The Renaissance Time Period - Essay Example

?The Renaissance Time Period I. The Renaissance 1300-1640 The Renaissance was a cultural movement characterized by an overwhelming interest in ancient art and culture during the 1300s up to 1640, beginning in southern Europe, where Italy was the center of the renaissance appearance, and later spreading to the rest of the continent. Various scholars, writers, artists, and artisans considered this period as a rebirth of learning as they took interest in exploring the Greek and Roman classics as their “source of inspiration, but at the same time, expressed an interest in the world around them” (Salisbury & Sherman, 2007). As such, the Renaissance was reflected in many forms. It was played out in art, architecture, design, literature, as well as contributed a vast amount of influence in politics and economics. In this paper, the fundamental features of the Renaissance will be explored – from its beginnings in Italy to its expansion to the rest of Europe. Also, an examination of life during the Renaissance will feature economic context of the period, its influence in religion and philosophy, as well as its role of science and medicine. Lastly, the Renaissance life will also be tackled by featuring the food, drinks, and architecture during the period. A. Renaissance and its Origin The word Renaissance means rebirth and with this comes the renewed interest in ancient ideals of Greek and Roman language and culture. As a cultural movement, the Renaissance traces back its origin in Italy where city-states were flourishing amidst the backdrop of wars and conflict with their enemies (Britannica Educational Publishing, 2011). In particular, the northern Italian city-states had, through the middle ages, established close trading links with the Eastern Mediterranean. With it came the renewed cultural ties between Europe and the East, which created a tremendous interest in antiquity and had, since then, culminated in Italy in the 1400s and later spread to other European countries. Moreover, during this period, Italian cities adopted an intellectual movement known as humanism. For Italian humanists, what is fundamental is the sight of man, which is considered to be a universal genius, who could take responsibility for themselves. Another feature of the early Renaissance is the emphasis of learning classical literature of the ancient Greeks and Romans whose areas of studies included literature, politics, history, and language, which are now collectively known as the humanities. With the fruition of humanism in northern Italy during the 13th and 14th century, the Renaissance brought with it a new attitude to life and a new outlook in learning and ideas, which later spread through continental Europe and England. B. Economy and trade During the Renaissance period, Italy was composed of city-states that were strategically located to profit from the renewed trade that was developing because of the Crusades. According to Romano (2010), northern Italian city-states, particularly the Republic of Genoa, the Republic of Florence, the Duchy of Milan, the Venetian Republic, the Papal States, and the Kingdom of Naples, became the intermediary areas in Europe’s flourishing trade with the East. As a result, these independent northern city-states became the thriving capital for international transactions and trade. The renaissance economy of Italy in particular depended on the production of wool and silk as well as banking transactions and international trade (Salisbury & Sherman, 2007). Because of the flourishing economy brought about by the expanding trade between Europe and the East, merchants were able to their affluence to gain economic and political control. They were able to give out loans to Kings and maintain various businesses ventures that were vital for economic growth all over Europe. Aside from these, merchants became the leading patrons of the arts as they used their money to sponsor creative undertaking of artists during the Renaissance period (Kelmer and Woods, 1999). For instance, wealthy traders such as Ludovico Sforza in Milan and Cosimo de’ Medici in Florence respectively became the famous benefactors of artists Leonardo da Vinci and Fra Angelico. These benefactors contributed to the continuous production of important artworks as they realized that riches enabled them to enjoy material enjoyment in life such as arts, fine fashion, and structural design. C. Religion and Philosophy Religion during the Renaissance period underwent lasting changes in the Christian religion, transforming the strict Christianity during the early renaissance into the establishment of different Christian religions and denominations by the end of the period (Flatt, 2009). Early renaissance was characterized by works of both literary and visual arts, which contained religious inspiration. Learning and supporting the creative skills behind the production of art was considered to result in the better understanding of God and may be used as a means to religious salvation. According to Woods and Kelmer (1999), it became customary for urban elite families to take patronage over the construction of institutions such as