The Renaissance (1485-1625): Humanism and English Culture

Humanism and the English Renaissance

During the Renaissance, a new way of thinking emerged, called Humanism. Humanism focused on the human being .. The Western European man was seen as the centre of the universe. However, even if we often see this period as the beginning of progress, we must also remember that this "progress" had a dark side:

• It led to the destruction of traditional societies.
• It involved the conquest and exploitation of lands in Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
• It included the extermination of entire populations in the name of economic and cultural domination.

Italian Influences on the English Renaissance

Leonardo da Vinci's Contributions

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519):

• He was a painter, sculptor, musician, architect, and inventor.
• He worked on hydraulic systems, church decorations, and even theatre stage design.
• For Leonardo, art and science were not separate-they were both tools to understand the truth about nature and the universe.

Machiavelli and Political Thought

Another important influence was Niccolò Machiavelli, an Italian political thinker. His book "Il Principe" (The Prince) was written in 1513, but only translated into English in 1602.. It had a big impact on Elizabethan politics.

• It taught that sometimes a ruler must use unethical methods to reach good results.
• In simple terms: "The ends justify the means."

This idea also influenced Elizabethan and Jacobean drama, especially:

• The villains and tragic heroes in the plays of Shakespeare and Marlowe often show Machiavellian traits-they use manipulation and power to reach their goals.

Renaissance Culture in England

The English Renaissance was quite different from the Italian Renaissance that had started about a century earlier.

• In Italy, the Renaissance emerged during a period of political instability and decline of religious dominance, leading to a burst of individual artistic expression.
• In Northern Europe, especially in England, the Renaissance came later and was shaped by the effects of the Reformation.
• Thanks to the weakened power of the Church, England's society was more stable, allowing culture and literature to grow smoothly.

At Elizabeth I's court, some of the greatest intellectuals of the time gathered.

Knowledge and Learning in the English Renaissance

Key developments included:

• Growth of Oxford and Cambridge universities.
• Increased schooling and literacy.
• Rediscovery of classical texts in Latin and Greek, which had been ignored for centuries.

This "rebirth" of classical culture is exactly what the word Renaissance means.

The Spirit of Renaissance Curiosity

Although the Renaissance is often seen as the start of the modern age, its curiosity was mainly focused on the past, especially the civilizations of Ancient Rome and Greece.

• During the Middle Ages, much of that ancient knowledge had been suppressed by the Church.
• Important achievements in science, math, philosophy, and natural history were rediscovered.
• The invention of the printing press by Gutenberg, brought to England by William Caxton in 1475, allowed for wider access to books and helped spread literacy beyond monks and priests.

Key Figure: Erasmus of Rotterdam

• Erasmus (ca. 1466-1536) was a Northern European Humanist.
• He published a Latin version of the Greek Bible in 1516.
• Promoted the study of Latin across Europe, hoping it would become a common language for educated people.

A Mixed Age: Tradition and Progress

The Renaissance was not fully modern-it was a transitional period:

• Old medieval beliefs (like astrology or fixed destiny) still existed.
• But they were often reinterpreted through a new lens.
• The idea of human autonomy and free will became central: man was now seen as someone who could control his own destiny and understand nature through reason.

Historical Context

The Tudors and Henry VII

The Tudor dynasty began in 1485, after the Battle of Bosworth, where Henry Tudor (Lancaster) defeated King Richard (York). To bring peace between the rival families, Henry:

• married Elizabeth of York
• united the houses of Lancaster and York
• started the Tudor dynasty

Henry VII, the first Tudor king, ruled with an absolute monarchy. His reign was known for:

• financial and political stability. the creation of a new middle class: -> merchants, traders, manufacturers, rich farmers
• the use of patronage: -> weakened the old nobility -> gave land and power to new loyal landowners

He ended the feudal system by:

• selling feudal lands
• starting the enclosure of land -> peasants lost small farms -> caused revolts, which were crushed

In foreign policy, Henry VII aimed to make England stronger through trade:

• made trade agreements with Flanders and Denmark
• started building a strong navy
• supported exploration after the voyages of: - > Columbus, Magellan, Vasco da Gama

This opened the way for:

• the colonization of new lands
• a struggle for imperial domination
• the exploitation and massacre of native populati

Henry VIII and the English Reformation

Henry VIII, son of Henry VII, became king at 18 years old. He was a typical Renaissance prince:

• loved luxury, art, and music
• created a rich royal court
• invested in warships and modern weapons
• built the most powerful fleet in Europe

At first, Henry was a Catholic and defended the Church:

• in 1521, the Pope gave him the title "Defender of the Faith"
• he wrote against Martin Luther, the leader of the Protestant Reformation

But then a personal crisis led to a major religious change:

• he wanted a male heir
• his wife Catherine of Aragon gave him only a daughter, Mary
• he fell in love with Anne Boleyn and wanted a divorce
• the Pope refused, so ...

