gunpowder and the magnifying lens.
Nicholas Copernicus of Poland revolutionized the thought of mankind by proving that the earth moves round the sun. The Copernican theory was upheld by the Italian astronomer Galileo, and the German astronomer John Kepler. John Kepler improved upon the Copernican theory by showing that the planets go round the Sun in an elliptical orbit. Galileo made important advances in physics through experiments and observations, like those of falling objects, pendulum and telescopes.
Sir Isaac Newton discovered the laws of gravitation, governing the movements of the planets round the sun, as also that of the moon round the earth.
The age of Renaissance also witnessed several inventions and discoveries such as that of the printing press which was of immense importance. The invention of the mariner’s compass helped in the progress of foreign trade. Thus the foundations of modern science were firmly laid in the age of the Renaissance.
The Renaissance led to significant results.
[1] Francis Bacon in particular emphasized upon observation and experimentation as means to acquire knowledge.
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