hospitals, monasteries, and churches as a means to eternal salvation. However, the arrival of Protestantism changed the religious landscape during the Renaissance as it created a rivalry mainly between Catholic and Protestant beliefs. More specifically, authorities in Protestant countries demolished the purchasing power of patrons for religious arts and confiscated the properties of religious institutions and confraternities during the Renaissance period. As the transformation in the religious landscape took place during the period, European thinkers also began questioning religious concepts such as the theoretical aspects of divine creation. Various personalities in science such as Francis Bacon, Descartes, Newton, and Leibniz also contributed in philosophical understanding by putting theological foundations to their works. According to Shuttleworth (2011), the greatest transformation in philosophy during the renaissance period is the shift “from scholastic and theological thought towards empiricism, the first sign of a split between science and religion and the recognition that they are two separate fields; the repercussions of this schism are still apparent today”. Notable scientists such as Copernicus, Galileo, and Newton were reprimanded by the Church for publishing new ideas which were in conflict with the church doctrines. For Shuttleworth, the role of the church during the Renaissance period was marked by duality – the religious personalities being the patron of artists while at the same time a suppressor of creativity and new learning. Ultimately, the Renaissance was a crucial period in history linking the ancient world towards modernity. D. Renaissance Science and Medicine The Renaissance period paved way for the advances in science and medicine all across Europe. Because the period was marked by the revival of ideas by ancient Greeks and Rome, ancient scientific texts were sequestered during the fall of Constantinople in 1453 (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2010). These classical sources, which the church either suppressed or ignored, spread widely among scholars and scientists as the invention of printing allowed the fast dissemination of knowledge and information. According to Walker (2007), the Renaissance period demonstrated the appropriate time when “science began its catch-up with the ancient pagans during the Dark Ages where scientific advancement was halted and went backwards”. This means that the period permitted the European populace to gradually reject certain religious beliefs and replace it with non-theistic philosophy and a deeper understanding of the human body, though this occurred over a long period of time. Particularly, the humanist philosophy which prevailed during the Renaissance allowed a better understanding of the human anatomy, which in turn resulted to the development of new learning in science and medicine. The study of medicine progressed due to the continuous contact of European traders and scholars with the academics of the East. Important herbs and minerals from newly discovered continents by European voyagers were studied and experimented upon. For instance, the tobacco leaves were thought to have medicinal value and barks from the Quinoa tree were used to treat malaria. Also from these voyages, many physicians were able translate Arabic medical texts and started the study of human anatomy. Scholars such as Andreas Vesalius and Leonardo da Vinci notably dismembered human bodies and completed their anatomical drawings to better understand the functions of the organs and systems in the human body. Their surgical instruments for operation included a drill, a saw, forceps and pliers for removing teeth (Dawson, 2005). Other scholars who studied medical works included Juan Valverde de Amusco and Bartolomeo Eustachi who thoroughly followed and improved the works of Vesalius by illustrating and publishing their works on human anatomy. E. Renaissance Food and Drink The introduction of new foods, fruits, spices and cooking possibilities, changed the way people dinned during the Renaissance. New ingredients were found during expeditions to South America, The Caribbean, North America, Africa, and Asia. Various agricultural products such as maize from South America, beans from Peru, pineapples from the West Indies, and vanilla from Mexico were among the new foods brought about by the new world. Another notable produce brought from Chile was the potato, a crop which completely transformed the way Europeans dined. Likewise, the introduction of coffee and tomato from Mexico changed the European diet, especially in Italian cuisine. Indeed, the Renaissance period brought different ingredients to the typical European meal. However, it took time for these new crops to become generally recognized and accepted by the citizens of Italy and the rest of Europe. With newly found crops from other countries, Renaissance cooking required more elaborate preparation. According to Friedman and Cook (1992), the preparations of meals during this period were not “a dubious practice that produced inedible dishes filled with strange spices and dangerous ingredients”. In fact, many of the foods