The Early Renaissance - Research Paper Example

The Early Renaissance through the Baroque Era The modern world did not result from a vacuum. Many innovations, events and individuals through the era of Baroque from the period of early renaissance have had major effects in the modern world. This paper shall therefore focus on such events, innovations or individuals who have contributed to the world today. Renaissance is a movement that is culturally described during the 15th century in Italy which depicted revival (Shapin 1). As a period of rebirth, it has initiated solutions to problems in life in further humanistic approaches instead of depending on religious doctrines and churches for answers. This was a time that many individuals became more optimistic. Such individuals were; philosophical scholars, reformists and artists. They explored human potential and greatly emphasized the human form beauty. All through from the early renaissance, an open society was seen which resulted into modernism. Renaissance in itself had features that brought up America’s great technological strides and augmented their international trade. The early renaissance scholars were advocates for humanistic studies thus established liberal schools that offered liberal education. History, grammar, philosophy, literature and rhetoric were studied. Most of these areas of study are in the today’s education system. Feltre Vittorino a major scholar considered the ancient Greek ideal which he reintroduced into learning. This education incorporated moral training, physical exercise and nurtured the mind and body. Marsilio Ficino harmonized teachings of Plato on love, mainly the divine love in the Christian thoughts. The early scholars thus have a greater impact on today’s philosophy and humanism. Northern Europe had its own humanism brand during the high renaissance in Italy. This movement conflicted with people in the Roman Church resulting into reformation of the Protestants (Hause 250-251). Counter- Reformation was launched by the Catholic Church for that matter creating wars politically and religiously. Protestant reforms came about due to corruption and abuses in the church and lay piety which had persisted from the Middle Ages. Such reformists included; Calvin John, Martin Luther and King Henry 8. For example, Luther Martin responsibly advocated that churches should preach in their own language and not the Latin language. This is a feature that is within our today’s local churches. Together with his supporters, they established schools within the church which offered training to church choirs and young boys. Luther has been a role model to the modern world whereby these days, education in any aspect has taken the center stage. The modern churches are also as a result of these reformers from the renaissance periods. The renaissance art was shown through sculpture, painting, architecture literature and music. Most of the artistic figures were in surfaces of two dimensions and in linear perspective from mathematical illusions of depth. The modern artists use the same illusions to create harmonious, simple and balanced sculptures and buildings. In the later renaissance, instruments were developed to accompany secular songs and dance music. Most of the music today is accompanied by instruments. Poet and play writers such as William Shakespeare worked in the renaissance culture but his literature is world widely read till now. On the other hand, Baroque was a new age of developments majorly scientific, political and philosophical. It was an era of intensification and inventions that affect the today’s world (Brotton 36). In Scientific revolution, scientists replaced deductive reasoning with reasoning based on empirical data. They demonstrated the universe harmony to eradicate complexity and stress simplicity through mathematical concepts. Technology took a centre stage in this revolution. Instruments such as telescope and microscope were invented and used to gather empirical evidence. Such instruments are still applied in the modern sciences. The scientific revolution aspects are in areas of physics and astronomy. For example, Isaac Newton who was an English mathematician introduced a scientific theory of gravity. In his explanation, he demonstrated and operated objectively to characterize this theory in the modern method of science. The church regularly prohibited the use of knowledge in anatomy and autopsy but through this era of Baroque, chemistry and medicine was established which enhanced a better understanding of human body. It is therefore quite evident that, this era had major impacts on the present human cultures. Most of these scientific ideas resulted to major inventions in philosophy. Three writers in this area and who are admired up to date are; Rene Descartes, Bacon Francis and Pascal Blaise. Bacon relied on inductive reasoning in his writing and believed that the natural world would be controlled by science. He implicated that whoever had knowledge had power. Rene being the founder of geometrical analysis, he believed that knowledge could be attained through major steps such as; proving the truth before acceptance, putting problems in manageable small parts, finding solutions from the simplest to the compound and re-examining and reviewing the solutions. Blaise played a bigger role in the Baroque music, art philosophy and literature through the passion and reason conflict. He had a major belief that there existed the Supreme Being who is God. All these philosophers have a greater impact on the modern culture changes and affect how people analyze issues and critically think and make decisions in the today’s world. Most Baroque political writers were majorly concerned about questions of power in government and how this power was to be exercised. They had many conclusions which deferred among them upon how a government could be defined in the best way. Some advocated for liberal government while others argued for absolutism or divine rights. Among these advocates included; Hobbes Thomas who assumed that the desire for power and the fear of death were the major negative forces that drove people into government. Power should therefore be absolutely dedicated to one ruler in social contract. Hugo on the other hand saw human beings as rational beings that would opt for fair, just and orderly society if given a chance. Through this analysis, the today’s politics are based and founded on such laws. Most country leaders today exercise such liberalism and divine rights in their various governments. In conclusion, the Baroque still displayed many characteristics from renaissance but it was a transition time that looked forward to a more modern scientific judgment. People in the present time have therefore been influenced by events, innovations or individuals of the early renaissance through the era of Baroque. Works Cited: Shapin, S. The Scientific Revolution. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996. Print. Hause, S & Maltby, W. A History of European Society. Essentials of Western Civilization. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001. Print. Brotton, J. Science and Philosophy, the Renaissance: Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006. Print. Read More