Unit 9 The Renaissance
Introduction
In the previous unit, you learnt about the crusades. It was indicated that the
crusaders generally failed to recapture territories which had been lost to the
Muslims. In this unit, you will be introduced to other developments which
took place during the medieval period. You will need to pay particular
attention to the achievements that were made in various fields. In the next
unit, you will learn about the reformation. This was one of the general results
of the renaissance.
Areas of emphasis
Definition of the renaissance
Role of humanism
Developments during the renaissance
Results of the renaissance
Key words
Renaissance, humanism, secularism, perspective, sonnet and reformation
Prerequisite knowledge
You are supposed to be familiar with the basic issues in this from your
knowledge gained at secondary school level. This will enable you to easily
follow the discussion in this unit.
Materials and resources needed
None
Time required
You will need four hours to cover this unit.
Learning objectives
By the end of this unit, you should be able to:
define the term renaissance
explain reasons for the beginning of the renaissance
analyse important developments of the renaissance
explain the results of the renaissance.
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9.1 Definitional debate
There has been a long historical debate about the meaning that should be
attached to the term renaissance. Literally, the term means ‘rebirth’ (renascita
in Latin). In this sense it refers to the renewal of interest throughout Europe in
the literature, philosophy, and art of Greece and Rome. But the age was also
one in which new art, new architecture, new literature, and new political and
social attitudes were being created. Consequently, the civilisation that
emerged was very different from that of ancient Greece and Rome.
The real problem is not what the age should be called, but what were its most
characteristic traits and its chronological boundaries.
Viewing the renaissance as an age in the history of Western Europe, it would
be defined as an age of transition from medieval to modern civilisation. It was
a period characterised mainly by the gradual shift from one type of
civilisation to another, and, at the same time, possessing in its own right
certain distinct characteristics. In short, the renaissance was not just a copy of
the preceding periods. It was a unique period with its own characteristics.
Based on this, the arbitrary dates 1300 AD to 1600 AD would mark its
chronological boundaries.
The renaissance was a period of enlightenment after the cultural darkness of
the Middle Ages. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the period that followed
came to be known as the Dark Age. This was because learning (or education)
and all other aspects of civilisation in the empire had been destroyed by the
barbarians.
The renaissance was both a worldly and a religious age. Great achievements
in arts and sciences were combined with deep religious concerns. The
renaissance was characterised by a spirit of inquiry and critical examination.
In fact, during the renaissance period fierce debates over questions of faith
and salvation sparked the reformation, a movement that divided Christians in
Europe into many different groups.
Learner activity 1
In your own words, explain the meaning of the term renaissance.
9.1.2 Reasons for the beginning of the renaissance
Different explanations have been advanced as to why the renaissance began.
The following are some of them.
The revival of trade and urban life during the later Middle Ages led to an
increase in wealth. This wealth created a new middle class in towns which did
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It was in cities that the revived excitement for secular living, free from
medieval restraints, had its best chance to find expression. The wealthy
citizens of the Italian cities had time for leisure. Wealth was a means to
comfortable living.
Artists and sculptors in Italy could find rich patrons whose demand for their
works encouraged their efforts.
Italy’s contacts with some foreign scholars, especially in Byzantium, helped to
revive Graeco-roman culture. After the destruction of the Western Roman
Empire by the various barbaric groups, most of the Greek and Roman works
were preserved in the eastern Roman empire (Byzantium).
9.1.4 The renaissance and humanism
The renaissance was based on humanism. Humanism literally refers to a
system of beliefs and standards concerned with the needs of man and not
with religious principles. Humanism in other words means a focus on
humankind as the centre of intellectual and artistic endeavour. The emphasis
was on secularism. Renaissance humanism believed strongly in the ability of
human beings. It taught that people should live a full life and try to improve
their life in this world and not in the hereafter.
Humanism was a programme of studies which aimed at replacing the
medieval scholastic emphasis on logic and metaphysics with the study of
language, literature, history and ethics. The humanists believed that these
subjects would make their students virtuous (good citizens) and prepare them
for public functions of the state.
9.2 The role of humanists
The humanists were interested in the human literature of the Greek and
Roman writers rather than in church literature. The humanists led the way for
the others to follow. Their increased emphasis on classical subjects was so
great that it constituted a real change.
Humanists rediscovered ancient texts which had been lost. They critically
examined these texts and came up with their own parallel conclusions.
At an extraordinary rate, they multiplied copies of texts already known, so
that the knowledge of the texts was spread far beyond the narrow circle of the
medieval scholars who previously had had access to them. Despite the long
contacts between Europe and Byzantium, almost nobody in the West before
the late 14th century AD knew Greek or cared about Greek literature. With the
help of Greek exiles like Manuel Chrysoloras, who lectured in Florence
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of medieval writers. Boccaccio did not invent all the Decameron stories. He
took old stories (jokes) and gave them literary form.
9.3 Developments of the renaissance
The renaissance scholars made notable achievements in various fields.
9.3.1 Renaissance art
Individualism was the order of the day among the renaissance artists. They
felt that their talents should be used to bring fame to themselves as
individuals as well as to bring pleasure to others. The arts as a whole, like
society and culture in general, became less Christian and more secular than
they had been during the Middle Ages. Interest in the things of this world,
however, did not exclude concern with the next world. The renaissance was
both a worldly and a religious age. The artists released painting and sculpture
from the previous subservience to architecture, the centre of attention during
the medieval period.
