Renaissance: Historical Era or Otherwise
Dec 23, 2019 19:54:22 GMT
Tolbethessar, Santa Anna, and 2 more like this
Post by Gaius Julius Caesar on Dec 23, 2019 19:54:22 GMT
The Renaissance, or rebirth, is what scholars refer to as one of the historical periods in Europe between the 14th and 17th Centuries. Its primary characteristic was the focus on arts and scholarly thought based on Greco-Roman Culture, or the culture that Ancient Greece and Rome had. Some scholars debate about the Renaissance's definition though as an era, because even though it had numerous effects, a historical era typically affects most every person in a social structure. However, we will get to that by the end of the lecture.
Leading up to the Renaissance:
Europe 476 - Post-Rome
To cite - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fall_of_the_Western_Roman_Empire#/media/File:Europe_and_the_Near_East_at_476_AD.png
Events During the Renaissance/Timeline:
Italy after Italian Wars (1494 to 1559)
Citation - cdn.thinglink.me/api/image/891972605890789378/1240/10/scaletowidth
Of All Places, Why Italy?
1. Geography - Italy was a center for trade meaning that ideas were constantly coming in alongside the goods.
2. Perfect Location for the Scholars to come in - Whenever the Byzantine Empire fell in 1453, the Greek scholars that fled would've sought out refuge almost instantly. Not only is Italy close in proximity, but it also would've made the scholars feel at home with the opportunity to see Roman Culture.
3. Lack of Leadership - Without a strong leader in the Italian City-States, most of the City-State leaders were able to trade goods without having to pay very many tariffs or taxes. This led to increased wealth.
4. Home of the Church - At the time, the Catholic Church was the center for both wealthy and educated men. The western world's greatest scholars, therefore, often lived in Rome or near there.
5. Influx of Eastern Ideals - Many Italian Ports were also the exact spots where merchants from as far as China would bring in ideals. Unlike the west at the time, China was doing very well, and the philosophies could've made some impact.
Other possible reasons have been debated, but it's hard to come up with a perfect list. Since the starting and ending dates of the Renaissance are debated, it's also hard to pinpoint its causes.
Other Important Ideals (-isms):
Renaissance Authors and Major Related Works:
(I'm getting tired of doing spoilers, so I'm going to just do this one normally. Also, they are listed in no particular order.)
-Francesco Petrarch - Canzoniere - Even though Petrarch wasn't alive during what we're using for dates, he is often credited with being one of the inspirations for the Renaissance. His works inspired a lot of people to look back to Ancient Rome.
-Giovanni Boccaccio - The Decameron - Studied with/under Petrarch and had a similar effect.
-Dante Alighieri - The Divine Comedy - Dante also predates the Renaissance, but his works had an influence, as he used it to criticize the world around him.
-Niccolo Machiavelli - The Prince - His written work is often criticized for being suggestive of diplomatic corruption, but when actually examined reveals numerous principles that are helpful to leadership. However, to this day, Machiavellianism is a term coined to describe someone who manipulates politics.
- Geoffrey Chaucer - The Canterbury Tales - His work is often considered one of the first major literary works in English, even though there were numerous others at the time. Chaucer also predates the Renaissance, but many scholars believe that his work directly influenced William Shakespeare.
-William Shakespeare - "Hamlet", "Macbeth", "The Tragedy of Julius Caesar" (yours truly), and numerous others - Shakespeare is arguably one of the best playwriters of all time, but personally, I've heard quite a few literature "snobs" call his works trash. Oh, I bet that makes them feel real special... Name one better playwriter, I dare you.
-Miguel de Cervantes - Don Quixote - Cervantes was extremely influential to the Spanish language and culture of the time.
Italian Renaissance Artists and Major Related Works:
Leonardo da Vinci - It's hard to argue that da Vinci isn't one of the greatest artists of all time. He's also quite a bit of a scholar in numerous other respects.
The Last Supper
Citation - globalizationicas.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/last-supper-da-vinci-1495.jpg
The Mona Lisa
Citation - 1.bp.blogspot.com/-fwbyGGEfTEA/UO13sa3QxrI/AAAAAAAAKG0/j3vDQsV38iw/s1600/Mona+Lisa+Critique.jpg
The Vitruvian Man
Citation - 4.bp.blogspot.com/-QbXzm592bq8/UmCZQXoJheI/AAAAAAAASvI/PJw66Q2e3DM/s1600/Leonardo+da+Vinci+-+Vitruvian+Man.jpg
Michelangelo - He famously preferred to do his art of people in the nude. Why? I guess he marveled at the human body. Nevertheless, another super great painter.
