Explain the ways in which Italian Renaissance humanism transformed the ideas about the individual’s role in society.

In the beginning there was…

…Humanism

Francesco Petrarch(1304-1374)

“Father of Humanism”

secular views

Private scholar; not a clergyman

Rekindles interest in the ancient Greek and Latin classics

Investigates info. from source, not traditional

Renaissance Humanism

Curriculum based on Liberal studies: grammar, poetry, rhetoric, history, politics, and moral philosophyBelief that study of the classics is path to virtuous and balanced lifestyle and personalityImportance in human, not divine, mattersInformation gathered from source, not traditionalDevoted majority of life to the discovery and practice of the classicsAnti-”scholasticism”, which was the educational curriculum of the medieval times.

Religion

Before Humanism

Catholicism dominates people’s lives

Criticism crushed

No “other religions” hold any strength

Catholic Church “monopolized” religion in europe

Humanists on Religion

Criticize the Catholic Church about mistakes, misinterpretations, and corruptionLiberal knowledge was used to denounce church often in literary works that circulated EuropeCriticize the Church’s written sources, such as the Vulgate, writings by the Church Fathers, and many other important religious documentation.

Lorenzo Valla (1406-1457)

Pope attempted to assert lands from the King of Naples through the Donation of ConstantineUsed knowledge of Latin to prove the document was a forgery by the ChurchDemonstrated that Latin expressions and patterns varied with time period

Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536)

Wrote many anti-clerical satires and dialogues

Revised the Vulgate

Translated the New Testament into Greek and lay

Strong on church reform, believed that early bible and classic study the best reform

Erasmus and the Reformation

Wrote mostly against the church and its corruptness

Criticized the Catholic institution and the turmoil, chaos, and selfish corruption taking place within it

Although he was not a Lutheran and denied being so, he wanted Catholic reform, not its replacement

How this affected individuals

Catholic Church and her clergymen became more “exposed” and lost reverence

Loses a lot of influence in the general populace’s daily life

Lutherans began to acquire more ground

Humanist works credited by later reformations

Society

Before Humanism

People acted like children; there was very little personal upkeep or manner expectationsWomen were excluded from many social “gatherings”Birth was the defining point for social standing and statusEducation and personal capability didn’t exist within the social developments of medieval society

Humanists on Society

Humanists believe one should uphold personal manners and good-behavior

Many humanists published guides and manuals for being a successful courtier

Believe that education and universal capability should contribute to social success

Christine de Pisan(1363-1434)

The Treasure of the City of Ladies, “Renaissance woman’s survival manual”Spread humanism to French courtsHelped to incorporate women more importantly into courts

Baldassare Castiglione

Very influential in Renaissance courtsBelieved to be a successful courtier; polite, balanced, skilled; by peersThe Book of the Courtier, a guide to proper etiquette and manners in courts, as well as perquisites for being a “successful courtier”

How this affected individuals

Transformed society from “barbaric” to “civilized”Women introduced to balance male “manliness” with female “tenderness”Personal qualifications play greater role in status, giving initiate for “bettering oneself”Birth loses some substancePreceded gentry, forerunners

Intellectual

Humanists on IntellectLiberal arts introduced: grammar, poetry, rhetoric, history, politics and moral philosophymore practical, useful than scholasticismEducation offered to wide audienceRekindled interest and influence of Greek and Roman classicsIncorporated a necessity for literary truth, original and “uncorrupted”Desire to investigate info. at source creating large collections of original manuscriptsBrought a greater purpose to learning: virtue and balance in life through study of classics

Before Humanism

Educated men were clergymen

“Schools” were places to learn of God and spreading his will

Educational curriculum was scholasticism

Abstract and unpracticed; useless

Educational power was held by few, allowing manipulation of lay peoples

How this affected individuals

No longer just clergymen

Humanism replaced scholasticism

New universities and humanist academies offer greater education

As well as learning, students gain a greater virtuous and balanced personality

With larger girth of education, powers less able to use it to manipulate subjects