History Fact Finder | Eras and Their Highlights - What Was The Northern Renaissance?

What was the northern Renaissance?

The northern Renaissance was the revival of art, literature, and learning in France, Germany, England, and the Netherlands. This movement began when European artists and scholars who had studied in Italy took new ideas back to their home countries. The spreading of Renaissance ideals was also facilitated when German inventor Johannes Gutenberg (between 1390 and 1400–1468) developed the printing press, making essays, treatises, and literature available throughout Europe. Among the most famous writers of the northern Renaissance is the Dutch humanist Disiderius Erasmus (1466–1536). In his book In Praise of Folly (1509) Erasmus harshly criticized Roman Catholic clergymen, scholars, and philosophers. Englishman Thomas More (1478–1535), a statesman and adviser to King Henry VIII (1491–1547), was also critical of the times, yet he remained faithful to the Roman Catholic Church....

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