Creation of Adam (Part of the Sistine Chapel ceiling)
Citation - matthew.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/michelangelos-creation-of-adam.jpg
David
Citation - filmmakeriq.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Michelangelo-David.jpg
Raphael - Another very famous Italian painter
School of Athens
Citation - upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/%22The_School_of_Athens%22_by_Raffaello_Sanzio_da_Urbino.jpg/1200px-%22The_School_of_Athens%22_by_Raffaello_Sanzio_da_Urbino.jpg
The Sistine Madonna
Citation - uploads3.wikiart.org/images/raphael/the-sistine-madonna-1513.jpg!Large.jpg
Donatello - Sculpted a lot of marble and bronze statues.
David
Citation - employees.oneonta.edu/farberas/arth/Images/ARTH213images/Donatello/david/comparisons/Donatello_marble_david.jpg
Botticelli - Famously gave expression to many of the Ancient Roman gods.
Birth of Venus
Citation - artmight.com/albums/2011-02-07/art-upload-2/b/Botticelli-Alessandro/BOTTICELLI%2C-SANDRO-THE-BIRTH-OF-VENUS.jpg\
Venus and Mars
Citation - pbs.twimg.com/media/CP_-M5yWwAAEEBM.jpg:large
Titian
Venus of Urbino (a nude painting)
Citation - cdn.artmight.com/albums/classic-t/Titian-1488-1576/normal_Titian-Venus-of-Urbino-1538.jpg
Caravaggio - Notice the immense emotion on Caravaggio's subjects like no paintings before it
Judith Beheading Holofernes (a little gore-like, view at own discretion.)
Citation - www.caravaggio.org/images/paintings/judith-beheading-holofernes-1598.jpg
For now, that is all the Italian artists all be doing. If you want another, feel free to request their addition.
Now, most of the rest of the world was emulating similar styles to their Italian counterparts, but there was a small group of people that were characterized by completely different style. Those were the Dutch and Flemish.
Northern Renaissance Artists and Major Related Works:
Pieter Bruegel the Elder - Notable for focusing on peasant scenes
The Tower of Babel
Citation - upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/Pieter_Bruegel_the_Elder_-_The_Tower_of_Babel_%28Vienna%29_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg/1200px-Pieter_Bruegel_the_Elder_-_The_Tower_of_Babel_%28Vienna%29_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg
Jan van Eyck - Notable for the incredible detail in his backgrounds
Arnolfini Portrait
Citation - d32dm0rphc51dk.cloudfront.net/eFI19ZvA3jRYuEpib3rvNQ/large.jpg
Hans Holbein - Although German, he employs similar style to the other Northern Renaissance artists.
Portrait of Sir Thomas Moore
Citation - www.luminarium.org/renlit/morefrick.jpg
Those are all the artists I'm doing for now. If you have another you want added, let me know!
Commentary on Renaissance Art
Renaissance Art is notable for quite a few reasons. First, we'll focus on the Italian Renaissance Artists, which are the most famous today.
Italian Renaissance art is notable for its return to Classical art styles. During the middle ages, pretty much the only art that was ever done were pictures of Jesus or hell or nothing non-religious. See example medieval painting below:
Madonna Enthroned - Cimabue
Citation - www.medievalists.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Cimabue_033.jpg
As you can see in the painting above, it is Mary holding Jesus. However, in the Renaissance, artists focus on other subjects rather than religion. Even though most of the famous Renaissance artists did still paint or sculpt work that reflected religious stories, the focus was supposed to be on the bodies of the subjects rather than the scenes. Take the "Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci as an example, because the work displays the immense emotion on each person's face. Michelangelo's "David" is also famously known for showing an "example human specimen". Compared with the work of the middle ages, the Renaissance also used more colors and better brush strokes. So, at least in the world of art, the Renaissance was a huge stepping stone.
Northern Renaissance art is notable more for its attention to detail and scenes depicting realism. Many scholars debate how Northern Renaissance art fits into the grand scheme of things, primarily since it doesn't match its Italian counterparts.
Why wouldn't it be a historical era?
