Impact Of The Renaissance
Impact Of The RenaissanceThe impact of the
Renaissance on Europe
Jacob Burckhardt best describes the renaissance as the prototype of the
modern world, for it was the period between the fourteenth and fifteenth century
in Italy, when the base of modern civilisation was formed. It was mainly through
the revival of ancient learning that new scientific values first began to overthrow
traditional religious beliefs. People started to accept a new rational and objective
approach to reality and most important of all to rediscover the importance of the
individual. The result in Burckhardt words, was the release of the� full whole
nature of man�. However the Renaissance biggest contribution was the way
different important individuals through their logical revelations managed to
diminish the power of the Catholic Church. (Craig, Graham, Kagan, Ozment,
Turner; The heritage of world civ; pg.493-494)
Medieval Europe before the Renaissance had been a fragmented feudal
society with an agriculturally based economy, and its culture and dominated by
the Church. After the fourteenth century was characterised by the growing
national consciousness and political centralisation based on organised
commerce and capitalism, along with the secular control of thought and culture.
It was in Italy from around the time 1375 to the sack of Rome (1527) that
the distinctive features and impacts of the renaissance era are revealed.
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Italy having a geographic advantage, laying in the centre of the commerce
between the east and west. Due to this fact rich and urban cities were formed in
Italy. There started to be more Italian cities than there were people in them.
Trade monopolies were formed to ensure profitability of trade and manufacturing,
but only those with sufficient capital could engage in either. For example, in
Florence 10% of the families controlled 90% of the wealth. These wealthy
families established power over these city-states (just like the Greek polis) to
which the people inhabiting inside could say they belonged to. A sense of
competition was formed between families of different cities, and as one knows
competition somehow always leads to development. Each family then tried to be
better by building churches and sponsoring great painters such as Raphael and
Michelangelo (whom will be later elaborated upon). Even the Pope got in on the
competition.
During the era bread remained the most widely consumed foodstuff, but
even subsistence consumers were beginning to supplement their diets with meat
and dairy products. There would be more pork and lamb in the diet of ordinary
people than there would be for the next four hundred years. Therefore one can
argue that the standard of living was quite higher than before. However the
common enemy still remained, that I nature and its diseases. (Kishlansky, Geary,
O�Brien; Civ in the west; pg.329-330)
Although there were outstanding advances made in the renaissance era, it
has to be concluded that the three most important and most developed areas
have to the advances made in art,...
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