Renaissance Dbq

Being born into nobility, Baldassare Castiglione was able to make his way through the court systems of Europe. He impressed royals with his ability to be the “perfect gentleman”, which helped him gain positions in different European governments. The time spent in government work provided the material for one of Castiglione’s most famous writings, The Courtier. Castiglione was more partial to those who were of noble birth, as he was of noble birth himself. He also felt that those who serve the government should always be prepared for war, that they should be "bold and strong, and loyal...and always among the first" (Castiglione), someone who is agile and prepared to protect those they serve. Overall, Castiglione wanted someone who

Through different inspirations, the Protestant Reformation and Age of Enlightenment sought to change the stagnant traditions of European thinking in the 15th and 16th centuries. Began by German priest named Martin Luther in 1517, he was one of the first people to publicly call out the Catholic Church and their bargaining of indulgences by pasting the 95 Theses on the door of the Wittenberg church for everyone to see. The 95 Theses was a short list of the 95 flaws of the Catholic Church revolving around the use of their indulgences. Luther believed that people should not be scammed by the church and pay for fake indulgences for salvation, but rather come to a new understanding of salvation that came through faith alone. The other change of tradition was not getting your source of beliefs from the Catholic Church, but solely the Bible, which was a

The Reformation during the 16th century was something that had always been thought of and what is expected that had a positive impact on many people. Reformers that were in the medieval church like St. Francis of Assisi, Valdes, Jan Hus, and John Wycliff had thought about the aspects of the church and throughout life before 1517. During the 16th century, figures such as Erasmus of Rotterdam who was the chief proponent of liberal Catholic reform, had an ongoing concern before Luther told his Ninety-Five Theses. From “Martin Luther” the aspect of the beginning of the section is very intriguing, offering how the impact had caused a positive change: “Luther having experienced this new conviction, it is not surprising that the extravagant claims surrounding the sale of indulgences in 1517 provoked him to the public. The form and text of that protest became known as the ’95 Theses’.” (“Martin Luther” 427). From his objection to the claim, the pope had then relieved the sins of Luther and the Catholic church. The Reformation was a major change in the Catholic church due to the change of how people bettered themselves. Luther was unhappy that the Catholic church offered an indulgence for pay, such as, “As for myself, let me say that I, too, am a doctor and a preacher-yes, and as learned and experienced as any of those who act so high and mighty” (“Martin Luther” 428). By following the sacraments, many were able to better their relationship with Jesus. “Shall we frivolously despise this might, blessing, power, and fruit- especially we who would be pastors and preachers?” (“Martin Luther” 429). Martin Luther is expressing with powers and questioning what one should do with pastors and preachers and how one can better that problem to come up with a solution. The following quote sticks out due to the fact that the quote is setting guidelines to how many should go about living their life, “Sixteenth Rule. In the same way, we must be on our guard that by talking much and with much insistence of faith, without any distinction and explanation occasion be not given to the people to be lazy and slothful in works, whether before faith is formed in charity or after” (“Saint Ignatius of Loyola” 446). One can about their life just

Marin Luther, regardless of his intentions, is one of the most controversial men in all of Christian history. The growth of Martin Luther and essentially the whole Protestant Revolution begins by Luther walking in a storm and getting struck by lightning. At this time, he prays out to the saints in hopes that he will be saved; he promises them that if they save him, he will stop everything a become a monk. Luther is saved and does just that, he quit studying law and took his vows, and he began studying the bible as a monk. While studying the bible, Luther comes across a line in Romans 1:17 stating, “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” Luther’s interpretation of this is that no amount of pilgrimages, relics, or good deeds will save someone, what will save that person is his or her faith. At the same time that Luther comes to this conclusion, indulgences are being sold. An indulgence is a ticket to heaven which cleanses a person of all sins. A person pays for this certificate, which typically cost half a year’s earnings, and this will shorten the time in purgatory before going to heaven. The idea of what happened after death terrified some people so this gave those people a false sense of comfort.

During the shift from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, humanist thinkers and writers showed distinct changes in the areas such as art and literature. After the shift, men developed different viewpoints on status and individuality. Moreover, life on the earth was being enjoyed by a simple Renaissance men. The responsibility of power was shifting from the church to the royals during the movement. By looking at the various outlooks of men, what men focused on, and why power was shifting, one could see that the Renaissance was not just a high point but the rebirth of opportunities.