Renaissance Advancements
Legacy of the Renaissance
Citations for Further Reading
General Renaissance Information - www.history.com/topics/renaissance/renaissance
Renaissance Timeline - www.thoughtco.com/renaissance-timeline-4158077
Italian Wars - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Wars
Pope Julius II - www.britannica.com/biography/Julius-II
Renaissance Origins in Italy - www.methacton.org/cms/lib/pa01000176/centricity/domain/121/why%20did%20the%20renaissance%20begin%20in%20italy.pdf
Humanism - www.britannica.com/topic/humanism/Basic-principles-and-attitudes
Neoplatonism - plato.stanford.edu/entries/neoplatonism/
Leading up to the Renaissance:
{Spoiler}
Depending on what you choose as the starting date for the Renaissance, there are numerous events that precede the Renaissance. While scholars can't agree on the precise date, for our sake, I will pick one.
The College Board curriculum for AP European History/College Western History picked 1453 as the starting date, and while that date is relatively late, I accept it as well. The reasoning that the date seems probable is the Fall of Constantinople and 100 Years' War's Ending. So, while the Italian Renaissance might have already been in its beginning stages, the rest of Europe would hardly have the opportunity to get involved.
Therefore, the events leading up to 1453 are as follows:
-Medieval Ages:
a. Dark Ages (476 - Early 1000s) - The worst era of the Middle Ages. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, most of Europe was left without a major power. Below this spoiler, I'll attach a picture of what Europe would've looked like. However, the most important part is that most of the advancements in the Roman Empire were forgotten. This set the stage for people to look backward at the prior "golden years" with a desire to return to them.
b. High Middle Ages (1000s to 1300s) - Whenever you see the movies of knights serving under kings and queens, they're usually set in this time. The reason for its somewhat positive time is the growing European populations, diminishing Barbarian invasions, and establishment of stronger governments. The Magna Carta is published during this time.
c. The Late Middle Ages (1300s to 1500-1650) - Sorry for the bad end date, but many scholars debate that the Renaissance could've even been just an extension of the late middle ages. This is primarily since feudalism wasn't yet abolished, and the Renaissance did little to change the status of anyone except for rich patrons.
-The 100 Years' War (1337 to 1453) - The Hundred Years' War, although technically only about 80 years long, is a war that was between France and England. We won't go into much detail about the war, but the most important details are that it was huge to both of the major powers. It shaped France into a more centralized government, and many scholars argue that even though England lost, it led them on the path toward today's government.
-The Black Death (About 1347 - 1351) - Combined with the 100 Years' War, the Black Death, or Bubonic Plague, reduced European populations significantly. Ironically, according to many scholars, this increased the wealth of many Europeans. How? With more resources available, there was more at everyone's disposal. (Thanos was right...
)
-Invention of Printing Press!!! (1440) - For those of you who are familiar with much of European history, the printing press becomes one of the most influential inventions ever invented. With it, religious texts like the Bible, scholarly texts like the eventually published Encyclopidie (French Spelling), and even revolutionary texts like Thomas Payne's Common Sense all become accessible to the common people. Even two out of three of the notable texts I mentioned haven't been written yet, the printing press' ability to propagate texts quickly is essential to the spread of ideas and information.
-Fall of Constantinople (1453) - Up to this point, the remnant of the Roman Empire, now called the Byzantine Empire, was controlling modern day Turkey, Greece, and a few surrounding areas. Now, the empire had fallen to a rising power, the Ottomans. However, the Greek Scholars of the empire fled once the Capital, Constantinople fell. They fled to Rome, bringing an influx of interest in both Greco-Roman culture and arts.
Now, there's other events leading up to the Renaissance, and if you're curious to learn about any of these topics in specific, let me know. I simply gave a basic summary of how each one prompted the Renaissance, so not much other information was provided. Therefore, if you have any questions, feel free to ask them.
Depending on what you choose as the starting date for the Renaissance, there are numerous events that precede the Renaissance. While scholars can't agree on the precise date, for our sake, I will pick one.
The College Board curriculum for AP European History/College Western History picked 1453 as the starting date, and while that date is relatively late, I accept it as well. The reasoning that the date seems probable is the Fall of Constantinople and 100 Years' War's Ending. So, while the Italian Renaissance might have already been in its beginning stages, the rest of Europe would hardly have the opportunity to get involved.
