Renaissance Research Paper

The Renaissance was the period in European history spanning from the 1300’s to the 1600’s. This era was a bridge between the middle ages and early modern era. . It is called this, because Renaissance means “a rebirth” in French, and this was a period when scholars revived an interest in classical ideas. Although there were many different renewals of ancient culture during the Medieval period, the Renaissance is incredibly unique in the sense that the people made a self-conscious and deliberate push to move away from the medieval ways of thought. This realization began with the teachings of Francesco Petrarch. Francesco Petrarch strongly believed in the concept of humanism, with a focus on the education of man. Petrarch’s works and accomplishments
earned him the title of the “Father of Humanism”. In fact, it was Petrarch who criticized his generation for being a “Dark Age”, where scholars were ignorant of antiquity and had no respect for the classics . However, it was during his lifetime when the shift from Medieval times to classical restoration gradually began.
The Humanist movement characterized the intellectual view of Renaissance society.
Humanist scholars shifted their focus from solely religious pursuits, as had been the norm in the Middle Ages, to broaden their knowledge of the humanities in history, language, arts and literature. As the Renaissance traveled north in the 1400’s, it evolved and changed into Christian Humanism. While the Italian humanists were all faithful believers, they branched out their study to include secular ideas such as business and history. The Christian Humanists, focused on religion and criticized the corruptions of the Roman Catholic Church. This in-depth scholarship led many Christian humanists, such as Desiderius Erasmus and Thomas More, to question discrepancies and corruptions in the Catholic
Church.
Thomas More was a prominent Christian Humanist in England. More personified the characteristics of a Renaissance man with the achievements of lawyer, philosopher, and author. His most famous work, Utopia, published in Latin in 1516, was written in a satirical manner. This fictional book was More’s way of discretely criticizing European society. The story is divided into Book I and II, beginning with character ‘Thomas More’ traveling with a delegation to settle a territorial dispute between King Henry VIII of England and Prince Charles of Castille. In Book I of Utopia, More presents a discussion between the characters ‘Thomas More’, Peter Guiles, and fictitious Raphael Hythloday. In Book II, Hythloday begins to recount his visit to the fictional commonwealth of Utopia, including its unique policies that make it a successful and great nation. With More’s views reflected in Hythleday and the character ‘More’, their often opposing opinions on government policies and societal structures tell us that Thomas More’s Utopia seems to both embrace and reject values of the Renaissance.
In addition to Christian humanism, another major characteristic of the Renaissance was, civic humanism.
The Civic humanists promoted the idea of living a ‘vida activa’, an active life. They did this through using one’s learning for the advancement of the state and contributing to the public. Thomas More references the civic humanist idea of vita activa in Utopia numerous times. When ‘More’ and Giles first speak with Hythloday, they recognize his intelligence. Therefore, they encourage Hythloday to use his social and political knowledge for public service by becoming a royal councilor. As ‘More’ states, “I think if you could bring yourself to devote your intelligence and energy to public affairs, you would be doing something worthy of your noble and truly philosophical nature.” This is in line with the Civic Humanist attitude of trying to maximize one’s virtu, perfection of abilities, and leave an impression on society. However, Hythleday rejects their suggestion to work in government with the assertion that he would not be an effective advisor, because rulers would not listen to him. They would instead side with the ones who attempt to find their favor, their selfish counselors who, “by their fawnings and flatteries endeavor to fix their own interests.” He would prefer a ‘vida completiva,’ a life of learning solely for the sake of accumulating pure knowledge, for he would not be forced to bend any of his ideas to make them more appealing to a ruler. In contrast, the active
life is greatly praised among the Utopians. However, the active life in Utopia doesn't refer to an involvement in politics, it focuses on those who devote their life to various labors and work with the sole intention of contributing to the needs of society. They undertake jobs such as repair roads, clean ditches, and tend to the sick. Their hard work allows others to rest, yet they take no credit for it . These citizens, in a way unlike the humanists of the Renaissance, embody the vita activa as well. It seems that More agreed with his character More and the idea of “vita active” for In 1518, more joined the king’s council and ultimately became Lord Chancellor in 1529 .
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