European Renaissance and
Reformation, 1300–1600
Two movements, the Renaissance and the
Reformation, usher in dramatic social and cultural
changes in Europe.
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European Renaissance and
Reformation, 1300–1600
SECTION 1 Italy: Birthplace of the Renaissance
SECTION 2 The Northern Renaissance
SECTION 3 Luther Leads the Reformation
SECTION 4 The Reformation Continues
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Section 1
Italy: Birthplace of
the Renaissance
The Italian Renaissance is a rebirth of learning
that produces many great works of art and literature.
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1 Italy: Birthplace of the Renaissance
Italy’s Advantages
The Renaissance
• Renaissance—an explosion of creativity in art,
writing, and thought
• Started in northern Italy
• Lasted from 1300–1600
City-States
• Crusades spur trade
• Growth of city-states in northern Italy
• In 1300s bubonic plague killed 60% of population,
disrupts economy
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continued Italy’s Advantages
Merchants and the Medici
• A wealthy merchant class develops
• More emphasis on individual achievement
• Banking family, the Medici, controls Florence
Looking to Greece and Rome
• Artists, scholars study ruins of Rome and Latin,
Greek manuscripts
• Scholars move to Rome after fall of Constantinople
in 1453
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Classical and Worldly Values
Classics Lead to Humanism
• Humanism—intellectual movement focused on
human achievements
• Humanists studied classical texts, history, literature,
philosophy
Worldly Pleasures
• Renaissance society was secular—worldly
• Wealthy enjoyed fine food, homes, clothes
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continued Classical and Worldly Values
Patrons of the Arts
• Patron—a financial supporter of artists
• Church leaders spend money on artworks to beautify
cities
• Wealthy merchants also patrons of the arts
The Renaissance Man
• Excels in many fields: the classics, art, politics,
combat
• Baldassare Castiglione’s The Courtier (1528)
• The book teaches how to become a “universal”
person
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continued Classical and Worldly Values
The Renaissance Woman
• Upper-class, educated in classics, charming
• Expected to inspire art but not create it
• Isabella d’Este, patron of artists, wields power in
Mantua
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The Renaissance Revolutionizes Art
Artistic Styles Change
• Artists use realistic style copied from classical art,
often to portray religious subjects
• Painters use perspective—a way to show three
dimensions on a canvas
Realistic Painting and Sculpture
• Realistic portraits of prominent citizens
• Sculpture shows natural postures and expressions
• The biblical David is a favorite subject among
sculptors
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continued The Renaissance Revolutionizes Art
Leonardo, Renaissance Man
• Leonardo da Vinci—painter, sculptor, inventor,
scientist
• Paints one of the best-known portraits in the world:
the Mona Lisa
• Famous religious painting: The Last Supper
Raphael Advances Realism
• Raphael Sanzio, famous for his use of perspective
• Favorite subject: the Madonna and child
• Famous painting: School of Athens
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continued The Renaissance Revolutionizes Art
Anguissola and Gentileschi
• Sofonisba Anguissola: first woman artist to gain
world renown
• Artemisia Gentileschi paints strong, heroic women
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Renaissance Writers Change Literature
New Trends in Writing
• Writers use the vernacular—their native language
• Self-expression or to portray individuality of the
subject
Petrarch and Boccaccio
• Francesco Petrarch, humanist and poet; woman
named Laura is his muse
• Boccaccio is best known for the Decameron, a
series of stories
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continued Renaissance Writers Change Literature
Machievelli Advises Rulers
• Niccolò Machievelli, author of political guidebook,
The Prince
• The Prince examines how rulers can gain and keep
power
Vittoria Colonna
• Woman writer with great influence
• Poems express personal emotions
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Section 2
The Northern Renaissance
In the 1400s, the ideas of the Italian
Renaissance begin to spread to Northern
Europe.