Therefore, the events leading up to 1453 are as follows:
-Medieval Ages:
a. Dark Ages (476 - Early 1000s) - The worst era of the Middle Ages. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, most of Europe was left without a major power. Below this spoiler, I'll attach a picture of what Europe would've looked like. However, the most important part is that most of the advancements in the Roman Empire were forgotten. This set the stage for people to look backward at the prior "golden years" with a desire to return to them.
b. High Middle Ages (1000s to 1300s) - Whenever you see the movies of knights serving under kings and queens, they're usually set in this time. The reason for its somewhat positive time is the growing European populations, diminishing Barbarian invasions, and establishment of stronger governments. The Magna Carta is published during this time.
c. The Late Middle Ages (1300s to 1500-1650) - Sorry for the bad end date, but many scholars debate that the Renaissance could've even been just an extension of the late middle ages. This is primarily since feudalism wasn't yet abolished, and the Renaissance did little to change the status of anyone except for rich patrons.
-The 100 Years' War (1337 to 1453) - The Hundred Years' War, although technically only about 80 years long, is a war that was between France and England. We won't go into much detail about the war, but the most important details are that it was huge to both of the major powers. It shaped France into a more centralized government, and many scholars argue that even though England lost, it led them on the path toward today's government.
-The Black Death (About 1347 - 1351) - Combined with the 100 Years' War, the Black Death, or Bubonic Plague, reduced European populations significantly. Ironically, according to many scholars, this increased the wealth of many Europeans. How? With more resources available, there was more at everyone's disposal. (Thanos was right...
)-Invention of Printing Press!!! (1440) - For those of you who are familiar with much of European history, the printing press becomes one of the most influential inventions ever invented. With it, religious texts like the Bible, scholarly texts like the eventually published Encyclopidie (French Spelling), and even revolutionary texts like Thomas Payne's Common Sense all become accessible to the common people. Even two out of three of the notable texts I mentioned haven't been written yet, the printing press' ability to propagate texts quickly is essential to the spread of ideas and information.
-Fall of Constantinople (1453) - Up to this point, the remnant of the Roman Empire, now called the Byzantine Empire, was controlling modern day Turkey, Greece, and a few surrounding areas. Now, the empire had fallen to a rising power, the Ottomans. However, the Greek Scholars of the empire fled once the Capital, Constantinople fell. They fled to Rome, bringing an influx of interest in both Greco-Roman culture and arts.
Now, there's other events leading up to the Renaissance, and if you're curious to learn about any of these topics in specific, let me know. I simply gave a basic summary of how each one prompted the Renaissance, so not much other information was provided. Therefore, if you have any questions, feel free to ask them.
Europe 476 - Post-Rome
To cite - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fall_of_the_Western_Roman_Empire#/media/File:Europe_and_the_Near_East_at_476_AD.png
Events During the Renaissance/Timeline:
{Spoiler}
Throughout the Renaissance, there's numerous important events that contributed to its growth and spread.
-Lorenzo de Medici Becomes Leader of Florence (1469) - Lorenzo de Medici is considered one of the greatest patrons of Renaissance art, as he sponsored both Botticelli and Michelangelo.
-Sixtus IV Becomes Pope (1471) - Sixtus IV is famously known for commissioning the Sistine Chapel. However, Michelangelo hadn't yet painted his frescoes on it... That will come a little bit later. He is also just a general patron of the arts.
-Age of Exploration (Late 1400s - 1600s) - (I'll eventually create a lecture, which will of course feature the Age of Exploration and Spice Wars) Expeditions like Columbus to the Bahamas (1492) and De Gama to India (1498) brought numerous goods to the wealthy class, which gave them even more money to spend on the arts.
-Italian Wars (1494 to 1559) - Due to the weakness of the Italian City-States, other major powers, especially the Habsburgs and French, decided to war over Italian grounds. I will attach a picture below that I found that shows the final results of the war and also shows a bit of a timeline for it. However, the most useful fact is that when France occupied parts of Northern Italy, the Renaissance made its way into their territory. This of course pushed the spread throughout Europe.
-Julius II becomes Pope (1503) - Julius II, who is often called the Warrior Pope, is famously known for re-securing the Papal States to their "former glory." He was the one who commissioned Michelangelo's painting of the Sistine Chapel, he allowed Henry VII to marry Catherine of Aragon, and he was the one to lay the foundations for St. Peter's Basilica. However, he is often criticized for having a temper and having a daughter.
