Renaissance Dbq

The Renaissance challenged the status quo of the Middle Ages. During the Middle Ages, the Church had authority over most people. These people also had limited rights. All of this changed during the Renaissance. This period of time focused on the philosophy of humanism, which embodied the idea that humans were a significant part of the world. The Renaissance changed man’s view of man through the institutions of literature, astronomy, anatomy, and art.

During the Renaissance time period, each man and woman needed to strive to meet the “ideal” image that was expected by society. If this image was not met, the person would be judged by society. Both males and females had different goals that they needed to meet in education, as well as in their lives. While there was an “ideal” image, some people disagreed with them. There was always a distinct role for both women and men, but within those roles, there could be controversy. The most controversy could occur over the education that the males and females were getting, there were clear roles and ideals for men and women in the beginning of the Renaissance time period, but as time went on, people became more skeptical of the

In William Manchester’s “ A World Lit Only by Fire: The Medieval Mind and the Renaissance: Portrait of an Age” He demonstrates the change in the "Dark Ages" from the dependence on religion to independent thinking. Ancient concepts were questioned and proven wrong after thousands of years, and the power of the what finally surpassed the authority of the Pope. Manchester expresses the transition within Europe from the Medieval Times to the Renaissance that included multiple changes in the intellectual, religious, and political aspects of life.

First of all, art during the Renaissance was a major improvement from Middle Ages art. Art during the Middle Ages was very dark, gloomy, and was centered on the ideas of the Roman Catholic Church. In document A it states that Bouninsegna’s painting is about Mary on the throne with baby Jesus. Middle Ages art was very two dimensional. During the Renaissance, paintings stopped focusing on the ideas of the church and more on the beauty of humans. In document A it says, “[...] see well defined landscapes, natural folds in drapery, three dimensional figures[...]” Renaissance art was very vibrant and life like with natural colors and people that were not

Historians find it difficult to establish a true starting point for the Renaissance within the Middle Ages. One of the most impactful events on what would become the Renaissance was the Black Plague and its impact on the living conditions of people in Europe. The Plague provided two issues which brought the Renaissance, a widespread decrease in population and a wider spread of distrust for the church. After the end of the plague, a rise and change in education, epitomized by humanism, provides the second spark of the Renaissance. Humanism brought focus on the current time on Earth, a break from the church’s focus on the afterlife, as well as the newly formed liberal education. While the Black Plague and Humanism can be thought as catalysts

After the Black Plague crippled Europe, a new period of time erupted known as the Renaissance slowly developed. The Renaissance is known as the “rebirth” for Humans. The reason for this meaning during the 14th century was because of the radical changes in the culture of Europe. The Middle Ages was surrounded by religion in many aspects. The Black Plague helps stimulate the idea that religion is through the individual. Religion in Europe was starting to becoming not so literal, but more of a personal connection with God, instead of a strict public connection. The starts of the renaissance, commoners or nobility were not focused on taking over the family business, but focusing on other career options of interest. The ideas and the development of Humanism were established during the renaissance through the idea of religion being more personal.

The Middle Ages was about to be out of fashion. The era of rationality and science discoveries were beginning to take ground over the minds of many Europeans. During all the sixteen and seventeen century, humans minds centered on changing the world into something better. The humans of this age had a good will to bring progress into the areas of religion, science, and social behavior. One of the most important features in the sixteen century was to analyze the past actions and behaviors of the humans. The Renaissance and the humanism of the age exalted the learning of the classical civilization and the encouragement of the study of the primary sources of the human history. Nevertheless, we can observe that the outcomes of this attempt of progress had a severe cost to pay. The constant change for progress ended in today´s nihilistic human existence.

Throughout history of the world humans have constantly been advancing and evolving, always searching for the next great idea that will change the world. There is no greater time or place and human history where man has evolved and created more than during the European Renaissance. After the dark ages and the bubonic plague Europe was in need of a rebirth, fueled by returning crusaders and a renewed interest in the Greek-Roman culture the Renaissance was born. This time period from the fifteenth to sixteenth century led to some of the greatest discovers in history; art too was experiencing a complete redesign focusing more on the humanism and being designed for the elite.

