The Renaissance The Renaissance
1485-16601485-1660
What is Renaissance?What is Renaissance?
Renaissance means “rebirth.” This Renaissance means “rebirth.” This signified the new interest in classical signified the new interest in classical learning, which included studies from learning, which included studies from Greece and Rome. Greece and Rome.
Michelangelo, the humanities, and the Michelangelo, the humanities, and the printing press are often associated with printing press are often associated with this time period. this time period.
HumanismHumanism
The educated people began to study The educated people began to study humanism, a movement we now call humanism, a movement we now call humanities (philosophy, history, languages, humanities (philosophy, history, languages, and the arts).and the arts).
It was thought that it would teach people how It was thought that it would teach people how to live and rule. to live and rule.
The Bible was not the only source of wisdom The Bible was not the only source of wisdom and knowledge; people now looked to Latin and knowledge; people now looked to Latin and Greek classics. and Greek classics.
The Printing PressThe Printing Press
The printing press was created in the 15The printing press was created in the 15thth century Johannes Gutenberg.century Johannes Gutenberg.
In 1452 he began printing the Bible; this In 1452 he began printing the Bible; this was the first thing printed.was the first thing printed.
The printing press made things more The printing press made things more widely available; thus the humanities widely available; thus the humanities became more influentialbecame more influential
The ReformationThe Reformation
Martin Luther, a monk, created a new kind of Martin Luther, a monk, created a new kind of Christianity that was based more on personal Christianity that was based more on personal interpretation of the Bible rather than literal interpretation of the Bible rather than literal interpretation.interpretation.
Many were ready to break with the Catholic Many were ready to break with the Catholic Church.Church.
The big break up of the church came when The big break up of the church came when Henry the VIII was not allowed to divorce his Henry the VIII was not allowed to divorce his first wife. first wife.
Henry VIIIHenry VIII
Henry married his brother’s widow, Catherine of Henry married his brother’s widow, Catherine of Aragon. When she didn’t give him a living son, Aragon. When she didn’t give him a living son, he sought to divorce her on the grounds that he he sought to divorce her on the grounds that he was not legally married to her because she had was not legally married to her because she had been previously married to his brother. been previously married to his brother.
Because the pope refused to allow Henry to Because the pope refused to allow Henry to divorce Catherine (mother of Mary), he decided divorce Catherine (mother of Mary), he decided to make himself the head of the Church of to make himself the head of the Church of England in 1534. England in 1534.
Henry VIIIHenry VIII
He divorced Catherine and married Anne He divorced Catherine and married Anne Boleyn. Their marriage produced Elizabeth Boleyn. Their marriage produced Elizabeth who would later rule England. Anne was who would later rule England. Anne was beheaded when Henry accused her of beheaded when Henry accused her of adultery. Henry then married Jane Seymour adultery. Henry then married Jane Seymour (not to be confused with Dr. Quinn, Medicine (not to be confused with Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman). She produced Edward, the king’s Woman). She produced Edward, the king’s only son, but then she died in childbirth. only son, but then she died in childbirth.
Henry VIIIHenry VIII
Henry then married Anne of Cleves, but Henry then married Anne of Cleves, but their marriage was never consummated their marriage was never consummated because he found her so ugly. Because because he found her so ugly. Because the marriage remained unconsummated, the marriage remained unconsummated, Henry sought an annulment. Henry sought an annulment.
His next wife was Catherine Howard, His next wife was Catherine Howard, whom he had executed for adultery.whom he had executed for adultery.
His last wife was Catherine Parr. His last wife was Catherine Parr.
Bloody MaryBloody Mary
Henry’s living son, Edward, became king when Henry’s living son, Edward, became king when he was very young, but he died when he was he was very young, but he died when he was sixteen. That left Mary to rule. She decided to sixteen. That left Mary to rule. She decided to honor her mother by getting rid of the honor her mother by getting rid of the Protestants (Elizabeth’s mother was Protestants (Elizabeth’s mother was Protestant). She executed over three hundred Protestant). She executed over three hundred people in her attempt to bring Catholicism people in her attempt to bring Catholicism back. She was married to the king of Spain, back. She was married to the king of Spain, but died without producing an heir. but died without producing an heir.
ElizabethElizabeth
Because Mary died childless, that left Because Mary died childless, that left Elizabeth to rule. She reestablished the Elizabeth to rule. She reestablished the Church of England but got on the pope’s Church of England but got on the pope’s bad side. Many people tried to kill bad side. Many people tried to kill Elizabeth while she reigned, one person Elizabeth while she reigned, one person of whom was her cousin, Mary of Scots. of whom was her cousin, Mary of Scots. Eventually Elizabeth had her beheaded Eventually Elizabeth had her beheaded for her attempts. for her attempts.
ElizabethElizabeth
Not only did Elizabeth change the religion Not only did Elizabeth change the religion in England, she also changed the literary in England, she also changed the literary front. She was England’s great ruler and front. She was England’s great ruler and her reign was known as “The Golden her reign was known as “The Golden Age.” She was glorified in the literature Age.” She was glorified in the literature of many English authors. of many English authors.
Upon her death, Mary of Scot’s son Upon her death, Mary of Scot’s son James VI became the king because James VI became the king because Elizabeth died childless. Elizabeth died childless.
James VIJames VI
James brought something of a decline in James brought something of a decline in England. England.
He brought about the King James Bible, He brought about the King James Bible, loved the work of Shakespeare, and was loved the work of Shakespeare, and was not nearly as frugal as Elizabeth had not nearly as frugal as Elizabeth had been. He was nice enough, but he didn’t been. He was nice enough, but he didn’t have the same rapport with his subjects have the same rapport with his subjects as Elizabeth had. as Elizabeth had.
Decline of the Decline of the RenaissanceRenaissance
James was not the success that Elizabeth had James was not the success that Elizabeth had been and his poor reign was turned over to his been and his poor reign was turned over to his son, Charles I, who was no better. Charles son, Charles I, who was no better. Charles was beheaded in 1649. Parliament took over was beheaded in 1649. Parliament took over instead of a king. In 1660, Charles’s son came instead of a king. In 1660, Charles’s son came to rule, which continued the decline of the to rule, which continued the decline of the Renaissance. There is no specific date Renaissance. There is no specific date associated with the ending of the Renaissance; associated with the ending of the Renaissance; it simple ceased to be. it simple ceased to be.
Pastoral PoetryPastoral Poetry
Pastoral means “shepherd.” This type of Pastoral means “shepherd.” This type of poetry, popular during the Renaissance, poetry, popular during the Renaissance, embraced the countryside and included embraced the countryside and included shepherds and beautiful women who shepherds and beautiful women who were in tune with nature. Pastoral poems were in tune with nature. Pastoral poems portray nature as very idyllic. portray nature as very idyllic.