-Beginning of Protestant Reformation (1517) - (The Protestant Reformation and later Catholic Counterreformation will have their own lecture included with the Wars of Religion.) Martin Luther published his 95 Theses this year, which is also one of the most influential events of the 20th Century. The war between Protestant and Catholic believers would rage on into the late 17th century. It would even determine which leaders would be more accepted by their peoples.
Now, while the 1500s has many more events in it, none of them really define the Renaissance Movement. At this point, the Renaissance had already grown to new heights that a single historical event would have little effect on it. Also, like the spoiler listed above, a lot of these are condensed down to fit in the timeline better. If you want more information on any of these, except those involving religion or exploration (since I'll be making those lectures soon), then please do ask.
Throughout the Renaissance, there's numerous important events that contributed to its growth and spread.
-Lorenzo de Medici Becomes Leader of Florence (1469) - Lorenzo de Medici is considered one of the greatest patrons of Renaissance art, as he sponsored both Botticelli and Michelangelo.
-Sixtus IV Becomes Pope (1471) - Sixtus IV is famously known for commissioning the Sistine Chapel. However, Michelangelo hadn't yet painted his frescoes on it... That will come a little bit later. He is also just a general patron of the arts.
-Age of Exploration (Late 1400s - 1600s) - (I'll eventually create a lecture, which will of course feature the Age of Exploration and Spice Wars) Expeditions like Columbus to the Bahamas (1492) and De Gama to India (1498) brought numerous goods to the wealthy class, which gave them even more money to spend on the arts.
-Italian Wars (1494 to 1559) - Due to the weakness of the Italian City-States, other major powers, especially the Habsburgs and French, decided to war over Italian grounds. I will attach a picture below that I found that shows the final results of the war and also shows a bit of a timeline for it. However, the most useful fact is that when France occupied parts of Northern Italy, the Renaissance made its way into their territory. This of course pushed the spread throughout Europe.
-Julius II becomes Pope (1503) - Julius II, who is often called the Warrior Pope, is famously known for re-securing the Papal States to their "former glory." He was the one who commissioned Michelangelo's painting of the Sistine Chapel, he allowed Henry VII to marry Catherine of Aragon, and he was the one to lay the foundations for St. Peter's Basilica. However, he is often criticized for having a temper and having a daughter.
-Beginning of Protestant Reformation (1517) - (The Protestant Reformation and later Catholic Counterreformation will have their own lecture included with the Wars of Religion.) Martin Luther published his 95 Theses this year, which is also one of the most influential events of the 20th Century. The war between Protestant and Catholic believers would rage on into the late 17th century. It would even determine which leaders would be more accepted by their peoples.
Now, while the 1500s has many more events in it, none of them really define the Renaissance Movement. At this point, the Renaissance had already grown to new heights that a single historical event would have little effect on it. Also, like the spoiler listed above, a lot of these are condensed down to fit in the timeline better. If you want more information on any of these, except those involving religion or exploration (since I'll be making those lectures soon), then please do ask.
Italy after Italian Wars (1494 to 1559)
Citation - cdn.thinglink.me/api/image/891972605890789378/1240/10/scaletowidth
Of All Places, Why Italy?
1. Geography - Italy was a center for trade meaning that ideas were constantly coming in alongside the goods.
2. Perfect Location for the Scholars to come in - Whenever the Byzantine Empire fell in 1453, the Greek scholars that fled would've sought out refuge almost instantly. Not only is Italy close in proximity, but it also would've made the scholars feel at home with the opportunity to see Roman Culture.
3. Lack of Leadership - Without a strong leader in the Italian City-States, most of the City-State leaders were able to trade goods without having to pay very many tariffs or taxes. This led to increased wealth.
4. Home of the Church - At the time, the Catholic Church was the center for both wealthy and educated men. The western world's greatest scholars, therefore, often lived in Rome or near there.
5. Influx of Eastern Ideals - Many Italian Ports were also the exact spots where merchants from as far as China would bring in ideals. Unlike the west at the time, China was doing very well, and the philosophies could've made some impact.
Other possible reasons have been debated, but it's hard to come up with a perfect list. Since the starting and ending dates of the Renaissance are debated, it's also hard to pinpoint its causes.
Other Important Ideals (-isms):
{Spoiler}
The two primary ideals that are influential to the Renaissance are Humanism and Neoplatonism, which both were ideals that were borrowed from Ancient Greco-Roman Culture. Some would also argue that Rationalism also began in the Renaissance, but many scholars and I believe that comes into play in the Scientific Revolution.