prepared during this time are still familiar to many of us now. For instance, an account of a typical Renaissance feast was documented in during the nuptial dinner of Master Baulde Cuvillon in 1571. First course included mutton broth, breast of veal, and sweetened mustard while the second course comprised of roasted quail, orange salad, turkey pate, and Boulogne sausages. Typical desserts such as mousse, apple, chervil, and jam tart were popularly served during renaissance feast (Friedman and Cook, 1992). As with the drinks, Scully (1995) noted water was hardly drunk because of the prevalence of water-borne diseases. Instead, wines were commonly consumed during meals as it was believed to contain many health benefits. Good quality wines were popular to merchants and nobilities while peasants drank low quality wines. For the working class, beers, and ales made from barley, oats, and rye were the staple drink because of its affordability and accessibility to the masses. Other drinks during the Renaissance period included mead, fruit juices, spiced wine and milk. F. Renaissance Architecture Renaissance architecture which spanned between early 15th century and early 17th centuries was characterized mainly by the influence and use of the classic principles from the material culture of ancient Greeks and Romans. Particularly, the writings of the Roman writer and architect Vitruvius aptly defined the meaning of standard of beauty in architecture, which are based on “harmonious form, mathematical proportion, and a unit of measurement based on the human scale” (Department of European Paintings, 2000). The terms used in classical orders and design elements during the period included the use of columns, pilasters, pediments, entablatures, arches, and domes to represent and showcase different renaissance buildings and structures. Renaissance architecture in Italy is generally classified into three phases which are called quattrocento, high renaissance, and mannerism. The quattrocento architectural order and rules were explored. For instance, the use of space was subjected to geometrical proportions, rather than created through intuition as it had been during the Middle Ages. A leading example of this can be seen through the Pazzi Chapel at Florence, which was created by Filippo Brunelleschi in 1460 (Saalman, 1993). However, during the high Renaissance, classical concepts in architecture were further applied and developed extensively as exhibited through the construction of Montorio in 1503 by Donato Bramante. Lastly, during the period of Mannerism, most architects eventually experimented with other architectural forms through imaginative reinventions of the classical style. The Campidoglio in Rome by Michelangelo and the Palazzo Te in Mantua by Guilio Romano best exemplified the mannerist style in architecture. Other notable personalities in architecture and design during the renaissance period included the works of Brunelleschi who “produced the first examples of Renaissance architecture in the Florentine churches of San Lorenzo and Santo Spirito and in the revolutionary plan for the dome of the Cathedral of Florence” (The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 2007). Architectural theoreticians such as Alberti were inspired by the books of the Roman architect Vitruvius and this influence went with other Renaissance architects such as Francesco di Giorgio, and Leonardo who created polygonal and Greek-cross plans in building their architectural masterpieces. Bibliography Britannica Educational Publishing. Ed. Campbell, Heather M. The Ascent of the West: From Prehistory Through the Renaissance. New York: Britannica Educational Publishing, 2011. Print. Dawson, Ian. Renaissance Medicine (The History Of Medicine). London: Wayland Books, 1995. Print. Department of European Paintings. "Architecture in Renaissance Italy". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000. Web. 28 November 2011. Friedman, David & Cook, Elizabeth. Cariadoc's Miscellany: Renaissance Foods. PBM.com, 1988, 1990, 1992. Web. 28 November 2011. Lizann, Flatt. Religion in the Renaissance. Ontario: Crabtree Publishing Company, 2010. Print. Romano, Michael J. Cliffs AP European History. New York, Wiley Publishing Inc., 2002. Print. Saalman, Howard. Filippo Brunelleschi: The Buildings. London: Zwemmer Bookstore, 1993. Print. Scully, Terence. The Art of Cookery in the Middle Ages. Suffolk, UK: The Boydell Press, 1995. Print. Sherman D. and Salisbury J., The West in the World. Vol 1: to 1715. 4th ed. McGraw Hill. 2011. New York. Print. Shuttleworth , Martyn. Renaissance Science: The Path To Enlightenment. Experiment-resources.com, 2011. Web. 28 November 2011. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia. Renaissance Architecture. New York: Columbia University Press, 2011. Print. Walker, Jim. The Myth of Christianity Founding Modern Science and Medicine. Nobeliefs.com, 22 May 2007. Web. 28 November 2011. Woods, Kim & Kelmer, Peter. Looking at the Renaissance: Urban economy and government. London: Open University, 1999. Print. Woods, Kim & Kelmer, Peter. Looking at the Renaissance: Religious Context. London: Open University, 1999. Print. Read More