Extensions of the Renaissance

How can the Reformation and the Age of Discovery be seen as extensions of the Renaissance?

Period: 1400 to 1600

During the Renaissance, an overpowering curiosity immerged, accompanied by a desire to learn and new philosophical stances. The Reformation and Age of Discovery shared a common intellectual and cultural foundation as the Renaissance, which encouraged reformation. People began to engage in reading, reevaluating ideologies, inovating, and exploring. The Renaissance witnessed a growing inclination to challenge authority, thus influencing religious reform and the pursuit of exploration.

The Medici Family

1434

The Medici family controlled the Republic of Florence under Cosimo de' Medici and became bankers to the papacy, which gave them the ability to spend their money on the funding of the city. They were also known for loving art and commissioning artists such as Donatello, Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo.

The Printing Press

1450

The printing press rapidly increased the efficiency with which information could be spread. Along with the spread of information and improvements in literacy rates, there was also the dispersion of ideas. Thoughts that had not yet been originated by others were being produced at an unthinkable rate. People fed off each other ideas and became muses to one another. With the ability to deepen thought and push the limits, this entire process would only continue to grow.

Christopher Columbus

1492

Christopher Columbus, a Spanish explorer, set sail to find new trade routes in the Americas but accidentally landed in the Americas, or "The New World." The Americas brought vast wealth to Europe as various resources were discovered and Natives were exploited.

Indulgences

1503

An indulgence was provided by the Church and gave the spiritual ability to forgive someone of their sin(s). For every indulgence, that person's time in purgatory would decrease. Most people embraced indulgences, as it helped them "reach heaven quicker." The Church's doctrine of purgatory and indulgences helped them gain popularity. At first, indulgences were given or rewarded, but they eventually began to be sold by salesmen (Ex: John Tetzel) who held no regard for the consumer's morals.

Machiavelli

1513

Machiavelli believed that a good leader should force his subjects to fear them but not hate them. Machiavelli wrote a political treatise about power and how to obtain and keep it. In order to be efficient, effective, and respected, other leaders should fear the present one, and in a sense, the subjects of said leader should fear them and all that they can do. Machiavelli could see fear as a great tactic and quality of previous leaders such as Julius Caesar and Alexander the Great.

The Great Dying

1515

A a result of the Columbian Exchange, the Great Dying was a lengthy period of death. Nearly 90% of the native people of the Americas died due to the brutality of foreginers, slavery, and diseases such as typhus, mealsels, and smallpox.

Martin Luther

1517

Martin Luther, a monk who is responsible for the creation of Lutheranism, believed that good works are not the pathway to salvation and are essentially implausible. Instead, his idea of approaching salvation was through faith alone. This was a major break with Catholic belief. People who embraced Lutheranism were a threat to the Church, whose belief was salvation through works, sacraments, and rituals. He argued against the Catholic Church’s authority, thus creating a lengthy conflict.

95 Theses

1517

Martin Luther wrote his 95 Theses and nailed them on the Church's door with the purpose of respectfully criticizing the Church’s ability to forgive sinners “indulgences” through some form of payment. The These challenged the Catholic Church's ways of selling indulgences, as the entire situation was unfair because the Church did not have authority to forgive sins, especially for money.

Jean Calvin & Calvinism

1530

Jean Calvin was the creator of Calvinism, which was founded years after Lutheranism. Calvinism was similar to Luther’s, but his views looked at Christianity in a more in-depth manner. He stressed the set beliefs of predestination and a limited number of people being granted salvation, which cannot be changed during a mortal's life.

King Henry VIII

1534

Henry VIII was an autocratic king who played a significant role in instigating the English Reformation due to his selfish ambitions. In addition to marrying his deceased brother's wife, he engaged in extramarital affairs, leading to a divorce, which was considered a grave offense against the Church. Ultimately, Henry was compelled to ratify the Acts of Supremacy and Succession in order to effectively severe England's ties with the Catholic Church.