Humanism
Put simply, humanism is the belief that a man is defined by his personal accomplishments, or rather, people achieve success through their accomplishments in arts, literature, and culture. Some say that humanism began as early as 100 BC, but in the Renaissance, it had changed substantially. Humanism inspired nobles to become patrons of the arts and study ancient literature. Humanism also focused on individualism.
Neoplatonism
Neoplatonism is a school of thought that focuses on a very similar goal to Humanism. Neoplatonism first took its prevalence as early as the 3rd century, and it was inspired by the Ancient Greek philosopher, Plato. It's primary focus was to discover one's own purpose in the universe. The other interesting ideal that it taught was that every principle had come from an original principle. It was a bit idealistic in a sense. Then, it also questioned how the world could've came into existence, or cosmology.
Bonus One: Individualism
Individualism is another extremely influential -ism, and the only reason that I didn't list it at the top there is because individualism didn't exactly come into existence. It was kind of already there. It did however gain prevalence during the Renaissance period as did humanism. Individualism at its core promotes the value of the individual over anything else.
The two primary ideals that are influential to the Renaissance are Humanism and Neoplatonism, which both were ideals that were borrowed from Ancient Greco-Roman Culture. Some would also argue that Rationalism also began in the Renaissance, but many scholars and I believe that comes into play in the Scientific Revolution.
Humanism
Put simply, humanism is the belief that a man is defined by his personal accomplishments, or rather, people achieve success through their accomplishments in arts, literature, and culture. Some say that humanism began as early as 100 BC, but in the Renaissance, it had changed substantially. Humanism inspired nobles to become patrons of the arts and study ancient literature. Humanism also focused on individualism.
Neoplatonism
Neoplatonism is a school of thought that focuses on a very similar goal to Humanism. Neoplatonism first took its prevalence as early as the 3rd century, and it was inspired by the Ancient Greek philosopher, Plato. It's primary focus was to discover one's own purpose in the universe. The other interesting ideal that it taught was that every principle had come from an original principle. It was a bit idealistic in a sense. Then, it also questioned how the world could've came into existence, or cosmology.
Bonus One: Individualism
Individualism is another extremely influential -ism, and the only reason that I didn't list it at the top there is because individualism didn't exactly come into existence. It was kind of already there. It did however gain prevalence during the Renaissance period as did humanism. Individualism at its core promotes the value of the individual over anything else.
Renaissance Authors and Major Related Works:
(I'm getting tired of doing spoilers, so I'm going to just do this one normally. Also, they are listed in no particular order.)
-Francesco Petrarch - Canzoniere - Even though Petrarch wasn't alive during what we're using for dates, he is often credited with being one of the inspirations for the Renaissance. His works inspired a lot of people to look back to Ancient Rome.
-Giovanni Boccaccio - The Decameron - Studied with/under Petrarch and had a similar effect.
-Dante Alighieri - The Divine Comedy - Dante also predates the Renaissance, but his works had an influence, as he used it to criticize the world around him.
-Niccolo Machiavelli - The Prince - His written work is often criticized for being suggestive of diplomatic corruption, but when actually examined reveals numerous principles that are helpful to leadership. However, to this day, Machiavellianism is a term coined to describe someone who manipulates politics.
- Geoffrey Chaucer - The Canterbury Tales - His work is often considered one of the first major literary works in English, even though there were numerous others at the time. Chaucer also predates the Renaissance, but many scholars believe that his work directly influenced William Shakespeare.
-William Shakespeare - "Hamlet", "Macbeth", "The Tragedy of Julius Caesar" (yours truly), and numerous others - Shakespeare is arguably one of the best playwriters of all time, but personally, I've heard quite a few literature "snobs" call his works trash. Oh, I bet that makes them feel real special... Name one better playwriter, I dare you.
-Miguel de Cervantes - Don Quixote - Cervantes was extremely influential to the Spanish language and culture of the time.
Italian Renaissance Artists and Major Related Works:
Leonardo da Vinci - It's hard to argue that da Vinci isn't one of the greatest artists of all time. He's also quite a bit of a scholar in numerous other respects.
