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