The Renaissance In The Middle Ages

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The Renaissance is sometimes considered an era unique for its attributes, while in other instances, historians don’t consider it to be its own era at all. The Renaissance was unique, however, because of the new thoughts and feelings which were expressed and their effect on Renaissance education and culture in Europe which can be shown through several historical documents. In the Middle Ages, it was common practice to use the feudal system which placed a handful of wealthy, powerful Monarchs on the top who controlled lords and vassals and so on. On the bottom of this social ladder were serfs or peasants. The system was very rigid and there wasn’t a lot of trading places or switching status until the Renaissance, which allowed for educated people …show more content…
During the Renaissance, Humanism emerged and became a popular belief system. Document 7 by John Hale states, “[Renaissance writers] freed man from his pegged place in the medieval hierarchy” John Hale was conveying that the Renaissance era people weren’t as interested in social hierarchy and didn’t place people into social classes as much. It shows how people shifted their views to allow others to change their place in society. In addition, Renaissance scientists also began to shift their thoughts and beliefs. Copernicus studied the Ancient Roman map of the solar system which placed Earth at the center and had all celestial bodies revolving around Earth. Copernicus updated this model to a heliocentric view of the solar system. Renaissance scientists completely shifted their views and accepted that what they had previously thought, was wrong, proving facts and true information mattered more to them than continuing to teach false information. This shows a desire to make sure students were successfully taught correct material. Finally, philosophers also began to think differently. Document 11 by Pico della Mirandola states, “ It is not the lack of body that makes an angel an angel, rather it is his spiritual intelligence.” Angels are considered to have a higher place in the chain of being. This quote suggests that standards have shifted to …show more content…
Humanism gave importance to the thoughts and ideas of the Ancient Romans, which became present in art. For example, in Brunelleschi’s dome shown in Document Three, Roman columns can be observed. The dome itself was based off of Ancient Roman design and was the first dome built since the fall of Rome. Another example of new thoughts affecting art was mostly in regards to naturalism. During the Middle Ages, people lost the methods used to create perspective and people were portrayed in unnatural poses. During the Renaissance, however, there was a shift in how art was drawn to reflect these new values of naturalism. In Document One, by Pieter Brueghel, the Elder, there are a few things that can be observed. To start, the entire painting is a single-point-perspective. There is a vanishing point, a horizon, and lines based on the position of the vanishing point. This indicates a higher level of understanding in terms of the art of perspective. The people present in the painting are also posing mid action, such as children playing. This shows an example of naturalism in poses. Even in the science world, these new ideas were affecting culture in the portraying of subjects. In Document Eight, drawings by Leonardo Da Vinci, there is use of shading and the illusion of depth. Da Vinci also uses
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