The Last Supper
Citation - globalizationicas.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/last-supper-da-vinci-1495.jpg
The Mona Lisa
Citation - 1.bp.blogspot.com/-fwbyGGEfTEA/UO13sa3QxrI/AAAAAAAAKG0/j3vDQsV38iw/s1600/Mona+Lisa+Critique.jpg
The Vitruvian Man
Citation - 4.bp.blogspot.com/-QbXzm592bq8/UmCZQXoJheI/AAAAAAAASvI/PJw66Q2e3DM/s1600/Leonardo+da+Vinci+-+Vitruvian+Man.jpg
Michelangelo - He famously preferred to do his art of people in the nude. Why? I guess he marveled at the human body. Nevertheless, another super great painter.
Creation of Adam (Part of the Sistine Chapel ceiling)
Citation - matthew.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/michelangelos-creation-of-adam.jpg
David
Citation - filmmakeriq.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Michelangelo-David.jpg
Raphael - Another very famous Italian painter
School of Athens
Citation - upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/%22The_School_of_Athens%22_by_Raffaello_Sanzio_da_Urbino.jpg/1200px-%22The_School_of_Athens%22_by_Raffaello_Sanzio_da_Urbino.jpg
The Sistine Madonna
Citation - uploads3.wikiart.org/images/raphael/the-sistine-madonna-1513.jpg!Large.jpg
Donatello - Sculpted a lot of marble and bronze statues.
David
Citation - employees.oneonta.edu/farberas/arth/Images/ARTH213images/Donatello/david/comparisons/Donatello_marble_david.jpg
Botticelli - Famously gave expression to many of the Ancient Roman gods.
Birth of Venus
Citation - artmight.com/albums/2011-02-07/art-upload-2/b/Botticelli-Alessandro/BOTTICELLI%2C-SANDRO-THE-BIRTH-OF-VENUS.jpg\
Venus and Mars
Citation - pbs.twimg.com/media/CP_-M5yWwAAEEBM.jpg:large
Titian
Venus of Urbino (a nude painting)
{Spoiler}
Citation - cdn.artmight.com/albums/classic-t/Titian-1488-1576/normal_Titian-Venus-of-Urbino-1538.jpg
Caravaggio - Notice the immense emotion on Caravaggio's subjects like no paintings before it
Judith Beheading Holofernes (a little gore-like, view at own discretion.)
{Spoiler}
Citation - www.caravaggio.org/images/paintings/judith-beheading-holofernes-1598.jpg
For now, that is all the Italian artists all be doing. If you want another, feel free to request their addition.
Now, most of the rest of the world was emulating similar styles to their Italian counterparts, but there was a small group of people that were characterized by completely different style. Those were the Dutch and Flemish.
Northern Renaissance Artists and Major Related Works:
Pieter Bruegel the Elder - Notable for focusing on peasant scenes
The Tower of Babel
Citation - upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/Pieter_Bruegel_the_Elder_-_The_Tower_of_Babel_%28Vienna%29_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg/1200px-Pieter_Bruegel_the_Elder_-_The_Tower_of_Babel_%28Vienna%29_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg
Jan van Eyck - Notable for the incredible detail in his backgrounds
Arnolfini Portrait
Citation - d32dm0rphc51dk.cloudfront.net/eFI19ZvA3jRYuEpib3rvNQ/large.jpg
Hans Holbein - Although German, he employs similar style to the other Northern Renaissance artists.
Portrait of Sir Thomas Moore
Citation - www.luminarium.org/renlit/morefrick.jpg
Those are all the artists I'm doing for now. If you have another you want added, let me know!
Commentary on Renaissance Art
Renaissance Art is notable for quite a few reasons. First, we'll focus on the Italian Renaissance Artists, which are the most famous today.
Italian Renaissance art is notable for its return to Classical art styles. During the middle ages, pretty much the only art that was ever done were pictures of Jesus or hell or nothing non-religious. See example medieval painting below:
Madonna Enthroned - Cimabue
Citation - www.medievalists.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Cimabue_033.jpg
As you can see in the painting above, it is Mary holding Jesus. However, in the Renaissance, artists focus on other subjects rather than religion. Even though most of the famous Renaissance artists did still paint or sculpt work that reflected religious stories, the focus was supposed to be on the bodies of the subjects rather than the scenes. Take the "Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci as an example, because the work displays the immense emotion on each person's face. Michelangelo's "David" is also famously known for showing an "example human specimen". Compared with the work of the middle ages, the Renaissance also used more colors and better brush strokes. So, at least in the world of art, the Renaissance was a huge stepping stone.
