T O W H A T E X T E N T D O E S C U LT U R A L D I F F U S I O N I M P A C T S O C I E T Y ?

THE NORTHERN RENAISSANCE

NORTHERN RENAISSANCE

• Like the Greek/Roman writings inspired the Italian thinkers, the new arts, technology and ideas of the Renaissance inspired and spread to Northern European countries such as France, England, and German

• Ex. Painters: Durer (German), van Eyck (Flemish), Bruegel (Flemish)

ITALY VS. NORTH

• Italy – City-States• BR/FR – Strong monarchs• Francis I of France purchased many Renaissance

paintings• Humanists more interested in religious ideas than

secular of Italy• Human dignity inspired some northern

humanists to develop plans for social reform based on Christian values.

IDEAS SPREAD

• 1494 – French king claimed throne of Naples in Southern Italy • Launched invasion through northern Italy• Many Italian artists and writers left for a safer life• Brought styles of techniques of Renaissance with

them

HOW IS THIS AN EXAMPLE OF CULTURAL DIFFUSION?

SO, AGAIN, WHY DID THE RENAISSANCE MOVE NORTH?

• 1450?s - Bubonic Plague and Hundred Years War end -- leads population and urban growth in N. Europe

• N. European monarchs begin to sponsor the arts, similarly to patrons like the Medicis

• 1459 - War erupted in Italy over political struggles - artists moved north out of Italy for safety bringing ideas with them

• Artists from N. Europe studied in Italy and began to return home with new Renaissance ideas

ALBRECHT DURER

ALBRECHT DURER WOODCUT

HANS HOLBEIN

JAN VAN EYCK (FLEMISH)

PIETER BRUEGEL THE ELDER

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlandish_Proverbs

CHRISTIAN HUMANISM

• Humanism – Intellectual movement in which thinkers studied classical texts and focused on human potential and achievements• Christian Humanism – in North. Gave this a more

religious slant. Not as secular.

DESIDERIUS ERASMUS

• In Praise of Folly – 1509• Poked fun at greedy merchants, heartsick lovers,

quarrelsome scholars, and pompous priests• Poked fun at Clergy, but work is strongly Christian.• Christianity of heart, not ceremonies or rituals• People should study the Bible

THOMAS MORE

• Tried to show a better model of society• Utopia – 1516• Imaginary land with peace-loving people• Utopia means “no place” but in English, it meant ideal

place because of his book• Greed, corruption, war don’t exist

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

• Command of English language and understanding of human beings• Revealed souls of men and women through

tragedies like Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet• A Midsummer Night’s Dream – examines human

flaws through comedy• Drew on classics like other Ren writers (what

story is he known to have written that does this?)

ELIZABETHAN AGE

• Elizabeth I• Wrote poetry• Patronized artists and writers

THE PRINTING PRESS

• Chinese invented block printing/movable type around 1045

• During 1200’s, block printed items made their way to Europe

• 1440 - Johann Gutenberg invents movable type printing press to print complete books - facilitating the spread of ideas through books and pamphlets• Gutenberg Bible