The Renaissance and its origin in Italy - Essay Example

The Renaissance and its origin in Italy The term Renaissance literally means “rebirth”. This movement holds great significance for the social, cultural and political history of the West. Various theories have been advanced as to why the Renaissance took place and why it originated in what we know today as Italy. Theorists have often argued that the Fall of Constantinople, followed by the mass exodus of scholars from Constantinople, to escape the persecution of the Ottoman Turks, to Italy was what kicked off the Renaissance.

The Renaissance, one might say was not a new phenomenon in as far as it led only to a revival of interest in the classics of antiquity. This is true since the vast resources that were brought from the famous libraries of Constantinople were what formed the majority of the work that was worked upon. Brought to other parts of Europe, these manuscripts were welcomed and greedily devoured by local scholars. The effect of this can be seen in the works of writers and painters of the period, among other scholars.

Dante Alighieri, who in his work Divina Commedia (The Divine Comedy in English), shows the influences of classical platonic ideas along with Islamic theories testifies to the above-mentioned theory. Painters like Leonardo da Vinci too, in paintings like “The Vitruvian Man” display influences of works of antiquity. What then, is new about the Renaissance? Texts that were brought to the European mainland underwent a re-interpretation that threw up possibilities that were never thought of before.

This led to the emergence of a new form of thought known as Humanism. This talked about the primacy of man and his ability to reach heights that were in previous ages reserved for the gods. This theory went on to influence writers like William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe and John Milton in the English literary scene. In the fields of religion too, the spirit of questioning that the renaissance gave birth to was instrumental in the development and rise of Protestantism, something that was crucial to the colonial mission and what we see today as capitalism.

Many reasons are cited for the origin of the Renaissance in Italy. Apart from being a prominent seat of learning, Italy during this time was a hotbed of political activity. Warring factions spread out among various nation states, created a number of powerful families and lords, many of whom were patrons of art and learning. The Medici family is prominent among these. One of the major texts to come out of the renaissance, Niccolo Machiavelli’s “The Prince”, gives us an insight into the kind of politics that was practiced during this period in Florence, where the Renaissance is widely believed to have originated.

Incidentally, this book is also dedicated to a member of the Medici family (Machiavelli 5-6). The presence of various nobles also meant a large number of courts where courtiers, who were supposed to be repositories of great knowledge and various other skills according to manuals of the time (these later went on to be codified in works like “The Courtier”). This gave a great impetus to the growth of learning. Thus, we see how the Renaissance led to the flourishing of learning and the arts.

This period; we may even call it a movement; found its origins in Florence and then spread to the other parts of Europe. Effects of the movement and the theories that the free thinking of the period gave rise to continue to influence our thinking and lives, even today. Works Cited Machiavelli, Niccolo. The Prince. New York: Oxford U.P., 1984. Print. 5-6