Northern Renaissance art is notable more for its attention to detail and scenes depicting realism. Many scholars debate how Northern Renaissance art fits into the grand scheme of things, primarily since it doesn't match its Italian counterparts.
Why wouldn't it be a historical era?
{Spoiler}
Most every scholar agrees that the Renaissance changed at least the upper class substantially, and it inspired the Scientific Revolutions and Protestant Reformation. However, some debate its truth as a historical era, because it had very little effect on the lower class. The lower class stayed just as poor and received no education still. Therefore, the humanistic movement hardly touched the common people.
In conclusion, while we can't deny the existence of the Renaissance as an important period that changed Europe for sure, we can argue that maybe it doesn't deserve the term rebirth. To coin it with a term that literally reflects rebirth is a little foolish.
Most every scholar agrees that the Renaissance changed at least the upper class substantially, and it inspired the Scientific Revolutions and Protestant Reformation. However, some debate its truth as a historical era, because it had very little effect on the lower class. The lower class stayed just as poor and received no education still. Therefore, the humanistic movement hardly touched the common people.
In conclusion, while we can't deny the existence of the Renaissance as an important period that changed Europe for sure, we can argue that maybe it doesn't deserve the term rebirth. To coin it with a term that literally reflects rebirth is a little foolish.
Renaissance Advancements
{Spoiler}
Other than just the fancy arts, there were hundreds of other advancements especially scientifically. Copernicus' heliocentric astronomy beliefs were published during the late Renaissance. (Contrary to popular belief, he wasn't persecuted for the publication.)
Cartography also made major advances as the Age of Exploration took off. Map makers were becoming essential to chart the world.
Also, sailing improved substantially as exploration did.
There's numerous other advancements, and I don't have time to go through all of them. A lot of the others will be brought up in the Scientific Revolution and Age of Exploration Lectures.
Other than just the fancy arts, there were hundreds of other advancements especially scientifically. Copernicus' heliocentric astronomy beliefs were published during the late Renaissance. (Contrary to popular belief, he wasn't persecuted for the publication.)
Cartography also made major advances as the Age of Exploration took off. Map makers were becoming essential to chart the world.
Also, sailing improved substantially as exploration did.
There's numerous other advancements, and I don't have time to go through all of them. A lot of the others will be brought up in the Scientific Revolution and Age of Exploration Lectures.
Legacy of the Renaissance
{Spoiler}
While I didn't really cover the architecture of the Renaissance, which modeled Ancient Roman arches and domes, I didn't really have much of a desire too. If someone wants me to go into more detail about any particular subject, I'm willing to explain things in more detail.
However, I will say that the Renaissance affected the Western World vastly and for years to come. Its humanistic ideals are credited with influencing the noble class to pursue education in many respects. This of course led directly to the development of the Scientific Revolution. However, with more and more wealthy people becoming educated and producing texts via the printing press, there was another movement on its way: The Enlightenment. Nevertheless, although not my favorite historical period, the Renaissance is definitely responsible for the beginning of modern history in Europe.
While I didn't really cover the architecture of the Renaissance, which modeled Ancient Roman arches and domes, I didn't really have much of a desire too.
If someone wants me to go into more detail about any particular subject, I'm willing to explain things in more detail.However, I will say that the Renaissance affected the Western World vastly and for years to come. Its humanistic ideals are credited with influencing the noble class to pursue education in many respects. This of course led directly to the development of the Scientific Revolution. However, with more and more wealthy people becoming educated and producing texts via the printing press, there was another movement on its way: The Enlightenment. Nevertheless, although not my favorite historical period, the Renaissance is definitely responsible for the beginning of modern history in Europe.
Citations for Further Reading
General Renaissance Information - www.history.com/topics/renaissance/renaissance
Renaissance Timeline - www.thoughtco.com/renaissance-timeline-4158077
Italian Wars - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Wars
Pope Julius II - www.britannica.com/biography/Julius-II
Renaissance Origins in Italy - www.methacton.org/cms/lib/pa01000176/centricity/domain/121/why%20did%20the%20renaissance%20begin%20in%20italy.pdf
Humanism - www.britannica.com/topic/humanism/Basic-principles-and-attitudes
Neoplatonism - plato.stanford.edu/entries/neoplatonism/