Culture in the period of Renaissance - Assignment Example

 Ch. 12, Q.2 Something humanistic about the renaissance period was to “a movement to revive classical literature and the values expressed in classical writing.” During the Middle Ages people were religious beings and so much concentration about otherworld. Florentine Francesco Petrarch (1304-1374) was so much responsible and a major contributor to this perceptions. He is best known for his love sonnets to Laura. In a 1362 letter that Petrarch wrote to his friend Boccaccio, he gave a response towards humanistic learning. He gives a strong affirmation on the importance of learning. He says that, “neither exhortations to virtue nor the argument of approaching death should deliver us from literature; for in a good mind it neither excites the love of virtue, and dissipates, nor at least diminishes, the fear of death” (James and henry). He criticized the rewarding of studies as he viewed this as a mere need to fulfill one’s self-confidence instead of gaining wisdom through learning. Studies can help even the weak mind in the society. Learning and studying should be given equal chances and not to be left to the ones that are thought to be powerful and elite. He gives an example of Cato, he says that Cato struggled with literature; he started with Latin literature when he was young and later Greek literature when he became old. The attitude towards literature or studies changed in the renaissance period, Petrarch is even devout fully says in the letter to Boccaccio that even the world does not accuse Paul that his head will be turned by studies. During the period of renaissance the great cultural figures were men. Before the time of renaissance came women had no place in the society. The attitude of women changed during this time and some women epitomized the strength of a woman. It during this time that some women were able to produce works, achieve recognition, and defend women against male detractors (Christine de Pizan). Cultural production was enhanced on the part educating the girl child. There was a very negative attitude of men towards women that educating women would corrupt their morals. She says that some men don’t base their arguments with reason, and for that matter they are wrong. Men opposing the ideology of educating a woman are viewed as the not very clever men avoiding competition from women. The attitude of women empowerment that was achieved during the renaissance time has changed the perception of educating women, though there is still some resistance even today from some men. Despite this women are urged to quest knowledge through studies in all means. Ch. 13, Q.2 There were many causes of reformation, but the one fact that led Luther to the position of a becoming a reformer was the sale of indulgences. “Indulgences were remissions or exemptions for penance in purgatory due to an individual for the sins he had committed in life” (James Harvey Robinson and Merrick Whitcomb). Unfortunately the ‘indulgences’ could only be allowed by the papacy because of the doctrine that it could draw on the treasury of merit or pool of spiritual wealth left by Christ and extraordinary good Christian over time. The scenario such as the one archbishop Albert of Mainz in 1517 appointed Johann Tetzel to sell indulgences and the proceeds to be split between Albert and papacy. This opposition from Luther can be related to the period of renaissance in particular humanism. Luther tried to interpret the doctrine and logic of the sale of indulgences which was a way of renaissance. Tetzel told people that they would obtain letters of safe conduct from the vicar of Lord Jesus Christ. He used an artistic method to convey his summons in support of the purchase of indulgences. Renaissance being a period that was mostly characterized by art can show the correlation between renaissance and reformation. There was a major cultural development in the period of renaissance that could be seen in this time of reformation and through this I can say that the period of reformation was as a result of renaissance. The Society of Jesus was the best known catholic order which was founded during the reformation, other orders were formed and founded and they played a very major role if strengthening Catholicism. Many of these were women’s orders that advocated for meditation, prayer, and mystical religious experiences. Saint Teresa of Avila was one of the women that led such orders. It is also very important to note that the period of renaissance was characterized by the fact women became empowered. Reformation could also be influenced by renaissance by women taking role in the restructuring the religion. Saint Teresa of Avila from her book The Way of Perfection, women discrimination could be seen and felt in the time of reformation. In her book she says “…I felt that I would have laid down a thousand lives to save a single one of the souls that were being lost there. And seeing that I was a woman, and a sinner, incapable of doing all I should like in the Lord’s service…” she felt that she would have done something to help the wrath that was been experienced from the Lutherans but the fact that she was a woman she would be deterred. The only thing she said that would help her was to make sure that the nuns that were there with here would follow the evangelical counsels as perfectly as she could. This is characterized by the will of women to contribute in reformation just as women tried to aid in the time of renaissance. Ch. 16, Q.2 Mercantilism, a loose set of economic ideas and corresponding government policies, was a common component of political absolutism during the seventeenth century. This definition of mercantilist was therefore very appealing to the seventeenth century monarchs. From the secret letter that Fredrick wrote advising his son on what he should do when he inherited the throne was appealing to mercantilists in various ways. He told his son that it was necessary that he conducts himself as a good father to the people he led; he was supposed to love