Renaissance and Reformation
Section 2
Northern Renaissance
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Renaissance and Reformation
Section 2
The Northern Renaissance
Preview
Main Idea / Reading Focus The Renaissance Spreads North Philosophers and Writers Artists
Renaissance and Reformation
Section 2
The Northern Renaissance
Main Idea
Renaissance ideas soon spread beyond Italy to northern Europe by means of trade, travel, and printed material, influencing the art and ideas of the north.
Reading Focus
How did the Renaissance spread to northern Europe?
What contributions did writers and philosophers make to the northern Renaissance?
How did the works of northern artists differ from those of the Italian Renaissance?
Renaissance and Reformation
Section 2
The Renaissance Spreads North
Trade, the movement of artists and scholars, and the development of printing helped spread Renaissance ideas north from Italy.
Trading Goods
As cities grew, vast trading network spread across northern Europe
Trading Ideas
Northern Europeans traded ideas, goods; spread Italian Renaissance north
Network dominated by Hanseatic League, merchant organization, 1200s to 1400s
Protected members from pirates, other hazards Built lighthouses, trained ship captains
Fleeing violence, Italian artists brought humanist ideas, painting techniques north
Northern scholars traveled to Italy, brought ideas home Universities started in France, Netherlands, Germany
Renaissance and Reformation
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A Book Revolution
Printing Press
Mid-1400s, Johannes Gutenberg cast letters of alphabet on metal plates, locked metal plates on wooden press; perfected movable type printing Result, one of most dramatic upheavals world has ever known
Printed Word Available to More
Before only way to reproduce writing was by hand; long, painstaking process
With movable type, text quickly printed; producing books faster, cheaper
Easier access to books prompted more people to learn to read
Italics
Gutenbergs first publication, 1,282-page Bible Printers soon appeared in other cities, made books quickly, inexpensively Explosion of printed material quickly spread Renaissance ideas
Renaissance and Reformation
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Find the Main Idea
How did Renaissance ideas spread to northern Europe?
Answer(s): Ideas were exchanged through trade; artists and scholars traveled between Italy and the north; printing press allowed easier bookmaking; ideas spread with printed material.
Renaissance and Reformation
Section 2
Philosophers and Writers
Northern humanists expressed their own ideas Combined interests of theology, fiction and history
Created philosophical works, novels, dramas, and poems
Desiderius Erasmus Sir Thomas More Christine de Pisan
Combined Christian ideas, humanism Wrote of pure, simple Christian life, educating children Fanned flames of discontent Roman Catholic Church censored, condemned works
Mores best-known work, Utopia, contains criticisms of English government, society Presents vision of perfect, non-existent society based on reason
Italian-born writer focused on role of women in society
Grew up in French court of Charles V; turned to writing when widowed Championed equality, education for women
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Shakespeare and His Characters
William Shakespeare Spread Renaissance Ideas
Many believe English playwright William Shakespeare greatest writer
Plots not original, but treatments of them masterful Drew inspiration from ancient, contemporary literature Knowledge of natural science, humanist topics expressed in plays
Use of language, choice of themes made plays appealing even to uneducated
Plays helped spread ideas of Renaissance to mass audience Focused on lives of realistic characters, unlike morality plays By Shakespeares death, 1616, London scene of thriving theatre district
Renaissance and Reformation
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Summarize What are some characteristics of Renaissance writers work?
Answer(s): expressed humanist ideas, scientific knowledge, realistic experiences, and social conditions
Renaissance and Reformation
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Artists
Like literary counterparts, northern European artists influenced by Italian Renaissance
Adopted Italian techniques Works reflected more realistic view of humanity
Italian artists tried to capture beauty of Greek, Roman gods in paintings Northern artists tried to depict people as they really were
Renaissance and Reformation
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Drer and Others
1400s, German artist Albrecht Drer visited Italy On return, used Italian techniques of realism, perspective Oil paintings exhibit features unique to northern Renaissance Oils reproduced textures; reflection of objects, scenes outside window
Flemish School
Artists of Netherlands developed own style, Flemish School Used technique perfected by Jan van Eyck, 1400s Fused the everyday with religious; lit candle represents Gods presence
Everyday Life
1500s, Pieter Brueghel the Elder used Italian techniques Paintings showed scenes from everyday peasant life Different from mythological scenes of Italian paintings
Renaissance and Reformation
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Contrast How did northern Renaissance artwork differ from that of Italian artists?
Answer(s): depicted everyday objects, people as they actually were
Renaissance and Reformation
Section 2
Renaissance and Reformation
Section 2
Renaissance and Reformation
Section 2