The Renaissance and Humanism

The Renaissance began well before AD 1500.  Some say it’s roots go back to political, philosophical and educational changes in 12^th century Europe.  Most would agree that it began to have a more noticeable effect on society after the fall of Constantinople in 1453, when many Greek scholars fled the terrible destruction of that last Christian metropolis and brought their knowledge, along with many ancient texts, to the cities in Western Europe where they found refuge.  This led to a rebirth (renaissance is a French word meaning rebirth) in the arts and sciences of the late Middle Ages.  Also rediscovered were many ancient books preserved in monasteries during the barbarian invasion of Europe after the fall of Rome in AD 476. 

            With the invention of the printing press in 1453, these old books could now be reproduced in hundreds and even thousands of copies, ensuring their survival for future generations and allowing them to be read by multitudes in the present time.  In the thousand years since the Fall of Rome books had only been preserved by the Church and they were read only by priests and very few lay people.  The number of books had been limited because they were copied out slowly, by hand, in monasteries.  As the 16^th century began, a flood of books poured out of printing presses and into the hands of Europeans.

            By AD 1500, the Renaissance had also revived and revitalized art forms throughout Europe. The Church commissioned some of the greatest works of art during this time period. The Sistine Chapel in Rome was erected in 1473-1481 by famous architect Giovanni del Dolci.  Its interiors were decorated by some of the great masters of the Renaissance: Perugino, Pinturicchio, Botticelli, Ghirlandao.  Michelangelo painted the frescoes found on the ceiling for Pope Julius II (1503-1513).  He painted the fresco known as “The Last Judgement” on the west wall behind the altar for Pope Paul III (1534-1549).  Tapestries depicting events from the Gospels were designed by Raphael and woven for Pope Leo X (1513-1521). .

            Humanism was also born out of the Renaissance.  Humanism was an attitude, a belief system, that exalted man’s free will and his superiority over nature.  These are ideas that can be accepted by a Christian.  But humanism soon came to emphasize man’s personal quest for truth, as if the Truth was not already known: that God had created man and Christ had redeemed him.  Instead, humanism suggests that the truth is “out there” to be found in certain studies, or religious or emotional experiences.

            This proved to be a very dangerous new “attitude” and it would wreak havoc on the unity of Christians as it continues to do today.