Economic And Political Characterization Of The Renaissance

The Renaissance, which is French for the word “rebirth” or “revival”, was the cultural bloom for Europe. Before this era, life was an everyday battle, facing warfare, poverty, and disease. Starting in around 1400 C.E and lasting until about 1700 C.E, the Renaissance brought about new philosophies, lifestyles, and ideas that changed the world forever. The Renaissance changed the way people saw the world and their place in it by focusing more on education and decreasing religion’s importance.

The Renaissance is said to be the time of pure enlightenment where countless accomplishments in the arts, politics, economics, technology, religion, social, technology and intellectual areas flourished, causing a major difference in the modern world. Democracy and new monarchies starts to form as people begin to form their own opinion during this time and civic humanism became a large topic which was labeled by one modern scholar. The early parts of the economic system, called Mercantilism started forming by the merchant class developing power through trading from different city states and banking, also nations with colonies had started to grow wealthy with raw materials which is a big economic impact. Christian humanists, such as Erasmus and Sir Thomas More said in order to improve society with Christian motives but with less religious ceremonies, also corruption struck the Catholic Church including the worldly lifestyles of clergies and the sale of indulgences. People in this time became more interested with the world around them with less religious aspects in life, also learning that one can can have a human centered thinking process and can still be Christian than rather having an all religious centered thinking process, changing their day to day life, More written a literary piece which changed society. As people began to grow, they began to turn their focus on human accomplishments and led to the upbringing of Greek and Roman literature, known as humanism, not only that but secularism started to form with the less focus on religion and more on, in the moment, then the printing press created for new ideas to be spread quicker. New techniques in the perspective that make art and sculpture more three-dimensional, with more focus on realism. The power of trade is exponential, as it makes the places who participates extraordinarily wealthy, in which money paid for the painters, clothes, paint, and the food. Many inventions were created during this time period such as the printing press, telescope, submarines, microscope and artillery, as well as many more in which helped form the modern world. The Renaissance was a bridge to the medieval to the modern world because this time was the beginning of many new

Change gives a more appropriate impression of the time than the optimistic word Renaissance. There were changes in faith, society, and the economy due to the massive loss of people. For faith, priests were unable to perform all their duties, such as hearing confessions and last rites, either from the overwhelming need for priests or from they themselves trying to avoid becoming sick. Socially, there was a moral leniency from the “cathartic release of emotions” from the plague (67). Attempts to stop this leniency failed and social constraints continued to loosen. Economically, the Black Death left a shortage of both consumers and producers, so wages went up and the price of goods went down, raising the

The renaissance is defined as the “rebirth” of civilization in Europe from the 14th to 17th centuries (General Characteristics of the Renaissance). A renewed interest of classical world spread from its beginning in Italy, north to Germany and

The Renaissance was huge turning point that impacted society since it changed the daily and social life of many people. During the 14th century, Italy became a place that is very powerful with business and had strong political powers because it was a huge trading center. This started an time where Italy and some of Europe became prosperous in economics which is called as The Renaissance. There was many causes to the Renaissance but the one cause is the influence from Greeks and Romans since Ancient Greece studied history and are famous historians, it influenced people to do the same. Another important cause is that people embrace the idea of human and life is more important than religion. This also led to people shifting their focus from religious belief to secular ideas. People also really wanted to accomplish their own achievements with their own power. Lastly, a disease known as The Black Death is also a cause since it ended the system of feudalism and allowed people to find new ways to climb up the social class especially in places where social mobility much greater than other places. As a result, people's life became more and more prosperous . People who had shifted their focus to non-religious ideas accomplishes many things and some who became artists were also very successful. The city Florence that is in Italy was a place where art florised. Many important figures and wealthy families acquired their status and their famed recognition, would patronize arts by paying an artist to create an impressive work of art. This was to mainly to show off their limitless amount of wealthy. This led to an increase in trade which also meant that many cities grew in size and can provide more jobs to people. Wealth became a symbol for power, wealth and prestige. In the Renaissance, people became more richer, prosperous and intelligent because they change

After dealing with the black death, the town dealt with the breakdown of the manor system. Merchants whose focus was selling their art to others no longer had many people to sell to since so many people died. The economy took a hard hit and was in trouble. With these changes that continued to happen, the Renaissance society was also effected in some negative ways. The people within the Renaissance society started having a very inward focus. They were self-absorbed and not worried as much about those around them like before. They were so much more focused on themselves and surviving. Once original system broke down, they began to experience uncharted growth. Their society was finally flourishing with more people as well. Cities grew and starting prospering during the Renaissance. This would bring in the idea of taxing people. With the growth that came about people started a trade system between different cities and states and other countries. As their trade program increased, they continued to come up with new ideas that would soon lead them into having major routes for trade within the inland.

The Renaissance was a rebirth of the ideas of ancient Greece and Rome that began in the City States of Italy during the 14th century. The cultural resurgence began a new style of living in Europe after the horrors of the black death, and is seen as the beginning of the culture of the modern world. As Wassace K. Ferguson put in his book The Renaissance, the Italian artists grew tired of the darkness of Medieval Times and began to turn to the brighter times found in the classical ages (Doc 7). The Renaissance served as the evolutionary bridge between the Middle Ages and the 17th century through art, education, and religion by bringing a rebirth of the ancient Greek and Roman classics that would later define the world’s culture, while continuing the underlying beliefs of Medieval Times.

The Renaissance in the 15th century brought forth new forms of knowledge, reform, and enlightenment over Europe, particularly Florence, Italy. Despite its period of turmoil in the 12th century, the city of Florence went into a period of artistic creativity and dramatic cultural advancement. The 15th century excelled in the fields of art, music, literature, poetry, philosophy, science and theology. The Italian Renaissance is known to be an effective cultural development period which transpired innovational thinking and creative enrichment ("Unique Facts About Europe: The Renaissance." Unique Facts About Europe: The Renaissance. Web).”

