NORTHERN RENAISSANCENORTHERN RENAISSANCE

Politics and the State

More of a blend of old and new- Much more religious than in Italy- Studied Greek and Hebrew texts for a greater understanding

of Christianity- Students from England, Holland, France, and Germany went

to Italy for the ‘new learning’- Northern humanists interpreted Italian ideas in terms of their

own traditions.a) They were more religious b) They stressed the Bible and early Christian themesc) They developed an ethical way of lifed) Classical and Christian cultures should be combinede) They had a profound faith in the human intellectf) People could be improved through education

Northern HumanistsNorthern Humanists➲ In Germany:➲ Western and southern Germany were

economically advanced➲ 14th century - mystics like Thomas a Kempis

believed the human soul could communicate with God

➲ They did not rebel against the Church but wanted a deeper religion

In EnglandMoore was trained as a lawyerDeeply interested in the classicsEntered government under

Henry VIIIWrote Utopia where all children receive a

humanist education.

Moore believed private property caused vices and civil disorder

Lost his life to maintain his convictions

Low CountriesErasmus had a deep appreciation for the

classicsMost well-respected man in EuropeInfluenced by John Colet in EnglandWrote The Education of a Christian

Prince and The Praise of Folly

Two main themes:1) Education is the

means to reform2) ‘The philosophy

of Christ’ Christianity is an inner feeling

‘‘new monarchs’new monarchs’- A new breed of leaders - ruthless, preferred security to

love- Outside of Italy they were actively building states- They used the monarchy to guarantee law and order- The despots of Italy, Henry VII of England, Louis XI of

France, Ferdinand of Aragon- All Machiavellian (but could not have read The Prince)

1) invested kingship with strong authority and national purpose

2) Monarchy linked all classes of society within a boundary

3) Insisted on respect and loyalty4) Ruthless oppressed rebellions and opposition5) Loved the business of kingship6) Tended to rely on the middle-class - new bourgeoisie

FRANCEFRANCECharles VII revived the monarchyi) expelled the Englishii) increased the influence of the middle classiii) strengthened finances through taxes like salt (gabelle) and

land (taille)iv) created first permanent royal armyv) by the Pragmatic Sanction of Bourges (1438) asserted French

Church supremacy over the papacyvi) crown could appoint bishops

➲ His son, Louis XI (Valois) was a Renaissance prince➲ Promoted industry

improved the armysigned international treaties

➲ The Estates General met only once during his reign➲ 1516 Francis I signed the Concordat of Bologna which

rescinded the Pragmatic Sanction - king could appoint bishops (keeping France Catholic)

Decimated by the Black DeathThe Tudors (1485-1603) won War of the RosesThey passed laws against nobles having standing armiesThe monarch did not depend on government for money

so much more independentRoyal Council (Star Chamber) was the center of

authority

ENGLANDENGLAND

The Royal Council handled the king’s business including arranging marriages.

Aristocratic threats were dealt with by the Star ChamberStar Chamber used Roman Law and methods to enforce the

lawa) accused people were not entitled to see the evidence against

themb) sessions were in secretc) torture was often usedd) there were no juries

The Tudors promoted peace and orderHenry VII (1485) rebuilt the monarchyRuled through unpaid officialsa) he encouraged tradeb) built up the merchant fleetc) crushed an invasion from Irelandd) secured peace with Scotland (his daughter

Margaret married the Scottish king)

SPAINSPAINIsabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon married

(1469) and united the regionsThey ruled through ‘hermandades’Restructured the royal council - excluded the rich and

powerfulThe church was the linchpin of the reform.Alliance with the Spanish pope Alexander VI Spanish

monarchs gained great power and a national church

reconquista (1492) - expulsion of the Jews and Moors from Spainlasted over 100 years

Conversos- Jews that convertedMoriscos - Christians of Moorish backgroundMarranos - Christians of Jewish backgroundinquisition - the ruthless court that decided if

conversos were telling the truth later used against the Protestants

- Ferdinand and Isabella expelling all Jews from Spain had major economic consequences

- Absolute religious orthodoxy and pure blood were the foundation of Spain

- Ferdinand and Isabella’s daughter Joanna married Philip. Their son was Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor.

- Charles V - the ‘Universal Monarch’

GermanyGermany➲ Part of the Holy Roman Empire➲ Local lords recognized the supremacy of the Emperor,

who was elected by 7 Electors➲ 1452 Archduke of Austria (Habsburg) was elected

Emperor Maximilian I (1493-1519)➲ He married the heiress of the Duke of Burgundy➲ Their son, Philip married Mad Joanna, daughter of

Ferdinand and Isabella➲ Their son was Charles V

PoliticsThe Prince - MachiavelliFor Machiavelli the test was a ‘good’ government was an effective

government. Machiavelli’s work rests on two principles:1) Permanent social order

reflecting God’s will is impossible

2) Politics should be considered

a science.

• Johann Gutenberg changed the course of history with the movable print. Printing made propaganda possible and forced people into groups i.e. church and state or Crown and nobility.

• Printing stimulated literacy of lay people.

WomenWomen- The status of upper-class women declined - women generally had less power than in the Middle Ages- Renaissance humanism represented an educational

advance for a small minority.- Women had to choose marriage or education- Education brought jealousy and envy- Girls in the upper-class were taught how to dance, paint,

and play music - they were decorative- Women belonged at home- Educational opportunities were severely limited

Literary and art works had no effect on ordinary women- Women were a sign of wealth.