Dr. W. Turner
Renaissance and Reformation
(HIST 4351/6351)
modified: 11/06/07
Introduction:
The Renaissance is one of the most fascinating times in history. At least
that is the perspective of Enlightenment thinkers. The Renaissance actually
takes place in two stages and is a reaction to economic and cultural forces
at the end of the Middle Ages. The first stage takes place primarily in Italy,
the Italian Renaissance. The second stage is in the rest of Europe, the Northern
Renaissance. Both of these "re-births" have characteristic artistic,
musical, and societal changes which mark them as different from the Middle Ages
prior and the Enlightenment following.
In this course we will examine the forces which propelled Europe into the so-called
Renaissance, we will define the word Renaissance, and then we will look at the
subsequent reactions and changes in religion (the Reformation), art, and architecture.
The Reformation itself will occupy much of our study and discussion as it shaped
European thought, art, and politics.
Bainton. Reformation of the Sixteenth Century. Boston: Beacon Press,
1985.
Welch. Art in Renaissance
Italy. Oxford: 2000.
Machievelli. Prince.
Penguin: 1984.
More. Utopia. Penguin:
1965.
Mirandola. Oration
on the Dignity of Man. Gateway (Regency Publ.): 1996.
Midterm
20%
Final Exam
20%
Art Project:
Oral Presentation
20%
Paper/Project
20%
Reaction Papers (3, 5%
each) 15%
Participation
5%
TOTAL
100%
One half of this course is based around your research-art projects. You will each select a topic concerning art of the Renaissance – an individual artist, an art movement, a process or technique. Any genre of art is acceptable and encouraged – painting, architecture, music, poetry, etc. You are to answer the basic question: How has (your topic) contributed to the Renaissance?
Each of you will give an oral presentation of your findings. You may use PowerPoint, slides, overheads, costumes, music, posters, handouts, anything to illuminate your topic. You will be graded on organization and content and may give simple talk on your subject.
The paper will be on the same subject as your presentation, a “write-up” of your findings. It should be footnoted with a bibliography in the style outlined in Kate Turabian’s A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, Chicago: 1996. The paper or project should have approximately 8-10 written pages, but of course if you include lots of pictures, poems, or other illustrative material it may be much longer.
The first 8 weeks of the course will be a series of lectures on the Renaissance and the Reformation interspersed with discussions of the readings. The second 8 weeks will be your presentations. The final exam will be on what you have learned from one another.
January
15 Lecture: "The end of the Middle Ages & the Italian
Renaissance"
17 Guest Lecturer: Dr. Simon Healy
22 Discussion: Machievelli, The Prince (Please come prepared)
24 Lecture: "The move to the North, earlier or later?"
29 Lecture: "Science & Medicine in the Renaissance"
Reaction Paper due on Machievelli.
31 Guest Lecturer: Dr. Mark Fissel
February
5 Discussion: More, Utopia
7 Research day (no class)
12 Lecture: "Martin Luther"
Reaction Paper due on More.
14 Lecture: "The meaning of the Reformation"
19 Discussion: Mirandola, Oration on the Dignity of Man
21 Lecture: "Calvin, Zwingly and the Anabaptists"
26 Lecture: "The English Reformation"
28 Midterm
Reaction Paper due on Mirandola.
March
5 Information set up on Project Presentations
7 Art Project Presentations
12 Art Project Presentations
14 Art Project Presentations
19 Art Project Presentations
21 Art Project Presentations
26 Art Project Presentations
28 Art Project Presentations
April
2 Art Project Presentations
4 Art Project Presentations
Spring Break!!!
16 Art Project Presentations
18 Art Project Presentations
23 Art Project Presentations
25 Final Exam Review
Final Exam: Thursday May 2nd, 1:00-3:00