Republic of the Philippines
UNIVERSITY OF EASTERN PHILIPPINES
University Town, Northern Samar
Website: [Link] Email: uepnsofficial@[Link]
The Renaissance and the
Reformation
Chapte
r 7:
Module
7
World History 1
Module Title and Description:
World History 1- Ancient and Medieval Era (3 units, 3 hours per
week for 18 weeks)
The world history 1 provides the basic concepts, theories and
historical developments lie emergence of societies and historical
developments like emergence of societies and civilizations, rise of
kingdoms – empire sates, formation of states, age of exploration,
expedition and colonization, and age of commercialization from pre-history
up to 8th century C.E.
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World History 1
Lesson 1
FHE RENAISSANCE
During the 15th century, several major developments took place in Europe. For those
regions affected by these changes, the Middle Ages, characterized by the dominance of
the Church and feudalism, came to an end. It is ironic that the decline of the Church's
power and feudalism was, in part, contributed to by the crusades which the Church itself
had sponsored.
During this time, trade flourished and certain cities such as Pisa, Milan, Genoa, Venice,
Florence, and Sienna, became prosperous centers of commerce. In these cities, some
merchants accumulated great wealth through trade with Eastern Europe and Asia.
Some rich merchants, who also engaged in money lending, were tasked by the Pope to
collect the Church's taxes and to serve as its treasurer. In the interests of trade, they
also financed expeditions to distant lands. Rich merchant families eventually became
all-powerful in certain cities. The Medici family of Florence, for example, owned banks
throughout Europe which lent money to popes and kings.
HUMANISM
Another major development which took place was the arrival of a new way of thinking.
With the fall of Constantinople in 1453 to the 'Turks, many Greek scholars fled to Italy.
These scholars brought with them the classical Greek heritage and a tradition of
systematic and whole-hearted love for learning. Academies were founded in Italy for the
study of Greek and Roman writings. For the first time, many Europeans were awakened
to the great accomplishments of earlier scholars; classical Greece and Rome came to
be seen as examples of the peak of human achievement. This new faith in human
abilities gave birth to the philosophy of humanism.
Humanism is guided by the belief that human reason is the source of knowledge and
power. Thus everyone had the responsibility to use it wisely and well for the good of all.
Belief in human reason gave people new confidence in themselves and their abilities.
Old traditions and beliefs which were formerly accepted blindly were reexamined. For
example, the established conception that the Earth was flat and that the Sun and
planets orbited around it, was questioned and proven false by Copernicus and
Christopher Columbus (1451. 1506). All fields became open to study and
experimentation. It seemed that peoples' minds had finally awoken from the long sleep
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of the Middle Ages; this is why this period of European history is called the
Renaissance, which literally means "rebirth".
The propagation of new ideas was made faster and more efficient by the timely
invention by Johann Gutenberg of Mainz (14002-1468) of the first printing press. The
first book to come out of this press in 1456 was the Bible. By 1500, there were printing
presses in 183 towns and cities throughout Europe. Although most of the books to come
out of these presses were classical works, writings of the leading scholars and
intellectuals of the time, such as Erasmus of Rotterdam (1466?-1536), were also
published.
RENAISSANCE ART AND LITERATURE
During the Renaissance, writers produced works of new vibrancy especially in Italy and
England. In Italy, the Renaissance was heralded by Francesco Petrarch (1304-74) and
Giovanni Boccacio (1313-75). Petrarch's poems, many of which were inspired by his
beloved Laura, and Boccacio's humorous style influenced generations of writers. In
England, the Renaissance was the time of William Shakespeare (1564-1616), John
Milton (1608-1674), and Edmund Spenser (1552.99). Although set in a long distant
time, Shakespeare's plays remain popular to this day because of their universal themes.
Not only literature but also the visual arts, such as painting and sculpture, underwent a
flowering during the Renaissance. Although the Middle Ages also produced artisans of
great skill, art was considered a religious task. Artisans saw themselves as instruments
of God and, hence, gave little thought to manifesting their own personal style. This
attitude changed during the Renaissance. Certain great painters of the time thrived
under the encouragement and support of rich merchants who saw themselves as
patrons of the arts.
Moved by the scientific spirit of the age, artists set out to study anatomy and perspective
which resulted in greater realism in their works. Although religious themes such as the
saints and the Madonna and Child remained popular, they began to be portrayed as not
only holy, but human as well. More paintings began to portray secular, or non-religious,
subjects including portraits of patrons, wealthy men and women, and their worldly
goods.
The three greatest painters of the Renaissance were Raphael Sanzio (1483. 1520),
Michelangelo Buonarotti (1475-1564), and Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519). Raphael
was a skillful portraitist who painted several versions of the Madonna and Child; these
paintings are outstanding for their technical refinement and endearing style. Raphael's
masterpiece was a huge mural depicting the Academy at Athens in a classical style.
