Causes of the Renaissance
Islamic Empire
The Islamic Empire began in the 7th century and spread across the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia and Southern Europe. Their trade networks and connections to the Byzantine Empire (formerly Roman) meant that they had access to centuries of learning and developed it further. In 711, the armies of Islam (under the Umayyad’s) invaded Spain. They remained there for seven centuries and in this time brought their knowledge and learning. This, and the Islamic trade with the Italian city-states (Venice, Florence for example), were factors in the development and progress of Europe…the Renaissance.
How Islam influenced the European Renaissance
How Did the Islamic Empire Contribute to the European Renaissance?
How Did the Islamic Golden Age Contribute to the Renaissance in Europe
Siege of Constantinople
When the Roman Empire was attacked and weakened in the fourth century, it decided to add a second capital city, Byzantium. When Rome fell in the fifth century, this then became the capital of the new empire (Emperor Constantine changed the capital city to one that reflected his name). Much of the learning and understanding of the world, from ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman, was transferred to this new empire. In 1453, the Ottoman Empire successfully attacked Constantinople and the Byzantine Empire was no more. However, many of its subjects/people, which included scholars, philosophers, artists and intellectuals, fled to Europe and once there began to change the future of Europe. Read the links below to find out more.
How did the Fall of Constantinople change the Renaissance in Italy?
Reformation
The Roman Catholic Church was the centre of Christianity. It had huge influence across Europe, affecting wars, marriages and government. Over time, a minority of people began to question the power and wealth the Church had. They also questioned their teachings and interpretations of the holy texts or scriptures. In the fifteenth century, a German priest called Martin Luther started a movement which protested against the Catholic Church. This was partly successful and causes a split in the Church, there were now Catholics and Protestants. Arguably, the Reformation would not have occurred without the Renaissance.
How did the Renaissance influence the Reformation?
The Italian Renaissance
Key Vocabulary
Secularism
Humanism
What evidence does John Green use to argue that the Renaissance did not happen?
Florence
Florence in the Early Renaissance
Who were the Medici’s?
7 Things You May Not Know About the Medicis
Northern Renaissance
Furthermore, the Reformation altered the direction of the Renaissance. Northern Europe was the centre of the Protestant religion and the changes made to this part of the world led academics to label their own Northern Renaissance.
Keywords
Humanism is a theory that focuses on reason, logic and scientific theory rather than the belief in God.
Secular is non-religious
Devout is being devoted or extremely loyal to your religion.
- Where did the Renaissance spread to after Italy?
- Who invented movable type printing?
- Where had this idea come from?
- How did it influence the Renaissance? Think about how books were produced before movable type (also called the Printing Press) and how many were made.
- What type of books were published?
- How did Northern Europe view the Renaissance?
- What were the similarities between the Northern and Italian Renaissances? (4 minutes). Think Art and where the power was in a family.
- Which languages were being taught?
- How did universities have an impact on the Renaissance? (5.30 minutes)
- What was the contribution of Erasmus to the Renaissance? Identify three.
- What were Machiavelli’s beliefs about politics and military leadership? What famous book did he write?
- What were the beliefs of Thomas Moore? (10.30)
- What did Christine de Pizan argue? What does this show about the Renaissance? (11.29)
Taking two of the questions from John Green,
A – Is it better to be loved or feared?
B – Is it better for a community to be fair or stable?
Khan Academy – Northern Renaissance
Consequences of the Renaissance
Renaissance Causes and Effects
Consequences of the Renaissance
The Renaissance – why it changed the world You may be able access this article.
- In your opinion, which were the biggest consequences of the Renaissance? As we continually focus on perspectives, think about the changes for the following people/groups,
a. The Catholic Church
b. Peasants
c. Artists
d. Europeans
e. Monarchs
f. Women
g. Business people
h. The rest of the world!
2. What did not change during the Renaissance? This will take time to research and think about.
Artists of the Renaissance
Interactive Guide to Leonardo de Vinci
Student Presentations