In 1534, Henry passed the Act of Supremacy:

• declared himself "Supreme Head of the Church of England"
• created the Anglican Church -> separate from Rome -> still followed many Catholic teachings

Religious and Political Consequences

The Parliament became more powerful and helped Henry:

• close monasteries (1536-1541)
• take the land and money of the Church
• give this wealth to the State

To support the new Church:

• the Bible was translated into English (The Great Bible, 1539)
• Thomas Cranmer wrote a new prayer book for English services

Henry VIII's Wives and Children

He had 6 wives, the most important were:

• Catherine of Aragon -> daughter Mary I ("Bloody Mary")
• Anne Boleyn -> daughter Elizabeth I -> later executed
• Jane Seymour -> son Edward VI (finally a male heir)

From Edward VI to the Beginning of the Stuart Dynasty

Edward VI's Reign (1547-1553)

After Henry VIII's death, his son Edward VI became king, but he was just a young boy.

• England was ruled by a council of Protestant advisors
• They continued to take Church lands and treasures
• With Archbishop Cranmer, Edward introduced:
  • Protestant reforms
  • the Book of Common Prayer (in English)
  • simpler church decoration and worship -> focus on reading the Bible

Mary I's Reign (1553-1558)

When Edward died, Mary I, daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, became queen.

• She was a Catholic and married Philip II of Spain
• People feared Spanish control over England
• A rebellion tried to put Elizabeth on the throne but failed
• Mary started a religious persecution:
  • Protestants were killed or exiled
  • She became known as "Bloody Mary"

When she died, England was divided, and most people were now anti- Catholic and anti-Spanish.

Elizabeth I's Reign (1558-1603)

Elizabeth I became queen at 25 years old. She was smart, diplomatic, and stayed unmarried. She called herself the "Virgin Queen" and said she was "married to her people".

• Brought back order after years of religious and social problems
• Created national unity
• Defeated internal and external enemies
• Made England a world power

To solve the religious problem:

• Introduced the Acts of Supremacy and Uniformity (1559) -> she became Supreme Governor of the Church -> avoided extreme Catholic and Protestant views

The Elizabethan Age

• Elizabeth ruled with help from her Privy Council -> most important member: William Cecil
• There were many assassination threats
• Her cousin Mary Stuart, Catholic Queen of Scots, was a danger:
  • Mary plotted against Elizabeth
  • Elizabeth had her executed in 1587

Meanwhile, England grew stronger:

• Explorations and overseas trade expanded
• Famous sea captains:
  • Francis Drake, Walter Raleigh, John Hawkins
• They attacked Spanish ships with the Queen's secret support

In 1588, Spain attacked with the Spanish Armada:

• England, with its strong navy, defeated the Armada
• This marked the greatest moment of Elizabeth's reign. England became the strongest naval power, opening the way for the British Empire.

The Dream of the "Reformed Empire"

Elizabeth's court was also a cultural centre, full of poets and thinkers who celebrated her image.

• Writers like Edmund Spenser wrote poems like The Faerie Queene (1590-96) to praise Elizabeth as a pure leader of a reformed empire, free from the corruption of Spain and the Catholic Church.
• John Dee, scientist and explorer, dreamed of a strong British navy and empire. He wrote about it in General and Rare Memorials ... (1577).
• Elizabeth supported these ideas at first, but in the late 1500s, she became more cautious, fearing enemies among Catholic powers.
  • Dee and Spenser lost her favour and died in poverty.

Elizabeth as a Symbol

Elizabeth became more than just a queen-she was a symbol.

• Her image was connected to the ideal woman of courtly love.
• She was seen as the centre of the universe, just like in the old Ptolemaic system, where everything revolved around the Earth.
• Elizabeth became the centre of England, both politically and spiritually.

The Stuart Dynasty (1603-1649)

When Elizabeth died in 1603 with no children, the throne went to:

• James VI of Scotland, son of Mary Stuart
• He became James I of England, the first Stuart king

Although he was Protestant, James believed in the Divine Right of Kings:

• He thought he ruled by God's will, not by the people

The Gunpowder Plot (1605)

Some radical Catholics tried to kill James I and the Parliament.