The Renaissance 1485 1660 The Renaissance Beginning in

The Renaissance 1485 -1660

The Renaissance Beginning in the late 1400’s, the English Renaissance marked changes in people’s values, beliefs, and behaviors. The word renaissance means “re-birth”. It refers particularly to renewed interest in classical learning: Greek language, reading, art. There was also a renewal of the human spirit – curiosity and creativity. Today we still use the term “Renaissance person” for an energetic and productive human being who is interested in science, literature, history, art, and other academic subjects.

Italy I. Italy A. The Renaissance began in Italy in the 14 th Century and lasted until the 16 th Century B. Most people were wealthy from banking and trading with the East C. Important people: 1. Leonardo da Vinci – artist 2. Michelangelo – artist 3. Christopher Columbus – explorer 4. Galileo - scientist

Italy D. Religion – 1. Catholic 2. Catholic church was rich and powerful, even in political affairs 3. Many popes were lavish patrons of artists, architects, and scholars. 4. Pope Julius II – hired Michelangelo to paint scenes from the Bible on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel: the creation, the fall, the flood, etc.

Humanism II. Humanism – An intellectual movement dealing with academics. A. The people continue reading and found answers to age old questions through Latin, Greek, and Christianity. B. They tried to harmonize the Bible and the classics. C. The Humanists learned the aim of life was to attain virtue, not success, money, or fame.

Humanist D. Desiderius Erasmus – Dutch monk who lived outside the monastery and loved to travel. He taught Greek at Cambridge, where he met Thomas More. E. Thomas More – Wrote Latin poems, pamphlets, biographies, and Utopia. He held many important offices, and was knighted as Lord Chancellor, one of the king’s prime ministers. *Both these men helped shape European thought and history.

Technology IV. The printing press A. Transformed the way information was exchanged – Johannes Gutenberg B. Few books had been available because they had previously been written by hand C. Latin Bible printed in 1455 D. By 1500 inexpensive books were available throughout western Europe

Reformation V. The Church A. People rejected the authority of the pope and the Italian churchmen B. By the 1530’s, an open break from the church could not be avoided C. Patriotism and national identity made the English people resent the financial burdens imposed on them by the Vatican, pope.

Reformation D. New religious ideas were coming into England from the continent, especially Germany 1. Martin Luther had founded a new kind of Christianity 2. It was not founded on what the pope said, but what the Bible said

King Versus Pope VI. King and the Pope don’t agree A. Henry VIII wanted to get rid of his wife of 24 years, but divorce was not allowed B. Henry tried to persuade Clement VII to agree because Catherine of Aragon had been married to his brother Arthur, which had been against the law in the first place

King Versus Pope C. Henry had two reasons for wanting a divorce: 1. Catherine was too old to have children and had only had a girl 2. He was in love with Anne Boleyn, Henry’s favorite; Henry had earlier seduced her sister D. The pope could not grant the divorce because he was controlled by Catherine’s nephew, the emperor of Spain

King Versus Pope E. Upon the refusal of the pope, Henry VIII simply declared himself head of the church in 1533 F. He appointed a new archbishop of Canterbury who gratefully declared his marriage invalid, although Catherine would not agree G. Henry closed all of England’s monasteries and sold the building and land

King Versus Pope H. Sir Thomas More, now Lord Chancellor of England, could not agree with his friend, Henry, being head of the church. So, Henry had him beheaded I. This began Protestantism in England the beginning of the Protestant Reformation

England’s Lineage The Tudor lineage A. Henry VII (1457 -1509) – He was a shrewd, patient, and stingy man who restored peace and order to the kingdom B. Henry VIII (1509 -1547) – He was ruthless. He had six wives, to all of whom he was unfaithful. Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard were beaheaded for suspicion of infidelity. He did, however, create the Royal Navy.

England’s Lineage C. Henry had three children: 1. Mary, daughter of Catherine of Aragon 2. Elizabeth, daughter of Anne Boleyn 3. Edward, son of Jane Seymour D. Edward became king at age nine. He died of tuberculosis. E. Mary took over after Edward’s death. She was determined to get revenge for her mother’s death, so she restored the pope’s power and hunted down Protestants. She burned 300 of her subjects at the stake, which earned her the name “Bloody Mary”.

England’s Lineage F. Elizabeth came to power in 1558. She reestablished the Church of England took power away from the pope. Elizabeth became known as “the virgin queen” after rejecting every marriage proposal throughout her life. Her intelligence and independence made her reign one of the most successful in English history.

Historical Turning Point A. B. C. King Phillip of Spain, Mary’s widower, invaded England In 1588, the English Royal Navy defeated the Spanish Armada. This victory assured England's independence.

Decline of the Renaissance A. B. James VI of Scotland, son of Elizabeth’s cousin Mary, became ruler after Elizabeth’s death. James wrote books in favor of the divine right of kings, against tobacco, he patronized Shakespeare, sponsored a new translation of the Bible, and a peaceful ruler.

Decline of the Renaissance C. Charles I, his son, was beheaded by his subjects. D. For 11 years England was ruled by Parliament. E. The last great write of the period was John Milton. F. By this time, political and secular values were beginning to challenge religious doctrines.

Shakespeare’s Theater

The Birth of the English Playhouse l. In 1558, there were no playhouses in England. l. The Puritan city council disagreed with the “play-acting, ” claiming it was an act of idolatry. l. In 1574, acting was banned from London.

l. The actors bought land nearby and created their own acting company, building a playhouse.

The Globe l Built in 1599, the Globe theater was home to Shakespeare; it was the “re-birth” of theater. l Henry V was the first play to be performed at theater.

l Scholars believe that the Globe was a circular structure, formed by three tiered, thatch roof galleries that served as seating for the audience.

Lords and Groundlings l Plays were usually performed in the afternoon before a diverse audience of about two thousand. l Galleries: Members of the nobility and upper class. l “Groundlings, ” lower class, could stand watch from the courtyard for only a penny.

l Groundlings did not hesitate to shout comments to the actors on stage, good or bad. l Vendors sold snacks throughout the play as well.

Theatrical Conventions l Most of Shakespeare’s characters speak in blank verse, unrhymed lines of iambic pentameter. l Each line is divided into feet, with the stress falling on every second syllable.

Acting was seen as to indelicate for women, so female roles were played by boys. l Costumes were colorful and elaborate versions of regular Elizabethan dress. l

l Scenery was nonexistent. l The beginning of the play was announced by a blaring trumpet, and the start of a new scene was signaled by the entrance of the appropriate character.

l Scholars estimate that a typical performance of Shakespeare's lasted only about two hours.

The Globe’s Comeback l The original Globe Theater was destroyed in 1613, when a cannon set off to mark the entrance of the king during a performance of Henry VIII accidentally set the thatched roof on fire.

l 1614, the Globe was rebuilt and stood until 1644 when it was torn down to clear land for new housing. l A replica of theater stands on the bank of the Thames River; it opened in 1997, its first production: Henry V.

Project: Due November 25 Create the Globe theater in 3 -D: Popsicle sticks l Wood l Paper Mache l Must include l People (toy figures, created figures, etc. ) l Curtains and stage l Tiers and thatched roof on part l Exact replica (use notes and research)