RenaissanceRenaissanceandand

ReformationReformation

Baldassare CastiglioneBaldassare Castiglione

1478-15291478-1529 Italian Italian

The Book of the CourtierThe Book of the Courtier

““The book defined the ideal The book defined the ideal Renaissance gentleman. In the Renaissance gentleman. In the Middle Ages a perfect gentleman was Middle Ages a perfect gentleman was a chivalrous knight who distinguished a chivalrous knight who distinguished himself by his prowess on the himself by his prowess on the battlefield. Castiglione's book battlefield. Castiglione's book changed that; now the perfect changed that; now the perfect gentleman had to be educated in the gentleman had to be educated in the classics as well.“classics as well.“

PetrarchPetrarchPoet LaureatePoet Laureate

1304-13741304-1374 Italian Italian

Father of Humanism Father of Humanism

Petrarch was regarded as the greatest scholar of Petrarch was regarded as the greatest scholar of his age, who combined interest in classical his age, who combined interest in classical culture and Christianity and left deep influence on culture and Christianity and left deep influence on literature throughout Western Europe. The literature throughout Western Europe. The majority of his works Petrarch wrote in Latin, majority of his works Petrarch wrote in Latin, although his sonnets and canzoni written in Italy although his sonnets and canzoni written in Italy were equally influential. Petrarch was known as a were equally influential. Petrarch was known as a devoted student of antiquity, who had a passion devoted student of antiquity, who had a passion for finding and commenting on the works of the for finding and commenting on the works of the ancients. In his letter to posterity he confessed ancients. In his letter to posterity he confessed that he always disliked his own age: "I would that he always disliked his own age: "I would have preferred to have been born in any other have preferred to have been born in any other time than our own."time than our own."

BoccaccioBoccaccio

1313-13751313-1375 ItalianItalian

DecameronDecameron“10 days work”“10 days work”

Boccaccio begins with a description of the Black Death and leads Boccaccio begins with a description of the Black Death and leads into an introduction of a group of seven young women and three into an introduction of a group of seven young women and three young men who flee from plague-ridden Florence to a villa in the young men who flee from plague-ridden Florence to a villa in the countryside of Fiesole for two weeks. To pass the time, each countryside of Fiesole for two weeks. To pass the time, each member of the party tells one story for each one of the nights member of the party tells one story for each one of the nights spent at the villa. Although fourteen days pass, two days each spent at the villa. Although fourteen days pass, two days each week are set aside: one day for chores and one holy day during week are set aside: one day for chores and one holy day during which no work is done. In this manner, 100 stories are told by the which no work is done. In this manner, 100 stories are told by the end of the ten days. Each of the ten characters is charged as King end of the ten days. Each of the ten characters is charged as King or Queen of the company for one of the ten days in turn. This or Queen of the company for one of the ten days in turn. This charge extends to choosing the theme of the stories for that day, charge extends to choosing the theme of the stories for that day, and all but two days have topics assigned: examples of the power and all but two days have topics assigned: examples of the power of fortune; examples of the power of human will; love tales that of fortune; examples of the power of human will; love tales that end tragically; love tales that end happily; clever replies that save end tragically; love tales that end happily; clever replies that save the speaker; tricks that women play on men; tricks that people the speaker; tricks that women play on men; tricks that people play on each other in general; examples of virtue. The basic plots play on each other in general; examples of virtue. The basic plots of the stories including mocking the lust and greed of the clergy; of the stories including mocking the lust and greed of the clergy; tensions in Italian society between the new wealthy commercial tensions in Italian society between the new wealthy commercial class and noble families; the perils and adventures of traveling class and noble families; the perils and adventures of traveling merchants. The title is a merchants. The title is a portmanteauportmanteau, or combination of two , or combination of two Greek words meaning "ten" and "day". Greek words meaning "ten" and "day".

MachievelliMachievelli

1469-1527 Italian1469-1527 Italian

The PrinceThe Prince More concern for political efficiency and effectiveness than More concern for political efficiency and effectiveness than

with morality and justice.with morality and justice.

Sixteen years before Machiavelli published Sixteen years before Machiavelli published The PrinceThe Prince, , Desiderus Erasmus published The Institutio principis Desiderus Erasmus published The Institutio principis Christiani (Education of a Christian Prince) as advice to the Christiani (Education of a Christian Prince) as advice to the young king Charles of Spain and later for Charles V, Holy young king Charles of Spain and later for Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. Erasmus applied the general principles of Roman Emperor. Erasmus applied the general principles of honor and sincerity to the special functions of the Prince, honor and sincerity to the special functions of the Prince, whom he represented a servant of the people. A whom he represented a servant of the people. A comparison between the two is worth noting because comparison between the two is worth noting because Machiavelli stated that, to maintain control by political Machiavelli stated that, to maintain control by political force, it is safer for a prince to be feared than loved. force, it is safer for a prince to be feared than loved. Erasmus, on the other hand, preferred for the prince to be Erasmus, on the other hand, preferred for the prince to be loved and suggested that the prince needed a well-rounded loved and suggested that the prince needed a well-rounded education in order to govern justly and benevolently and to education in order to govern justly and benevolently and to avoid becoming a source of oppression. avoid becoming a source of oppression.

