Renaissance - Literature.

STUDY GUIDE I

1.Where and when did the Renaissance begin? Be specific. Who was one of the first contributors to the Renaissance?

The Renaissance began in Italy during the 14th century. Erasmus of Rotterdam was one of the first contributors to the Renaissance. He believed literature would come to "renewed life or greater splendor."

2.What does "renaissance" mean? Explain.

Renaissance means "rebirth". The idea of rebirth originated in the belief that Europeans had rediscovered the superiority of Greek and Roman culture after many centuries of what they considered intellectual and cultural decline.

It describes the intellectual and economic changes that occurred in Europe from the fourteenth through the sixteenth centuries. The Renaissance was an age in which artistic, social, scientific, and political thought turned in new directions.

3.What are humanists? Who is the most famous humanist?

Humanists are renaissance scholars and educators. They believed it was possible to improve human society through classical education.

Painting of Anne of Cleves, fourth wife of the Eng...

Portrait of Henry VIII

The casket of Sir Philip Sidney, Plate 16 from Pro...

This education relied on teachings from ancient texts and emphasized a range of disciplines, including poetry, history, and morality.

The most famous humanist is Erasmus of Rotterdam.

4.Explain the evolution of the people of the Medieval Period to the Renaissance Period.

The people of the Medieval Period were experiencing a new birth of literature which made them become a little more civilized. Then they started experiencing a different art; the renaissance art. New painters came along, such as Boccaccio, who blended the old (medieval) style with the new one. The Medieval people were sensing a new breeze in every aspect of their life! This is what led them to the Renaissance!

5.How did the Renaissance spread from Italy? Be specific!!! Where did it spread to?

In the fourteenth century many Italian scholars began to display a remarkable awareness of history. They...