everyone regardless of their religious conviction. It is important to note that this early modern days was also advocating for equity. Monarchs would also be very successful if they treated everyone equally regardless of their religious belief. Another factor that the monarchs would find very appealing is taking advantage of the clergy and nobility. He tells his son that he should take advantage of the clergy’s advice. The benefit of this that the monarchs would find very appealing is the influence that he clergy had on the people. The monarch could find it very alluring to consider alliances that would help them achieve economic development and strength. In his letter Fredrick tells his son to consider wise alliances but it is better to rely on his own strength. Another thing that the monarch could find appealing in the doctrines of mercantile is to strengthen their position by administering justice for both the poor and rich without discrimination, as put by Fredrick in his secret letter to his son. During the Glorious revolution of 1688-1689, a definitive shift in power to parliament was experienced and this was controlled by the upper classes. John Locke justified the revolution and the new political constitution of England. From his Second Treaties of Civil Government, Locke analyzes legislative power; the monarch could find this form of political administration so appealing. Through the adaptation of legislative power governing was to be achieved through the promulgated and established laws. The rule was to cut across the rich and the poor. The legislatives laws were supposed to be in support for the good of the people. It was also important that the laws would not raise taxes on the property of the people without their consent. The legislative was not also supposed to transfer power of making laws to anybody else. These facts were very attractive to the monarch during the seventeen century. Louis XIV carefully trained himself to be well informed about what was happening everywhere, in public places, in private homes, in public encounters, in the secrecy of families or of [amorous] liaisons (Saint-Simon). This was method brought about the interest of the monarch in ways that the spies would give the monarchs very important information that would be to the benefit of them. Ch. 13, Q.2 Some of policies that the eighteenth-century ruler would adopt to pursue and fit to the greatest degree the ideas and assumption of enlightened thinkers would be through; a self-conscious sense of a spirit of enlightenment (Kant). The spirit could be enriched if a ruler was to leave his self-instilled immaturity. Kant explains immaturity as the incapacity to use one’s intelligence without the guidance of another. The rulers of the eighteenth century could use this policy of using their own intelligence. It is therefore important for the rulers to be self-driven and minimize the reliance of other’s intelligence. This would make the rulers to be autonomous; it will also make them to be brave and viewed as hardworking. As far much as the monarchs would like the public to get enlightened, the rulers of the monarchs should realize that the public can’t enlighten themselves. For this reason the rulers can engage themselves in policies that will enhance the enlightenment of the public. “All that is required for this enlightenment is freedom.” (Kant). It is crucial for man to make public use of his reason in all matters. There were still some hindrances to man using his mind securely. These deterrents were as a result of religion. According to Kant immaturity in matters of religion is noxious and dishonorable. It is important to note that most Enlightenment thinkers rejected traditional sources of authority which may include church or customs. According to this thinkers people should rely on rely on reason, experience, and nature as their guides. The monarchs could use the strategies of not following the conservative religion and embrace nature instead. The source of man’s unhappiness is his ignorance of nature (Baron d’ Holbach). There are so many delusions that the rulers embraced and the best they could do to engage themselves in the time of enlightenment is to completely destroy those delusions. The delusions only mislead the rulers of the eighteenth century. Baron d’ Holbach defines an enlightened man as a man who is in his maturity, in his perfection and he can pursue his own happiness. Rulers of the eighteenth century can achieve this status of enlightenment by learning to examine and thinking for themselves. All the sources of their thought can be found in nature which helps them to acquire experience over duration of time. As much as religion is important in the monarchs of the eighteenth century it should be followed with experience and natural philosophy. This would ensure that the rulers are not misguided in any way. Work cited Allison, E. P., ed. And trans., The Complete works of Saint Teresa of Jesus, vol. II, London and New York: Sheed and Ward, 1950. Baron d’ Holbach, The System of Nature, Trans, H. D. Robinson, Boston: J.P. Mendum, 1853. pp vii-ix, 12-13, 15. Christine de Pizan, The city of ladies, translated by Rosalind brown-Grant, New York: Penguin Putnam, Inc., 1999, pp. 29, 30, 139-141. Louis L. Snyder, editor: Documents of German History. New Brunswick. New Jersey: Rutgers University Press, 1958. Pp. 619. James, H. R. and Merrick W., eds., Period of the early reformation in German, in translations and reprints from the original sources of European history, vol. II, no, 6, ed. Department of history of the University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia: university of Pennsylvania press, 1898, pp. 4-5 John Locke, Two Treatises of Civil Government, London: J, M. Dent, Everyman, 1924. Immanuel Kant, what is enlightenment? The philosophy of Kant, Carl J. Friedrich, ed. Reprinted by permission of Random house Inc. New York, 1949. James Harvey Robinson and Henry Winchester Rolfe, Petrarch: The first modern scholar and man of letters. New York, Haskell House, 1970. Read More