How the European Renaissance Contributed to the Resurgence of Europe

 During the 15th and 16th centuries, Europe underwent economic and social changes, which contributed to the flourishing of the movement for the revival and renewal of the culture and art of the ancient world. Hence the name of the European Renaissance. This revival and renewal was carried out by intellectuals who were concerned with human beings and educated, and in doing so they created the conditions for the launch of the religious reform.

Intellectual and artistic renaissance

Factors of the European intellectual and artistic renaissance

Several factors helped the emergence of the intellectual and artistic renaissance:

In the socio-economic sphere, trade developed, was expanded by major European explorations, and resulted in the acquisition of important wealth that led to the emergence of banks and the revival of life in cities thanks to the growth of the mercantile bourgeoisie.

In the cultural field, attention was focused on learning ancient languages, especially Greek and Roman, excavating manuscripts and establishing universities, which generated the humanist (cultural) movement that gave the supreme consideration to man and believed in his creative abilities. The encouragement of intellectuals from princes and the great rich had a great impact on the continuation of their work.

The invention of the printing press, around the middle of the fifteenth century, by the German Gutenberg helped the development of cultural life.

Gutenberg's invention is to make separate letters out of metal that are described during printing in words, lines, and pages, and then disassembled for use in a new print.

It was not until the end of the fifteenth century that the printing press had spread in Europe.

It's unbelievable to see 4 or 5 people dragged in one day, and thanks to this magnificent art of the printing press, the work done by three or four of the best copyists in the world.

The printing press has worked to spread new ideas and knowledge through printed books that have become cheap.

In Italy, the conditions for the emergence of the European Renaissance were available because it benefited from its geographical position, Mediterranean trade and the richness of its Roman wealth, from which the Renaissance moved to the rest of Europe, especially Western Europe.

Fields of intellectual and scientific movement

The humanist movement constituted an intellectual revolution because of its opposition to medieval ideas and its reliance on reason. Renaissance intellectuals highlighted the flaws of society and superstitions resulting from the accumulation of erroneous ideas that arose in the arms of the Church.

National literature, as in Italy, France, and England, flourished thanks to the invention of the printing press and writing in local dialects instead of Latin, which was confined to a small group.

Political literature flourished within it, such as Machiavelli's The Prince, in which he proceeded from the vision of a strong unified Italy, and Thomas More (1535-1478) wrote in his book Utopile, in which he imagined an island on which a virtuous society and government lived.

The humanist movement paid attention to the educational aspect and took into account the comprehensive formation of man.

I point out to you, my son, ... To learn and master languages, first study the Greek language ... Secondly, Latin and Hebrew to understand the Bible, and you also have to study Chaldean and Arabic... geometry, arithmetic and astronomy ... As for the knowledge of nature, I want you to devote yourself to it with passion, so that you do not leave a sea, a river, or a spring except you studied it... And you have to carefully study the books of Greek and Arab doctors ... and anatomy and to gain full knowledge ... by man."

Rableais French physician, scientist and thinker

The humanist movement called for the rejection of fanaticism and the opening of the space for free thought, believing that man has a benevolent nature that pushes him to do virtuous deeds.

In the scientific field, science has advanced by adopting a new method.

"The sciences that do not arise from experience – which is the mother of all certainty – and that do not end in observation – that is, those sciences that pass ... In one of the five senses, it is a false science full of errors."

Leonardo da Vinci from the book: Memoirs

The adoption of the method of observation and experimentation has led to the development of various sciences, and human knowledge has gained prominence through anatomy.

Artistic movement. Renaissance

The artistic movement started from Italy, reflecting the level of luxury in which princes, the rich bourgeoisie and the popes lived, and Italy's diverse effects were the source of inspiration for artists, and the humanist movement influenced art and therefore the artists' interest in the human body occurred.

The artistic renaissance also included architectural art that was characterized by creativity in the construction and decoration of palaces and churches.

The influence of Italian Renaissance art extended to the rest of Europe by calling Italian artists or the trip of European artists to Italy for the purpose of formation, and more attention was paid to the construction of palaces, especially in France.

Religious reform

Factors of religious reform

The authority of the Church is in crisis, neglecting its religious role, and popes becoming more princes than religious heads.

The evils of the Church abounded, including its use to collect wealth, indulge in a life of opulence, and consume the Church's funds obtained through religious taxes, and not only that, but also invented the sale of indulgences, testimonies that the Church claimed guaranteed forgiveness for those who bought them from the perpetrators.

It also allowed non-clergy to assume leadership positions in the Church, and took into account agreements with European governments.

The pontiffs are arrogant in greatness and despise others. And they want to occupy the first seats in Italian schools and churches. They have no interest except in worldly and worldly things, but concern for the Spirit does not occupy their hearts.

The humanitarian movement, in turn, contributed to the Reformation.

So he took human literature. Christ is magnified. Rituals plunge the world into deep slumber. Monks, or rather semi-monks, controlled people's consciences because they were bound by indissoluble knots, and translations of the Bible into national languages made it easier to understand. The contemporary commentaries at that time came to strengthen the correct understanding of the Christian religion and worked to purify the superstitions mixed with it, based on the prevailing spirit of reason, and thus the environment became suitable for accepting the call for reform.

MARTIN LUTHER MOVEMENT

Luther's call for reform erupted because of the issue of selling indulgences, and these instruments were widely spread in German territory, and Luther responded to them with criticism.

32. Those who believe in their salvation will be condemned to eternal destruction by instruments of forgiveness.

45. We should teach Christians that it is better to help the poor and lend to the needy than to buy indulgences."

Luther's opposition led to a schism in the Catholic Church (Church of Rome) in 1520 AD with the emergence of Protestantism, and this split resulted in war confrontations in German territory that ended with the Peace of Augsbourg in 1555 AD, which approved the religious division

Protestantism simplified worship and became practiced without the mediation of the Church. Faith was considered a means of salvation from guilt and the authority of the Pope was entrusted to princes who had seized the property of the Catholic Church.

Other reform movements

Luther's movement encouraged the emergence of other Reformed movements.

Calvin spearheaded the movement known as Calvinism, which encouraged economic activity by permitting interest-bearing loans and placing the administration of the church in the hands of a body of clergy and the public.

In 1534, England became religiously independent from the Catholic Church, and established its own church known as Anglicanism, and its doctrine is based on reconciling the various religious doctrines known at the time, and the king was the head of the Supreme Church.

The Catholic Church was forced to reform itself to be able to stand against the movements against it, so the Council of Trant (1563-1545 AD) was held, from which the Catholic Church emerged strong, and was strengthened by the "Jesuit Society", which was founded by Loyola in 1540, and this association became a great influence supporting the Pope through its interest in education and rigor in its organization.

Thus, the European Renaissance constituted an important stage in the development of Western European countries, and the humanist movement was one of the pillars of this renaissance, as it contributed to the development of thought, science and thought, and also contributed to paving the way for the launch of religious reform, and new doctrines prevailed in Northern Europe, which will know greater economic developments.