The Renaissance

1. New interest in classical literature

a. Fall of Constantinople in 1453

b. First printed book in Europe, 1454

c. Scholarship restores correct texts

2. Growing wealth in the middle & upper classes

3. Italian courts develop idea of “Renaissance Man”

a. E.g. Castiglione, The Courtier

b. Competent in many things: reading, dance, music, war, hunting, exploring

c. Plenty of room for a “Renaissance Woman”: reading, dance, music, hosting

d. Not on list: self-denial, service to others

4. Secularism: Decline of interest in religion among some in the ruling class

a. More and more demand for secular art & literature

b. Popes just warrior-rulers like anyone else – use dubious means to collect money for building projects in Rome

The Reformation

1. Luther’s 95 Theses, Wittenberg, 1517: open criticism of papal authority

2. Causes

a. Reaction against secularism in the upper classes

b. Renaissance open-mindedness, reading the Bible in new ways

c. Popular religiosity

i. The guilds

ii. Towns: audiences for popular preachers

iii. Bible widely available, plus religious treatises

d. Doctrinal questions vs. the old religion

i. Relative weight of “faith” and “works”

ii. Questions about need for sacraments and thus for a priesthood

3. Results

a. Much disputation and warfare

i. “Reformed” religion adopted in northern Germany, Scandinavia,

Scotland, parts of Switzerland, Navarre (on French/Spanish

border), parts of the Netherlands

ii. Roman Catholicism in France, Spain, Italy, southern Germany

b. England: Elizabeth I (1558-1603) imposes compromise, keeps the peace

c. Council of Trent (1547-64) reforms procedures in Catholic Church

i. Reaffirmation of doctrine

ii. De-secularization:

*more serious about liturgy: improved music, standardized prayer books

*attempts to reduce power of secular rulers

Machiavelli, The Prince

1. Prime example of Renaissance secularization

2. Exemplifies the Renaissance approach to argumentation

a. Thesis statement

b. Support the thesis first with logic

c. Then support it with classical or contemporary examples

3. Attacks Plato about how to be a just man

4. What a “Prince” was in 15th-century Italy

5. “Learn how to be not good”

a. Liberality (pp. 1492-3)

b. Cruelty vs. Pity, Love vs. Fear (pp. 1493-5)

c. Keep your promises? Tell the truth? (pp. 1495-7)