Student Question

What developments and ideas are associated with the Renaissance and humanism?

Quick answer:

Shaped by the rediscovery of the classical ideals of civic virtue, Renaissance humanism represents a shift away from the medieval mindset, which placed one's spiritual life above all else. The humanists placed increased importance on one's earthly existence. This change in mindset is reflected in the artwork of the time period, which achieved new standards of lifelike realism and was centered around patronage networks.

Expert Answers

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If you look throughout the Middle Ages, generally speaking, religion and the Church tended to stand at the center of social and cultural life, with one's spiritual existence viewed as being of greater significance than one's Earthly existence. Throughout the Middle Ages, Christianity was the most powerful unifying force across Europe, and the church remained its most powerful social and political institution.

In this respect, humanism represented a dramatic turning point in Europe's social and intellectual history. Taking shape in the Italian city states, one of humanism's central features was its civic mindset. Like the classical civilizations they so venerated, the humanists placed a strong focus on the idea of civic virtue, viewing one's status as a member of a political community as a critical component of one's humanity. Thus, one might say that the most critical, defining feature of humanism lies in its pulling away from the more theologically oriented mindset of medieval thinkers into one that was more heavily predicated upon one's experiences, achievements and contributions within temporal life. That being said, it should be remembered that people in the Renaissance still tended to be intensely religious, but there was a change in attitudes and priorities within the time period in question.

You can see this reflected in the art, literature, and architecture of the Renaissance, which was largely focused on patronage (and often aimed at the glorification of powerful families and cities). Additionally, you might make note of the Renaissance's artistic innovations, which pushed for new standards of lifelike realism, not to mention the fame and reputation achieved by leading artists.

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