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2 The Northern Renaissance
The Northern Renaissance Begins
Renaissance Ideas Spread
• Spirit of Renaissance Italy impresses visitors from
northern Europe
• When Hundred Years’ War ends (1453), cities grow
rapidly
• Merchants in northern cities grow wealthy and
sponsor artists
• England and France unify under strong monarchs
who are art patrons
• Northern Renaissance artists interested in realism
• Humanists interested in social reform based on
Judeo-Christian values
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Artistic Ideas Spread
Renaissance Styles Migrate North
• Artists, writers move to northern Europe fleeing war
in Italy (1494)
German Painters
• Albrecht Dürer’s woodcuts and engravings
emphasize realism
• Hans Holbein the Younger paints portraits, often of
English royalty
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continued Artistic Ideas Spread
Flemish Painters
• Flanders is the artistic center of northern Europe
• Jan van Eyck, pioneer in oil-based painting, uses
layers of paint
• Van Eyck’s paintings are realistic and reveal
subject’s personality
• Pieter Bruegel captures scenes of peasant life
with realistic details
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Northern Writers Try to Reform Society
Northern Humanists
• Criticize the Catholic Church, start Christian
humanism
• Want to reform society and promote education,
particularly for women
Christian Humanists
• Desiderius Erasmus of Holland is best-known
Christian humanist
• His book, The Praise of Folly, pokes fun at
merchants and priests
• Thomas More of England creates a model society in
his book Utopia
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continued Northern Writers Try to Reform Society
Women’s Reforms
• Christine de Pizan, one of the first women writers
• She promotes education, equal treatment for boys
and girls
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The Elizabethan Age
Queen Elizabeth I
• Renaissance spreads to England in mid-1500s
• Period known as the Elizabethan Age, after
Queen Elizabeth I
• Elizabeth reigns from 1558 to 1603
William Shakespeare
• Shakespeare is often regarded as the greatest
playwright
• Born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564
• Plays performed at London’s Globe Theater
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Printing Spreads Renaissance Ideas
Chinese Invention
• Around 1045 Bi Sheng of China invents movable
type
• It uses a separate piece of type for each
character
Gutenberg Improves the Printing Process
• Around 1440 Johann Gutenberg of Germany
develops printing press
• Printing press allows for quick, cheap book
production
• First book printed with movable type, Gutenberg
Bible (1455)
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The Legacy of the Renaissance
Changes in the Arts
• Art influenced by classical Greece and Rome
• Realistic portrayals of individuals and nature
• Art is both secular and religious
• Writers use vernacular
• Art praises individual achievement
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continued The Legacy of the Renaissance
Changes in Society
• Printing makes information widely available
• Illiterate people benefit by having books read to them
• Published accounts of maps and charts lead to more
discoveries
• Published legal proceedings make rights clearer to
people
• Political structures and religious practices are
questioned
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Section 3
Luther Leads the
Reformation
Martin Luther’s protest over abuses in the
Catholic Church lead to the founding of
Protestant churches.
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3 Luther Leads the Reformation
Causes of the Reformation
Church Authority Challenged
• Secularism, individualism of Renaissance challenge
Church authority
• Rulers challenge Church’s power
• Printing press spreads secular ideas
• Northern merchants resent paying church taxes
Criticisms of the Catholic Church
• Corrupt leaders, extravagant popes
• Poorly educated priests
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continued Causes of the Reformation
Early Calls for Reform
• John Wycliffe and Jan Hus stress Bible’s
authority over clergy’s
• Desiderius Erasmus and Thomas More are vocal
critics of the Church
• Reading religious works, Europeans form own
opinions about Church
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Luther Challenges the Church
The 95 Theses
• Martin Luther protests Friar Johann Tetzel’s
selling of indulgences
• Indulgence—a pardon releasing a person from
penalty for a sin
• In 1517 Luther posts his 95 Theses attacking
“pardon-merchants”
• Luther’s theses circulate throughout Germany
• Luther launches the Reformation—a movement
for religious reform
• Reformation rejects pope’s authority
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continued Luther Challenges the Church
Luther’s Teachings
• People can win salvation by good works and faith
• Christian teachings must be based on the Bible,
not the pope
• All people with faith are equal, can interpret Bible
without priests