ErasmusErasmus

1466-1536 Dutch1466-1536 Dutch

The Praise of FollyThe Praise of Folly

Poked fun at greedy merchantsPoked fun at greedy merchants Heartsick loversHeartsick lovers Quarrelsome scholarsQuarrelsome scholars Pompous priestsPompous priests

Believed in Christianity of the heart Believed in Christianity of the heart not of ceremony/rules.not of ceremony/rules.

Sir Thomas MoreSir Thomas More

1478-1535 English1478-1535 English

UtopiaUtopia Saint Thomas MoreSaint Thomas More also known as also known as Sir Thomas MoreSir Thomas More, was an English , was an English

lawyer, author, and statesman. During his lifetime he earned a reputation as lawyer, author, and statesman. During his lifetime he earned a reputation as a leading humanist scholar and occupied many public offices. More a leading humanist scholar and occupied many public offices. More coined the word “utopia", a name he gave to an ideal, imaginary island coined the word “utopia", a name he gave to an ideal, imaginary island nation whose political system he described in a book published in1516. He nation whose political system he described in a book published in1516. He is chiefly remembered for his principled refusal to accept King Henry is chiefly remembered for his principled refusal to accept King Henry VIII’s claim to be supreme head of the Church of England, a decision VIII’s claim to be supreme head of the Church of England, a decision which ended his political career and led to his execution for treason.which ended his political career and led to his execution for treason.

In 1935, four hundred years after his death, More was canonized in the In 1935, four hundred years after his death, More was canonized in the Catholic Church and was later declared the patron saint of politicians and Catholic Church and was later declared the patron saint of politicians and statesmen by Pope John Paul II. He was a very devoted father, always statesmen by Pope John Paul II. He was a very devoted father, always asking his children to write to him when he was away, even if they did not asking his children to write to him when he was away, even if they did not have anything particular to tell him. have anything particular to tell him.

Unusual for the time, he put as much effort into educating his daughters as Unusual for the time, he put as much effort into educating his daughters as he did his son, declaring that women were just as intelligent as men. he did his son, declaring that women were just as intelligent as men.

RabelaisRabelais

1494-15531494-1553

FrenchFrench

More More secularsecular

than Morethan More

and Erasmusand Erasmus

Gargantua and PantagruelGargantua and Pantagruel Gargantua and PantagruelGargantua and Pantagruel tells the story of two giants - a father, tells the story of two giants - a father,

Gargantua, and his son, Pantagruel - and their adventures, written Gargantua, and his son, Pantagruel - and their adventures, written in an amusing, extravagant, and satirical vein.in an amusing, extravagant, and satirical vein.

It is in the first book where Rabelais pokes fun at the monastic It is in the first book where Rabelais pokes fun at the monastic institutions, since his abbey has a swimming pool, maid service, institutions, since his abbey has a swimming pool, maid service, and no clocks in sight.and no clocks in sight.

Although his stories are hilarious and earthy (bawdy) they include Although his stories are hilarious and earthy (bawdy) they include serious points about the nature of humanity, education, and gov’t.serious points about the nature of humanity, education, and gov’t.

He believed that man was inherently good and should live by their He believed that man was inherently good and should live by their instincts rather than by religious rules.instincts rather than by religious rules.

Written in vernacular FrenchWritten in vernacular French

ShakespeareShakespeare

1564-1616 The Bard of Avon1564-1616 The Bard of Avon EnglishEnglish

Famous WorksFamous Works

Tragedies:Tragedies:• Julius CaesarJulius Caesar• Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet• HamletHamlet• MacbethMacbeth

ComediesComedies• The Taming of the ShrewThe Taming of the Shrew• A Midsummer Night’s DreamA Midsummer Night’s Dream

Painters and SculptorsPainters and Sculptors Leonardo da VinciLeonardo da Vinci DonatelloDonatello RaphaelRaphael MichelangeloMichelangelo

Leonardo da VinciLeonardo da Vinci

EngineerEngineer ScientistScientist Studied anatomy (dissecting corpses)Studied anatomy (dissecting corpses) PainterPainter

• The Last SupperThe Last Supper• The Mona LisaThe Mona Lisa• The Vetruvian ManThe Vetruvian Man

DonatelloDonatello

Donato di Niccolô di Betto Bardi Donato di Niccolô di Betto Bardi

• Statue of DavidStatue of David• Statue of Gattamelata Statue of Gattamelata • The Feast of Herod (gilt bronze)The Feast of Herod (gilt bronze)

RaphaelRaphael

Raphael SanzioRaphael Sanzio

• The School of AthensThe School of Athens• The Madonna of the MeadowThe Madonna of the Meadow• Pope Leo XPope Leo X

MichelangeloMichelangelo

Michelangelo BuonarrotiMichelangelo Buonarroti

• The dome of St. BasilicaThe dome of St. Basilica• The Sistine ChapelThe Sistine Chapel• The statue of DavidThe statue of David• The PietaThe Pieta