Renaissance & Reformation

Essential Question

• How did humanism affect society? Humanist scholars studied the Greeks and Romans to increase their knowledge of many different topics.

• They were curious about everything, including plants and animals, human anatomy and medicine, and the stars and the planets. Their study of mathematics helped them in many subjects.

Renaissance Humanism

• Humanists studied the Greeks and Romans, and the development of the printing press helped spread ideas.

• Humanism: a new way of understanding the world developed in medieval Europe. It was based on the values of the ancient Greeks and Romans. Humanists believed that the individual and human society were important. They did not turn away from religious faith, but they wanted a balance between faith and reason.

The Renaissance Spreads

• Renaissance ideas and art spread from Italy to northern Europe and later to England in the late 1400s.

• The printing press helped humanist ideas to spread, as did people who traveled.

The Printing Press Spreads Ideas

• The printing press was a key to the spread of humanist ideas throughout Europe.

• In the early 1450s, Johannes Gutenberg developed a printing press that used movable metal type.

• Because of this invention, it was possible to print many books much more quickly.

• With more books available, more people learned how to read.

Gutenberg Bible

• Printed in the 1450s, this was the first European book produced on the new press. Soon books flooded Europe. About 40,000 books were published by 1500.

Who Was William Shakespeare?

• In England, the Renaissance took place in writing and theater more than in art. The Renaissance began in England in the later 1500s, during the rule of Elizabeth I.

• Theater was popular in England in the 1500s. Admission was only one or two cents so even the poor could attend.

• The greatest English writer of that era was William Shakespeare. He wrote tragedies, comedies, and historical plays.

• Some of his great tragedies include Hamlet, Macbeth, and Romeo and Juliet.

• In each tragedy, the characters’ flaws cause their downfall.

• Among his most famous comedies are A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night, and Much Ado About Nothing.

A Divided Church

• Martin Luther’s actions led to incredible changes in Europe. Before he voiced his beliefs, the countries of Europe had their differences, but they were bound together by a common church.

• For centuries, Catholicism had been the main religion of western Europe.

• Within a few years, Luther had many followers. They broke away from Catholicism to find their own Christian churches.

• His protests were the start of a great religious and historical movement known as the Protestant Reformation.

John Calvin

• From Germany, Luther’s ideas spread rapidly.

• John Calvin, a French priest, also broke away from the Catholic Church.

• Like Luther, Calvin rejected the idea that good works would ensure an individual’s salvation.

• He believed that God had already chosen those who would be saved. (Predestination)

Henry VIII

• He also jumped on the bandwagon

and left the Catholic Church.

• He had a dispute with Pope

Clement VII over his marriage. The pope had refused Henry’s request for a divorce.

• This little scuffle created the Church of England.

What does this mean for the Americas?

• lsees@rosellecatholic.org

• How do the Renaissance and Protestant Reformation lead to early exploration? Describe the connection between the eras.

Consequences of Henry’s change

• Henry did not immediately get the male heir he sought. But as we know, eventually, he was able to have that son he wanted.

• After Henry’s death in 1547, each of his three children ruled England in turn.

• They created religious turmoil.

• Henry’s son, Edward, became king when he was just 9 years old.

• Too young to rule alone, Edward VI was guided by adult advisers. These men were devout Protestants and they introduced their beliefs into the Church of England.

• Edward was constantly in ill health and reigned for just six years. Mary, daughter of Catherine of Aragon, took the throne in 1553.

• She was a devout Catholic and returned the Church of England to the pope. She met resistance from the people and ended up executing Protestants. AKA Bloody Mary.

• When Mary died in 1558, Elizabeth, Anne Boleyn’s daughter, inherited the throne.

Queen Elizabeth I

• Elizabeth was determined to return her kingdom to Protestantism. In 1559, Parliament followed Elizabeth’s wishes and set up the Church of England, or Anglican Church, with Elizabeth as its head.

• She established it as moderately Catholic and moderately Protestant. Priests were able to marry, and sermons were in English, not Latin. This pleased Protestants.

• She also kept some of the trappings of the Catholic church such as rich robes and services were familiar to Catholics.