Renaissance and Humanism
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HISTORY The Modern Times
Renaissance and Humanism
The Renaissance and Humanism was an intellectual and social movement in Europe that helped shape
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modern society and culture. This period started in Florence, Italy, in the early 14 century. It came about as the
medieval economy and society were collapsing, and people were starting to question the Church’s authority.
Instead of focusing on God, people began to think more about nature and humans.
The Roots of Renaissance: At the time, Italy was the richest region in Europe, but it was not a unified
country. It was made up of smaller states and city-states like Florence, Milan, Venice, and Genoa, which were
key trade centres. These cities became meeting points for new ideas. Connections with Eastern cultures and
the arrival of Greek scholars after 1453 brought new knowledge about nature and the world. Europe
rediscovered ancient Greek texts and art, which is why this period is called the Renaissance, meaning the
“rebirth” of ancient knowledge. As towns grew wealthier, they also gained more political power,
challenging the traditional authority of monarchs and the Church. This change was supported by powerful
consequences:
political families, like the Medici in Florence. Secular states - separated from the Church
Rise of the middle class
Education for broad masses
A Change in Thinking: In the Middle Ages, people believed that everyone had a fixed place in the world,
determined by God. They thought that humanity was sinful because of the Fall of Man and that salvation
could only be achieved by obeying God and the Church. However, during the Renaissance, a new way of
thinking emerged. Humanism shifted the focus from religion to the present world, emphasising human
reason, knowledge, and personal experience. People started to value individual achievements, personal
growth, and worldly pleasures. This new way of thinking challenged the authority of the Church and gave
people more freedom to shape their own lives.
Changes in Europe's Social and Political Structures: During the Renaissance, power began to shift away
from feudal lords and the Church to wealthy merchants, bankers, and educated individuals. As cities grew
richer through trade, a new social class of merchants, artisans, and professionals gained influence,
challenging the old social order dominated by nobles, clergy, and commoners. Cities like Florence and
Venice became centres of political power, often ruled by wealthy families, leading to more secular and
practical forms of government. Monarchs also strengthened their control, creating powerful centralised
states independent of the pope.
The Renaissance also placed great importance on education. Humanist scholars believed that education
should be available to everyone, not just the clergy. This focus on learning helped create a more educated and
enlightened society, empowering people with knowledge.
The Printing Press: Johannes Gutenberg's invention of the mechanical printing press made it much
easier to spread knowledge and ideas. Before this, books were copied by hand, which was slow and
expensive. Only a few privileged people, like clergy and aristocrats, could afford them. The printing press
allowed books to be made faster and cheaper, so more people could access and read them. This meant that
knowledge became available to a much larger audience.
The printing press changed how information was shared
and spread, sparking major cultural, religious, and
intellectual changes during the Renaissance. Its effects are
still seen in how we share information today.
Literature: During the Renaissance, literature began to
be written in everyday languages so more people could
understand it. This period saw the creation of famous
works like Dante’s Divine Comedy, Boccaccio’s
Working on Gutenberg´s mechanical printing press
Decameron, Cervantes’ Don Quixote, and Shakespeare’s
plays, which celebrated the new era.