Term Papers on Impact Of The Renaissance

Term Paper Title	Impact Of The Renaissance
# of Words	1170
# of Pages (250 words per page double spaced)	4.68

Impact Of The Renaissance


                    The impact of the
                 Renaissance on Europe

     Jacob Burckhardt best describes the renaissance as the prototype of the

modern world, for it was the period between the fourteenth and fifteenth century

in Italy, when the base of modern civilisation was formed. It was mainly through

the revival of ancient learning that new scientific values first began to overthrow

traditional religious beliefs. People started to accept a new rational and objective

approach to reality and most important of all to rediscover the importance of the

individual. The result in Burckhardt words, was the release of the’ full whole

nature of man’. However the Renaissance biggest contribution was the way

different important individuals through their logical revelations managed to

diminish the power of the Catholic Church. (Craig, Graham, Kagan, Ozment,

Turner; The heritage of world civ; pg.493-494)

     Medieval Europe before the Renaissance had been a fragmented feudal

society with an agriculturally based economy, and its culture and dominated by

the Church. After the fourteenth century was characterised by the growing

national consciousness and political centralisation based on organised

commerce and capitalism, along with the secular control of thought and culture.

     It was in Italy from around the time 1375 to the sack of Rome (1527) that

the distinctive features and impacts of the renaissance era are revealed.

(Internet 1)

     Italy having a geographic advantage, laying in the centre of the commerce

between the east and west. Due to this fact rich and urban cities were formed in

Italy. There started to be more Italian cities than there were people in them.

Trade monopolies were formed to ensure profitability of trade and manufacturing,

but only those with sufficient capital could engage in either. For example, in

Florence 10% of the families controlled 90% of the wealth. These wealthy

families established power over these city-states (just like the Greek polis) to

which the people inhabiting inside could say they belonged to. A sense of

competition was formed between families of different cities, and as one knows

competition somehow always leads to development. Each family then tried to be

better by building churches and sponsoring great painters such as Raphael and

Michelangelo (whom will be later elaborated upon). Even the Pope got in on the

competition.

     During the era bread remained the most widely consumed foodstuff, but

even subsistence consumers were beginning to supplement their diets with meat

and dairy products. There would be more pork and lamb in the diet of ordinary

people than there would be for the next four hundred years. Therefore one can

argue that the standard of living was quite higher than before. However the

common enemy still remained, that I nature and its diseases. (Kishlansky, Geary,

O’Brien; Civ in the west; pg.329-330)

     Although there were outstanding advances made in the renaissance era, it

has to be concluded that the three most important and most developed areas

have to the advances made in art, sculpture and painting. Few renaissance

artists restricted themselves to one area of artistic expression, and many created

works of enduring beauty in more than one medium. Of the many important and

gifted artists of the time, only three will be discussed. (Craig, Graham, Kagan,

Ozment, Turner; The heritage of world civ; pg.499-500)

Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519) exhibited the renaissance idea of the

universal person, one who is a master of many talents. Being a great painter he

was also a mi...

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