Renaissance and Reformation

Humanism

1304

Humanism was based on human accomplishments and personal values rather than religion. This included the humanities; This includes grammar, rhetoric, poetry, and history. It motivated Greek and Roman Humanists to focus on their own culture and gave them a drive to learn more.

Johannes Gutenberg

1395

He was a german inventor, most notably credited for the printing press. The printing press was very important in the renaissance, allowing authors and religious groups to spread their material in mass.

Perspective

1415

Perspective was a major aspect of Renaissance art. It is where distance is applied to the size of the objects, giving the art a more lifelike appearance. Da Vinci found a lot of success using perspective. It is notably used in "The Last Suppe."

Lorenzo de Medici

Jan 1, 1449

Lorenzo was a member of one of the richest family’s in Florence. He used his riches to be a patron for artists in europe. He brought them to Florence and made it the art hotspot of the world.

Leonardo Da Vinci

Apr 15, 1452

Da Vinci was a renaissance artist, engineer, inventor, and more. He is most known for his famous Mona Lisa. He’s an icon in art and science.

Desiderius Erasmus

Oct 28, 1466

Erasmus was a religious scholar who developed a greek version of the bible. He was the first to translate the bible into vernacular. This allowed for the bible to be more commonly eligible and more people could read it.

Niccolo Machiavelli

May 3, 1469

Machiavelli was an author and philosopher in the renaissance. He wrote “The Prince” which goes over the ideal traits for a leader. The ideas he displays in this book are very influential and some still used to an extent today.

Albrecht Durer

May 21, 1470

Durer was a very talented artist who specialized in etching detailed artwork into wood and metal. He mostly portrayed religious settings in these art pieces. He was also a painter and one of the most unique and prolific artists of the Renaissance.

Michelangelo

Mar 6, 1475

Michelangelo was an Italian man with many expertise. He sculpted, painted, did architecture, and worked with poetry. He painted the Sistine Chapel, which is just one of his great achievements.

Thomas More

Feb 7, 1478

He was an english humanist who made the idea of a Utopia. A utopia was described as an ideal society where everyone is educated and justice is achieved for everybody. This made people realize their world isn’t perfect and this made many people want a change.

Raphael

Apr 6, 1483

Raphael was a highly touted painter of his time. His art was very detailed and advanced especially for it’s time. He was a true renaissance man, also having experience in architecture, printmaking, and draftsmanship.

Martin Luther

Oct 10, 1483

Martin Luther was one of the most significant reformers of the time. He disagreed with the churches ideas of christianity and preferred a more traditional, laid-back approach that doesn’t ask for money for people to go to heaven.

Thomas Cranmer

Jul 2, 1489

Thomas Cranmer was the Archbishop during Henry VII's rule. Cranmer was a major part of the protestant reformation due to his high power as Archbishop. He held this position for 22 years.

Henry VIII

Jun 28, 1491

Henry The 8th had 6 wives over his lifetime. Only 1 of them outlived Henry. Henry VIII changed the religious beliefs of the Catholic Church, allowing divorce so that he could leave 2 of his wives.

Indulgences

1509

Indulgences were a paid way to "get into heaven." They were sold mainly during Leo X's rule as Pope, but popularized by Johann Tetzel, who was granted commissioner of indulgence sale by Pope Leo X. These were a huge scam in religion, used as a revenue farm for the church. Martin Luther fought heavily against these indulgences.

John Calvin

Jul 10, 1509

French-born priest who believed in predestination. This was the idea that god determined your afterlife whereabouts before you’re even born. Calvin started a theocracy, birthing Calvinism.

Elizabeth I

Sep 7, 1533

Elizabeth was one of Henry VIII's children who took the throne following his death. Elizabeth united religion in England by making a compromise between the protestants and Catholics. This was titled the Elizabethan Era.

William Shakespeare

Apr 26, 1564

Shakespeare is the most well recognized and influential writer and playwright of the renaissance. Shakespeare used many lessons and values in his work. He is usually regarded as the greatest writer to ever live.