AP European History

 

Contrasting the Renaissance and Later Middle Ages

Created in 1998 by Chaffey Classes of ’99, ’00, & ‘01

 

Renaissance

Later Middle Ages

Philosophy:  Humanism – Emphasis on secular concerns due to rediscovery and study of ancient Greco-Roman culture.

Religion dominates Medieval thought.

Scholasticism: Thomas Aquinas – reconciles Christianity with Aristotelian science.

Ideal:

·        Virtù – Renaissance Man should be well-rounded (Castiglione)

Ideal:

·        Man is well-versed in one subject.

Literature:

·        Humanism; secularism

·        Northern Renaissance focuses also on writings of early church fathers

·        Vernacular (e.g. Petrarch, Boccacio)

·        Covered wider variety of subjects (politics, art, short stories)

·        Focused on the individual

·        Increased use of printing press; propaganda

Literature:

·        Based almost solely on religion.

·        Written in Latin

·        Church was greatest patron of arts and literature.

·        Little political criticism.

·        Hand-written

Religion:

·        The state is supreme to the church.

·        “New Monarchs” assert power over national churches.

·        Rise of skepticism

·        Renaissance popes worldly and corrupt

Religion:

·        Dominated politics; sought unified Christian Europe.

·        Church is supreme to the state.

·        Inquisition started in 1223; dissenters dealt with harshly

Sculpture:

·        Greek and Roman classical influences.

·        Free-standing (e.g. Michelangelo’s David)

·        Use of bronze (e.g. Donatello’s David)

Sculpture:

·        More gothic; extremely detailed.

·        Relief

Art:

·        Increased emphasis on secular themes.

·        Classic Greek and Roman ideals.

·        Use of perspective.

·        chiaroscuro

·        Increased use of oil paints.

·        Brighter colors

·        More emotion

·        Real people and settings depicted.

·        Patronized largely by merchant princes

·        Renaissance popes patronized renaissance art

Art:

·        Gothic style

·        Byzantine style dominates; nearly totally religious.

·        Stiff, 1-dimentional figures.

·        Less emotion

·        Stylized faces (faces look generic)

·        Use of gold to illuminate figures.

·        Lack of perspective.

·        Lack of chiaroscuro

·        Patronized mostly by the church

 

 

Architecture:

·        Rounded arches, clear lines; Greco-Roman columns

·        Domes (e.g. Il Duomo by Brunelleschi)

·        Less detailed

·        Focus on balance and form

Architecture:

·        Gothic style

·        Pointed arches; barrel vaults, spires

·        Flying buttresses

·        Elaborate detail

Technology:

·        Use of printing press

·        New inventions for exploration

Technology:

·        Depended on scribes

 

 Marriage and Family:

·        Divorce available in certain cases

·        More prostitution

·        Marriages based more on romance.

·        Woman was to make herself pleasing to the man (Castiglione)

·        Sexual double standard

·        Increased infanticide

Marriage and Family:

·        Divorce nonexistent

·        Marriages arranged for economic reasons.

·        Prostitution in urban areas

·        Ave. age for men: mid-late twenties

·        Avg. age for women: less than 20 years old.

·        Church encouraged cult of paternal care.

·        Many couples did not observe church regulations on marriage.

·        Manners shaped men to please women.

·        Relative sexual equality

Status of Women:

·        Legal status of women declined.

·        Most women not affected by Renaissance

·        Educated women allowed involvement but subservient to men.

·        Rape not considered serious crime.

 

Status of Women:

·        Legal status better than in Renaissance

Politics:

·        State is supreme over the church.

·        New Monarchs assert control over national churches.

·        Machiavelli

Politics:

·        Church is supreme over the state.

African slavery introduced.

Few blacks lived in Europe.

Exploration and expansion.

Crusades