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Michelangelo was an example of what is known as the "Renaissance man," someone
who excelled in many things. Michelangelo was a poet, philosopher, architect, painter,
and sculptor. Because of Michelangelo's almost superhuman talent, art patrons fought
over his services, even putting up with his moodiness. Among his most famous works is
a marble sculpture of the Pieta depicting the dead Jesus on the lap of His grieving
mother. He also painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel with scenes from the Old
Testament in a monumental and dramatic style.
Leonardo da Vinci was also a Renaissance man skilled in painting, sculpture, and
architecture. He was also a scientist and inventor, conducting experiments on human
anatomy and making detailed plans for tanks and flying machines. His most famous
paintings are the ever-popular "Last Supper" and the "Mona Lisa" with the mysterious
smile.
SCIENCE DURING THE RENAISSANCE
The Renaissance spirit of inquiry stimulated scientific study and experimentation of
which the Church disapproved. During the 13th century, the pope himself put a stop to
the experiments being conducted by Roger Bacon (c.1214-1294), an English friar. He
continued with his experiments, however, until he was imprisoned by his brother
Franciscans. Bacon's discovery of the uses of gunpowder revolutionized European
warfare.
In 1543, Nicolaus Copernicus made public his theory that the Earth and the other
planets circled the Sun. This theory was in direct contradiction to the accepted belief
promoted by the Church that the Earth was the center of the universe. Because of his
theory, the Church threatened Copernicus with excommunication. Copernicus' theory
was later proven by Galileo Galilei (1564 1642), an astronomer and mathematician, in
1610. Because of Church pressure, Galileo was forced, at the age of seventy, to
renounce his discovery.
Scientific experimentation, however, flourished in England where the Catholic Church
was less severe. Francis Bacon (1561-1626), a philosopher and lawmaker and not
strictly a scientist, is recognized as the father of the scientific method because of his
writings which stress that all theories should first undergo thorough investigation and
experimentation. Bacon's method was followed by Isaac Newton (1642-1727) in his
formulation of the laws of gravity and mechanics. According to Newton objects in the
universe exert a pull on other objects. The force behind an apple's falling to the ground
is the same force which maintains the planets on their orbits.
Humanism and the spirit of inquiry also spread to other subjects including religion.
According to new thinkers, miracles were not possible since these violated the laws of
nature. Also, Church dogma which asserted the sinfulness of all people from birth was
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challenged by humanists who believed that all people, given the proper education, were
naturally good.
Lesson 1 Post-test
1. What is humanism? Is it still relevant today? 1f yes, how can it be practiced?
2. What was the state of art and culture during the Renaissance? Give some
examples of famous Renaissance artists.
3. What scientific discoveries were made during the Renaissance? Explain their
importance.
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Lesson 2
THE REFORMATION
The decline of the Church's authority during the Renaissance was not solely attributable
to the rise of scientific thinking. By the 15th century, the Church’s prestige had fallen
due to corruption. People began to see home as simply one of the many Italian states
led by the Pope who, like many heads of State, was interested only in expanding his
territory and increasing his wealth. This opinion does not come as a surprise when we
look at certain popes of the time. For, example, from 1492 to 1503, Pope Alexander VI,
was known not for his piety but for his womanizing and his murderous plots against his
rivals and enemies. Many corrupt priests also exploited the superstitious beliefs of the
people for their own interests.
Even before the Renaissance, calls were made to reform the Church. The Englishman,
John Wycliffe (13202-1384) attacked the Pope's right to collect taxes in England. In
Bohemia, one of Wycliffe's followers, Juan Huss (1369?-1415) was burnt at the stake
for heresy. The Italian monk, Girolamo Savonarola (1452-1498) attacked the Church
and the State's love for luxury and was also punished by being burnt at the stake.
Although these reformists met unhappy fates, this did not prevent their cause from
being taken up by a German monk named Martin Luther (1483. 1546).
In 1511, Martin Luther made a pilgrimage to Rome. There, he was scandalized by the
worldliness and luxury of the Church. During that time, the Church made money from
the sale of "indulgences", pieces of paper which guaranteed all who purchased it
forgiveness of all sins and freedom from punishment after death; the money from the
sale of the indulgences were spent on the repair of the Basilica of Saint Peter in Rome.
This practice, so hated by Luther, implied that the grace of God could be bought with
money. For Luther, salvation could not be bought with prayers, pilgrimages, charity and
certainly not with money. According to him, wholehearted faith and the surrender of
one's self to God was the only true path to salvation. Moved by his convictions, Luther
posted his 95 Theses, a document denouncing Church corruption and other abuses, on
the door of the Wittenburg Church on October 31, 1517. By this act, Luther hoped to
open discussions for reform and not to declare war against the Church.