How Did the Renaissance Change Man’s View of Man? The Renaissance Age was a time of rapid change in human life. This time period began a new time of knowledge and logic called humanism. Human life was changing in social changes, changes in religion, and the overall view of man. During the Renaissance, man began to develop a better understanding of his place in the world, the endless possibilities of man, and the decline of religious values.

The period between c.1000 and c. 1500, the so called Middle Ages, were a time of major developments in all aspects of life that laid the ground work for developments that occurred later in history. It was a transitory period in which the building blocks for later advancement were laid and new ideas emerged. The social, economic, political, religious and intellectual developments that occurred in this period of five hundred years clearly show that the Middle Ages were not a time of stagnation but a time of questioning and then deciding on what was the right answer for society.

Interestingly, “some Europeans confronted the crises they faced with the culture of the Renaissance, a word that means “rebirth”” (Hunt et al. 401). Moreover, this was around the mid fourteenth century towards the sixteenth century, during which the Renaissance “revived elements of the classical past—the Greek philosophers before Aristotle, Hellenistic artists, and Roman rhetoricians” (Hunt et al. 401). There were significant effects of this era, as there was now refocusing on the “human potential and their individuality” (Hunt et al. 402). This was not typically the norm of society, as there was no longer focus on religious contributions. Instead, it was more of the capabilities of the individual. During this period, there was also the

The New World Encyclopedia article “Renaissance” states the Renaissance featured scientific and artistic discoveries and transformations that propelled a cultural shift in Europe after the Middle Ages (2015). The New World Encyclopedia article “Humanism” indicates that Humanism primarily focuses on human being 's place, potential, beauty, and so forth (2014).

Each century throughout the history of mankind has brought about a variety of changes based on the people, the circumstances, and the belief they are doing something right. Mankind has always wanted to make things right and solve problems which often leads to a change in every aspect of that specific century. The transition from the middle ages to the Renaissance drastically changed art, culture, and the common worldview. The middle ages were viewed in a negative connotation as far as art and music goes. It was a religious time, focusing on God above all else. The Renaissance brought about works of Michelangelo, Da Vinci, and Raphael. It gave rise to an appreciation of humanism and secularism, along with the renewal of the ancient Greeks and Romans. Causes of a shift to humanism- a system of thought attaching importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters- include the crusades, the immorality in the church, the black death, along with all other aspects that lead to the middle ages being called the dark ages. However, great things also came along as a result: Italian port cities grew wealthy during and after the crusades and people could afford to spend money on luxuries such as art and music. This mindset that allowed for luxury spread to the north, which (unlike the Italian Renaissance that focused mainly on secular views and idealism) lead to a fondness of portraits and paintings of landscapes. With this, came a new era of Europe; one of rebirth and

The main concerns of during the Middle Ages were religion, God, and the Church. From 476 AD all the way to the 1400s, life was all about making it to the afterlife, and surviving the Black Death. Europe’s world revolved around the Catholic Church, but all it took was one era to alter it all, the Renaissance. The Church was slowly losing their power, and the people began to realize all of their abilities. Artists, such as Michelangelo began to focus in on the greatness of man, and all the beauty they held. Mankind's view of the human race was forever changed. Due to these immense changes, the Church began to have less influence on man’s life, and the strengths and abilities of man became more recognizable, bringing secularism and individualism to life.

Jennifer Summit defines Humanism within the Renaissance as a changing society's outlook on the world. Humanism was a way people could embrace and question their understandings of human desires and achievements. “Renaissance humanism challenges long-held ideas about the humanities’ historical origins and meanings.” Humanism challenged and questioned the world’s understandings of life, including art. The Humanism appeal to the people during the Renaissance stemmed from the oppression that came from the Catholic Church during the Medieval Era. Medieval life was heavily dominated by the church. Everyday was focused on the hope of an