The last affected area that will be discussed is the economy. The Renaissance era caused many changes in the economic institutes as well. Prior to the Renaissance, European societies were ruled by the Church under the feudalism system, which divided groups based on their position and services to the Church, as a result the economy experienced a major decline. The practice of trade with foreign countries virtually ended and the demand of goods were at an all time low. However, the era of rebirth bought forth significant changes to the economy. While the Church was tangle in controversy, the monarchies gained control of the government which ended in the Church losing its power to rule. As a result the economy began to flourish. Rulers quickly

The Renaissance is the French word for rebirth and is the period from the 14th to the 17th century that transformed Europe from the Middle Ages to modern history. While there were many positive outcomes from the Renaissance, there were a good amount of negative outcomes as well. This was a period of superior achievement and of challenge. It truly was one of the best and worst of times. The European Renaissance left an impact on art, architecture, science and human thinking, most importantly. The Renaissance was also a period of great hardship in which the plague killed almost half of Europe’s population leading to economic depression. The essence of the Renaissance was a surge in learning and values that was made possible due to a decline of the feudal system. This was a period that embraced the intellect breaking free from medieval traditions and religious demands. The Renaissance saw revolutions in many intellectual pursuits, however it is best known for it artistic developments through the works of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. These men inspired the term “Renaissance man”. The favorable conditions of this period allowed several great men to rise to

The Renaissance Era can roughly be characterized as the time between 1400 AD and the 18th century, beginning with Henry VIII and reaching its highest point during Queen Elizabeth’s reign. It was a time in which English culture and society was facing many changes, as more and more information was being brought into the country by immigrants, as well as the citizens that travelled outside of England and returned. These new ideas concerning time and eternity and even astronomy began to alter the way people thought about themselves. Many began leaving behind the group ideology, and focusing more on the individual. Most of this change was fueled by the introduction of classical literature and art. This time in history is commonly referred to as a “rebirth” of classical Greek, Roman and Latin ideologies, (constituted mainly of pre-religious, pagan values that taught there were multiple Gods), as opposed to the common religion of the Renaissance era, in which there was only one God. Also fueling these changes were feuds between King Henry VIII and the established church, as well as the plague which devastated England’s population. People began questioning their personal existence, identity and started considering new notions about God, religion, politics and shifting back and forth between Catholicism and Protestantism. Two famous authors, Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare wrote plays introducing some of the new ideas, and by doing as such, not only documented

The beginning of the renaissance started in the 1400’s in Florence. Many turned towards Humanism which was an emphasis on man's qualities and power. Idealistic realism was showed through the paintings in this time. Idealistic realism was a way of painting people as real as possible, to how they would look like in life. Michelangelo demonstrated this technique through his statue, The David. The Renaissance also focused on what is now called the "ideal renaissance man", which was an athletic looking, handsome, and intelligent man. During this time, the Caravel was invented, which was a large boat used mostly for exploration. This was a new way to spread the ideas and also expand territory. These were the same boats that Columbus used to found North America. Another key event during this time was the Spanish Inquisition. Spain decided that they only wanted Catholics in there country so the soon used violence to convert the Muslims and Jews to Catholicism. Soon most of Spain had become Catholic. These are just a few of the characteristics of the Renaissance, which all connect together and in short, shape the decisions of the people of this time.

The renaissance was a period where new ideas and new inventions took place. Like the printing Press invented by Johannes Gutenberg. This was also a Time with the Painters as they started to use color. The birth place of the renaissance was italy. It began in the 14th century and lasted until the 17th century It began as a cultural movement that spawned the beginning of a philosophy called humanism and quickly spread throughout the rest of Europe, influencing art, literature, architecture and politics throughout the continent. Some of the greatest artist in history like leonardo da Vinci were inspired by the Renaissance. During this period da vinci produced his first portrait called da vinci Tiger.Italy was considered to be the center of world culture during that time with many cities like Florence, Rome, Venice, Milan and Verona being powerhouses in areas of trade, commerce and finance.There were around 60 churches just within the wall of florence.Hunting became a popular activity especially for the elite and upper class. Remnants of Renaissance-inspired architecture can still be seen everywhere today in churches and many other important buildings in Italy . Especially cities like Florence that were central to the entire period.Italian merchants prospered even during the mid ages these merchants valued education and flaunted wealth through art. Wealthy bankers(banking had become to profitable and important economy to leave in the hands of jews. The Renaissance was a Shift

The Renaissance was not just famous painters and architects randomly creating masterpieces. It was a culmination of different types of environments and pressure that yielded responses. Different periods meant different restrictions and rules. The medieval period was a time of superstition, the early renaissance was a transition from the previous to rules and Christian control, and the High Renaissance to Baroque period created divisions and links that would last at the same time. Renaissance men were born and died, large families gained power and lost, popes took power and had it resisted. However, through all these centuries a few characteristics stayed the same. Religion was the over-arching layer but deep inside the frescos and churches, courtly aesthetics, corruption and Christian propaganda dominated the time.

The Renaissance produced radically new forms and ideas in a wide range of areas such as art, religion, literature and politics. There are many factors that led to the growth of the Renaissance. Starting in the Northern Italian city-states and expanding out, this age saw a sharp break from ancient traditions. With the increase of a growing economy came the flourishing of the Renaissance. Three of the most influential economic circumstances to spawn the Renaissance would include dominance in trade, the patronage of the arts, and the invention of the printing press. These conditions provided the framework for the development of the Renaissance.