Not unexpectedly, the Church rejected Luther's "95 Theses". In 1520, Luther was
threatened with excommunication by the Pope. In an act of defiance, Luther burned the
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document containing the threat in public. This forced the Church to declare Luther a
heretic. In another place and time, Luther might have met the same fate as the earlier
reformists. Fortunately for him, however, he was supported by many German princes
who had long been discontented with the Church's impositions. Luther's call to the
German princes and kings to free the local churches from the control of Rome made
him very popular among the ruling classes.' These protected Luther when he was forced
to go into hiding after being declared a heretic. Luther's popularity spread throughout
Germany until, in 1529, the German states and nations which supported him submitted
a "protestation" (the source of the name "Protestant") to the Pope. Under this pressure,
the Pope was forced to grant the rulers the privilege of choosing their territories' church,
be it Catholic or Protestant.
CALVINISM
Meanwhile, in Geneva, the reform movement was being led by John Calvin (1509-64).
For Calvin, all debates on salvation were pointless since God had already chosen those
who would be saved. From his point of view, sacraments were useless in gaining God's
favor. Priests were also unnecessary since the Chosen ones needed no intermediary
between themselves and God.
Calvin believed that it was the Chosen ones' duty to teach everyone to live according to
God's wishes and to study faithfully the teachings of the Bible. In order to promote the
latter, the Calvinists placed great importance in the value of education for all. Another
guiding principle of the Calvinists was the adherence to an austere way of life. All
worldliness and gaiety, even feasting on Christmas, were seen as the devil's work and,
thus, forbidden. Church organs were destroyed and the tolling of bells before mass
prohibited. Those who violated the Calvinists' strict code of conduct were branded as
heretics or witches and were frequently burned at the stake.
In spite of, or because of its strictness, Geneva became a prosperous community which
sheltered thousands of Protestants fleeing persecution in their own lands.
THE NEW CHURCH OF ENGLAND
In England, the leader of church reform was King Henry VIII (reigned 1509-1547).
Henry's motives for breaking away from Rome was his desire to divorce his wife
Catherine of Aragon who had been unable to produce an heir to the throne. The
Church's prohibition of divorce became the main obstacle to Henry's plans. In spite of
this, Henry divorced Catherine and married Anne Boleyn (who bore the future Queen
Elizabeth I). Because of this, Henry was excommunicated by the Pope. In retaliation,
Henry founded the Anglican Church and placed himself at its head.
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While the Anglican Church did not entirely break away from Catholicism at this time, it
simply did not recognize the supreme authority of the Pope. The monasteries were
disbanded and Church lands sold by the kingdom. Henry had four more wives, two of
whom died by beheading, including Ann Boleyn. Under Henry's daughter, Queen
Elizabeth I (reigned 1558-1603), the Anglican Church became entirely Protestant.
THE COUNTER-REFORMATION
The spread of Protestantism forced the Church to conduct a counter-reformation in
order to consolidate its forces. In 1545, the Pope called for a meeting of representatives
from all Christian countries whether Catholic or Protestant. This meeting was called the
Council of Trent.
Even before the meeting, the Pope secretly arranged that it should be dominated by
those loyal to him. Thus, although it agreed to conduct certain reforms, the council
merely became an instrument for reinforcing the Church's traditional privileges. The
Inquisition, a special court established during the 13th century to hunt down all who
violated the teachings of the Church (including witches and heretics), was strengthened.
The Church also launched a campaign against book publishing which it saw as the
major culprit in the spread of heretical ideas. In 1559, a list of prohibited books, the
Index, was released. Whoever was caught reading any of the books on the list was
threatened with excommunication.
The Council of Trent did not bring peace among the Catholics and Protestants. Instead,
Europe was torn by a series of bloody religious wars. In France, which was ruled by a
Catholic queen, Catherine de Medicis, thousands of Huguenots (French Protestants)
were slaughtered in the streets on Saint Bartholomew's Day in 1572. In Germany, which
was divided into 340 small territories (duchies and principalities), disagreements over
Catholic and Protestant territories resulted in wars which killed about five million people.
In 1618, the Thirty Years' War broke out between the German Protestants and the
Catholic kings led by Philip II of Spain. This long war ended in 1648 with the Treaty of
Westphalia which recognized the existence of Protestant states in Germany.
Lesson 2 Post-test
1. What church reforms were demanded by the Protestants? In your opinion, were
these justified?
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2. What was the Church's reaction to the calls for reform?
3. What effects did the religious disturbances have on the politics of the time?