The Courtier was written by Baldassare Castiglione in 1508 and then published in 1528. The book contains many fictional conversations from the courtiers of the Duke of Urbino. In these conversations the courtier is depicted showing the key attributes of a Renaissance man. A courtier must be well rounded in physical, academic, social, and artistic skills. Today our society is shaped around being well rounded or experts in several fields. For example, when students go back to school they take several different academic classes. Students do this to be experts in all the liberal arts just as a courtier would. Not only do they strive to be masters at academics but also in the sports, music, and social life. These traits were all stressed as requirements for the courtier and we still today use them. The ideals of the courtier also stressed humanism beliefs and inner discovery. This helped to frame contemporary society’s reliance on reason and science instead of on the church. Also in society today we are constantly told we need to be well rounded in order to be highly successful in life. This is what is stressed in Castiglione’s book in order to be a courtier. Colleges seek resumes that show proficiency in several areas. Job interviews also seek someone who is an expert in several fields. In order to be successful in our society today, one must not focus on one area but do as a courtier and stress knowledge and skill in all aspects of

Castiglione's The Courtier is a Renaissance manual for achieving the human etiquette ideal, presented in four books which deal with male and female requirements for being accomplished, well-rounded persons.

The Reformation started with the ideas and concepts of Martin Luther, all explained in his Ninety-Five Theses. Luther believed that God’s gift of faith was freely given to the unworthy, and the righteousness is passive and is not active or based on our good works or deeds. These ideas clashed with the Roman Church, which in turn created the “Indulgence Controversy.” To raise money to help rebuild St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Pope Leo X issued the offer of indulgences as a penance for parishioners to buy. This penance acted as a way to pay as a remission of temporal punishment due to the sins of the person whose guilt has already been forgiven. Luther caught wind of the issue of indulgences happening within his own church and went ballistic

This fundamental difference from the Catholic dogma that one could buy salvation to Luther’s new ideas as way to Heaven began to transform many people’s beliefs. Supporters of Luther adopted the concept of faith and knowledge of God as a way to repent their sins, and eventually, it reshaped the Christian culture. As Luther personally struggled to be a “perfect” monk, he discovered that faith in the gospel was the only way to be “made righteous by God”(roper 78). In response to his distress for his laity’s desire to buy indulgences, Luther wrote the “95 Theses on the Power of Indulgences.” He knew he was attacking the pope and the values of the church, but records show that he felt “...not fully in control of his actions, but handed over responsibility to a higher power”(84 roper). Cleary, Luther felt a spiritual connection with God and indulgences were in direct opposition to faith. His revolutionary claims in the “95 Theses on the Power of Indulgences” caused a conflict that would eventually be known as the Protestant Reformation.

The Protest Reformation was a huge turn in Christian history. It took place during the 16th-century. It was a social, political, and intellectual movement. This movement put the Catholic church, its teachings and its leaders at the question. There were many things that the Catholic Church was doing that wasn’t right.

During the renaissance, most artist had a common enemy known as the court, which was ruled by the most wealthy and powerful families in Italy. The court was in charge of one’s position in society. When an individual would be born in a royal family, that individual was able to experience life to a new level. “Three chamberlains will never suffice in dressing our lord…” (pg. 23). In

However, as court became more formal and the manner in which nobles were expected to act got more complicated, Baldassare Castiglione’s work, The Book of the Courtier offered a convenient guide for courtiers to bring honor to their name. In writing the Book of the Courtier, Castiglione drew from his own experience in the court of the Duke of Urbino while creating fictional scenarios and debates to express the important qualities a courtier must possess. Courtiers were expected to dress appropriately for court while being well versed in the classical and fine arts. If the courtier is young, he is expected to be active in sports otherwise if he is older he is expected to have knowledge of such things. Castiglione stressed being a good speaker and using this ability to enthrall the court with his knowledge and passion on subjects like philosophy. A prime example of this lies in the fourth book of the courtier where by Lord Bembo after expressing his passionate

A genteel courtesan was considered to the ‘ideal’ embodiment of the Renaissance ideal, of sensuality and new form of consciousness. The women were significant, achieving a social lifestyle and intellectual dominance and became notorious and well-known across Europe.

The Reformation set in place structures and beliefs that would define the continent in the modern future. In northern and central Europe, many reformers challenged the pope’s authority and questioned the Catholic Church’s ability to define Christian practice. They argued for a religious and political redistribution of power into the hands of the Bible. The disruption caused wars, persecutions and Counter-Reformation, which was the Catholic Church’s detained response to the

Education which calls forth, trains, and develops those highest gifts of body and mind which ennoble men” (Wiesner 219). This quotation displays the importance of education for the Renaissance men. Their education is important because he must use it to serve and know God, and to serve the city/state (Wiesner 213). Most Renaissance men are courtiers, those who attend the royal court as a companion or adviser to the king or queen. Castiglione, a 16th century Italian aristocrat and author of The Courtier explain that a courtier must: “stand out from the rest as enterprising, bold and loyal to whomever he serves” (Wiesner 221). Keep in mind, the Renaissance man is a courtier, a refined upper class man; “average” men of Renaissance time period do not have the same characteristics as a Renaissance man. Most Renaissance men were born into their wealth or had a special talent like the artists of the day.