the northern renaissance * less dramatic - more of a blend of old and new ideas *more religious in...

THE NORTHERN RENAISSANCE

* less dramatic - more of a blend of old and new ideas

*more religious in nature than Italian Renaissance

*included the regions of present-day England, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany,

Switzerland

*Printing press helped spread Italian writings northward

SIMILAR TO THE ITALIAN RENAISSANCE:

Sought to develop human powers to understand and control physical nature

Emphasized the emancipation of humanity’s limitless potentialities

MYSTICISMDEF - Belief that the individual could, in

perfect solitude, communicate directly with God

There was no need for speech, community, church, or priest - a

philosophy that threatened the church

LAY RELIGION

Church was viewed with skepticism - as an institution out to keep its influence and power

Like mystics, they felt there was no need to look to a self-interested clergyman for spiritual

guidance

Founded organizations that provided spiritual guidance - early religious schools outside the

clergy

CHRISTIAN HUMANISTS - Goal - to deepen understanding of Christianity & restore its

vitality.

UNIVERSITIES THRIVED IN GERMANY - shunned by humanists as too rigid, they nonetheless were centers of medicine, law, and theology

ECONOMY - trade thrived, towns increased in size and number

Gutenburg - invented moveable type - printed works

FUGGERS - wealthy banking family of Germany - rivaled Medici’s of Florence

Copernicus - Polish astronomer - Heliocentric theory of solar system

PARACELSUS - early prototype of medical scholar - still mixed with occult

DR. FAUSTUS - a historical/legendary character - probably a scholar of late 15th century -

believed to have sold his soul to the devil to acquire his secret knowledge and power

Marlowe (Eng) & later Goethe (Ger) wrote stories based on the legend

ERASMUS

Greatest northern humanist- Clergyman, scholar, supporter of Greek ideal of moderation

- Criticized church corruption, supported Catholic doctrine

-Courted by popes, kings, wealthy for council

In Praise of Folly – famous work criticized Church corruption

Utopia - his book about an ideal, peaceful society

Sir Thomas More - England

- Criticized politics, religion, society

- executed by Henry VIII for criticism of his break

with Rome