The Forces Of The Renaissance

The Forces of the Renaissance

The Renaissance (c. 1400-1600) is also known as the French term "rebirth"; it depicted an age of "new learning". It signifies creative energy, enthusiasm, entrepreneurialism, and intellectual excitement. This period describes the many scholarly and economical changes throughout Europe. The renaissance followed the Dark Ages, in which society endured a much stagnated economic depression. Coming out of the darkness, per say, the Renaissance was a much celebrated and beloved time for the society that lived through this era. It brought much wealth and trade. Even though this period was very prosperous, let's not forget that money brings tribulations as well. There also was a significant period in which culturist and humanism ideas evolved to intellectual levels; in which it criticized the theories of the Dark Ages whereas the characteristics and temptations of man in general were considered sinful. There was also an abundance of artistic nature that erupted tremendously. The Renaissance represents an age of scientific, social, political, and artistic thoughts turned to was it believed to be known as the "new learning" period.

As mentioned above, this era included great wealth. During the Middle Ages, the noblemen would provide the protection for the king in exchange for land. Peasants would work the land for the noble's non stop, from sunup to sundown, thus producing revenue for the families. In select cities there was a small group of middle-class citizens, who would earn a living through trade with different cities, then later would relocate to the cities for better business. A prosperous life in the city was expected and though received for a period of time, but soon it enough, drastically came to a halt. A plague, known as the "Black Death, consumed almost half of the population. As the population was decreasing, so was the economy. Traders could not find significant resources (people) to conduct business with. Therefore there were goods and services to disperse, but no one to purchase them. As a result many citizens left the city to live in the country. During the 15th century as the plague began to disappear, merchants, and bankers commenced their businesses once again. Another factor contributing to the boost in the import/export economy was the distinct battle between the Ottomans and Constantinople. According to Lisa Jarden "The fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans in 1453 was thus a symbolic watershed between the intellectual infancy of Western Europe and the flowering of the Renaissance" (Jardine 37), therefore this outcome played a substantial role to vigorous trading between the Genoese, Venetian, and Ottomans. In one account kept by Venetian merchant Giacomeo Badoer, trading in Constantinople showed goods such as, silk, damasks, satin, and spices traveling west, producing more trade, then amounting to greater currency. To add more emphasis on trade during the Renaissance, religion played a great role as well. "In general terms the commercial world in which these men operated was one of tolerance, in which all three Ð''religion of the book' (Christianity, Islam, Judaism) could coexist and thrive" (Jardine 47). In this environment there were many who benefited from this mutual tolerance, thus becoming more rich and powerful, not so much as a whole, but also individually.

The Humanist philosophy emerged greatly during the Renaissance. The idea of a secular life led to interests about society from the ancient teachings of Greece and Rome. It stated that the church had too much rule over what the people did in their everyday lives; the people wanted to make their own decisions. It also depicted an ownership, not only about spiritual beliefs, but about ethical and moral matters as well. "The secular, humanist idea held that the church should not rule civic matters, but should guide only spiritual matters" (www.learner.org). In the durations of this period the church held power over my legal matters. It controlled the economy, limited education, and believed a person should live their lives through the scripture. Subsequently humanists believed that a decision should be made with ones own knowledge, which would be supported by education they needed. "Humanists, however, believed that wealth enabled them to do fine, noble deeds, that good citizens needed a good, well-rounded education (such as that advocated by the Greeks and Romans), and that moral and ethical issues were related more to secular society than to spiritual concerns" (www.learner.org). During the Renaissance Christianity changes a great deal as well; a humanist by the name of Martin Luther introduced that a person should not have to pay the church to reduce time spent in purgatory. As a result many argued that the church needed to change, subsequently many different religions came to birth. Such religions included the Calvinists (John Calvin) and the Lutherans (Martin Luther). Classical studies also contributed to the Renaissance. Literature was the first to show signs of this development. "The Italian poet Petrarch (1304-1374) delighted