Most of the artists were outstanding in many fields. And some of the greatest
artists were also the most versatile. For example, Leonardo da Vinci was a
painter, sculptor, musician, engineer, poet and inventor.
9.3.2 Painting
Great improvements were made in the field of painting. In the Middle Ages,
paintings were stiff, lifeless and conventional. Renaissance painters were
more flexible. It was difficult for them to imitate Greek and Roman paintings
because most of them were destroyed during the Dark Ages. As a result of
this, they relied largely on imagination to depict their subjects.
The renaissance painters could also make their works lifelike through a
technique of painting called perspective: By making distant objects smaller
than those in the foreground, and by arranging them in certain ways, they
could create the impression of distance on a flat surface.
9.3.3 Renaissance painters
The famous renaissance painters were Giotto (1270-1337 AD), Tommaso
Masaccio (1401-1428 AD), Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510 AD), and Leonardo da
Vinci (1452-1519 AD)
a) Giotto
Giotto tried to present human actions naturally. He painted John the Baptist
on the wall of a church in Florence. He introduced action and variation of
pose in painting. By varying the brightness of his colours and attempting
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contrasts in light and shade, Giotto achieved a three-dimensional quality, that
is, an impression of depth.
b) Tommaso Masaccio
He is regarded as the Father of Modern Art. He provided inspiration for
nearly all the painters of the early renaissance period.
He developed the use of perspective, that is, the use of broad contrasts of light
and shade to give the impression of depth. His efforts were mostly made in
portraying the human figure. He painted the expulsion of Adam and Eve
from the Garden of Eden.
c) Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo was the most versatile and creative of these painters. He
continuously fought for perfection and died embittered with the feeling that
he had achieved nothing. He produced the Last Supper, a famous painting
which depicts Christ celebrating Passover with his disciples in the Upper
Room. He also painted the famous Monalisa. Madonna Lisa was a wife of a
merchant named Giocondo.
9.3.4 Renaissance architecture
The architects of the pre-renaissance period had devoted most of their talents
to public buildings, and particularly to churches. The renaissance, however,
brought a new spirit of individualism, and many of its finest buildings were
palaces and houses for individuals. The Italian architects of the renaissance
adapted both the classical and medieval styles, but they also introduced new
styles of their own.
The famous renaissance architects were Filippo Brunelleschi and Donato
Bramante. Brunelleschi is known as the father of renaissance architecture. He
designed the pointed dome of the Florence Cathedral. Bramante was the
original architect of the St. Peters Cathedral.
9.3.5 Renaissance writing
In literature, as in other arts, the renaissance saw an outburst of fresh creative
activity. In the 14th century AD, Dante Alighieri wrote his Divine Comedy,
Petrarch his sonnets, and Boccaccio his poems and novels.
It was, however, in the 16th century AD that the renaissance made its full
impact on literature in England, France, etc. Some writers include Desiderius
Erasmus, William Shakespeare, John Milton and Niccolo Machiavelli.
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9.3.6 Renaissance science
The scientific inventions and discoveries drew opposition from the church
leaders because they were against the religious beliefs of the medieval period.
The notable scientists who changed people’s conception of the universe are
Nicholas Corpenicus and Galilei Galileo.
a) Nicholas Corpenicus
He was a Polish scientist. He advanced the view that the sun is the centre of
the universe and all planets including the earth revolve around it (i.e. the sun-
centred universe.) This was against the earth-centred view advanced by
earlier astronomers (ie, the earth-centred universe).
b) Galilei Galileo
He was an Italian scholar. He invented the first telescope in 1610 AD. This
enabled him to prove the validity of the Copernican theory.
9.3.7 Printing
The most important renaissance contribution to technology was printing.
Printing was first introduced by Johanne Gutenberg of Mainz in Germany
about 1450 AD. Gutenberg invented the printing press in 1455 AD. By 1500
AD, Italy alone had 73 printing presses. The most famous of them was the
Aldine Press in Venice. This press was founded by Aldus Manutius, 1450-
1515 AD. Everywhere the printing press suddenly made both classical and
vernacular literature available to large numbers of people who could not have
afforded hand-copied manuscripts.
Learner activity 4
Highlight achievements made under each of the following fields: painting,
architecture and science.
9.4 Results of the renaissance
Wonderful achievements were made in different fields and these have
become the priceless heritage of humankind. The renaissance also caused the
intellectual revolution which awakened people’s minds and suppressed many
medieval superstitious beliefs. The scientific inventions during the
renaissance provided a basis for the Scientific Revolution which occurred in
the 17th and 18th centuries AD. The inventions like the mariners’ compass
brought about a wider knowledge of the world through the voyages of
exploration. The explorers in the 17th century AD discovered new lands and
people. The renaissance witnessed the growth of national states and this
weakened the papacy (e.g. England, France, Spain and Portugal.) The
reformation was a direct result of the renaissance.
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Self assessment
1 What was the relationship between humanism and the renaissance?
2 What is the significance of learning about the developments during the
renaissance period?
Unit summary
In this unit, you have learnt about the renaissance. You have examined
reasons for the beginning of the renaissance, one of which is the destruction of
feudalism following the emergence of a capitalist society. You have also
examined the role of humanism during the early renaissance period. You also
looked at the major developments during this period. It is these developments
which make the renaissance period a unique period, different from the
medieval period. One of the results of the renaissance is the reformation. You
will examine this in detail in the next unit.
Further readings
Beers, B.F. (1986), World History, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc.
Mazour A.G. and Peoples J.M. (1975), Men and Nations: A World History, New
York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.
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