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The Response to Luther
The Pope’s Threat
• Pope Leo X issues decree threatening to
excommunicate Luther (1520)
• Luther’s rights of Church membership are taken
away
• Luther refuses to take back his statements and is
excommunicated
The Emperor’s Opposition
• Charles V is Holy Roman Emperor
• He issues Edict of Worms (1521), declaring Luther a
heretic
• Luther and followers begin a separate religious
group—Lutherans
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continued The Response to Luther
The Peasants’ Revolt
• Inspired by Reformation, German peasants seek
end to serfdom (1524)
• Princes crush revolt; about 100,000 people die
Germany at War
• Some princes side with Luther, become known as
Protestants
• Charles V fails to return rebellious princes to
Catholic Church
• Peace of Augsburg (1555)—each prince can
decide religion of his state
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England Becomes Protestant
Henry VIII Wants a Son
• Henry has only daughter, needs male heir to rule
England
• Henry wants a divorce; Pope refuses to annul—
set aside—his first marriage to Catherine of
Aragon
The Reformation Parliament
• Parliament passes laws ending pope’s power in
England
• Henry remarries, becomes official head of England’s
Church
• Thomas More refuses to go against Catholic Church
and is beheaded
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continued England Becomes Protestant
Consequences of Henry’s Changes
• Henry has six wives and three children
• Religious turmoil follows Henry’s death (1547)
• Protestantism under King Edward, then
Catholicism under Queen Mary
Elizabeth Restores Protestantism
• Henry’s second daughter, Queen Elizabeth I, forms
Anglican Church
• Anglican Church is acceptable to moderate
Catholics and Protestants
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continued England Becomes Protestant
Elizabeth Faces Other Challenges
• Some Protestants and Catholics oppose
Elizabeth
• Phillip II, Catholic King of Spain, threatens
England
• Elizabeth’s need for money brings conflict with
Parliament
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Section 4
The Reformation
Continues
As Protestant reformers divide over beliefs,
the Catholic Church makes reforms.
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4 The Reformation Continues
Calvin Continues the Reformation
Religious Reform in Switzerland
• Swiss priest Huldrych Zwingli calls for Church
reforms (1520)
• War breaks out between Catholics, Protestants;
Zwingli killed (1531)
Calvin Formalizes Protestant Ideas
• John Calvin writes Institutes of the Christian
Religion (1536):
- we are sinful by nature and cannot earn
salvation
- God chooses who will be saved—
predestination
• Calvinism—religion based on Calvin’s teachings
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continued Calvin Continues the Reformation
Calvin Leads the Reformation in
Switzerland
• Calvin says ideal government is theocracy—rule
by religious leaders
• Geneva becomes a strict Protestant theocracy
led by Calvin
Calvinism Spreads
• John Knox brings Calvinism to Scotland, followers
are Presbyterians
• Church governed by laymen called presbyters, or
elders
• Calvin’s followers in France called Huguenots
• Catholics massacre Huguenots in Paris (1572)
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Other Protestant Reformers
The Anabaptists
• Anabaptists believe in separation of church and
state, oppose wars
• Forerunners of Mennonites and Amish
Woman’s Role in the Reformation
• Marguerite of Navarre protected Calvin in France
• Katrina Zell also protects reformers
• Katherina von Bora, Luther’s wife, promotes
equality in marriage
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The Catholic Reformation
A Counter Reformation
• Catholic Reformation—seeks to reform Catholic
Church from within
Ignatius of Loyola
• Leading Catholic reformer
• His Spiritual Exercises (1522) calls for meditation,
prayer, and study
• Pope creates Society of Jesus religious order, the
Jesuits
• Jesuits follow Ignatius, start schools, convert non-
Christians
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continued The Catholic Reformation
Reforming Popes
• Pope Paul III and Pope Paul IV lead reforms
• Paul III calls Council of Trent to lay out reforms:
- Church’s interpretation of Bible is final
- Christians need faith and good works for
salvation
- Bible and Church traditions equally important
- Indulgences are valid expressions of faith
• Use Inquisition to seek out heresy
• Paul IV issues Index of Forbidden Books (1559);
books burned
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The Legacy of the Reformation
Religious and Social Effects of the
Reformation
• Catholic Church is unified; Protestant
denominations grow
• Catholics and Protestants create schools
throughout Europe
• Status of women does not improve
Political Effects of the Reformation
• Catholic Church’s power lessens, power of
monarchs and states grow
• Reformation’s questioning of beliefs brings
intellectual ferment
• Late 18th century sees a new intellectual
movement—the Enlightenment
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