Factor that influenced Renaissance to occur:
Individual enthusiasm, war factor, geographical factors, feeling of Humanism are considered to be the major factors that gave spark (fire) to the renaissance. Let's discuss them briefly.
- The Bubonic plague gave rise to humanism: (peaking time 1347-1351)
In 1347, the black death broke out in Europe, the Bubonic Plague killed almost half English population in seven month and almost one-third European population in 4 years. It also highly influenced Florence i.e. almost one - fifth of population were dead. Those who survived saw the world with completely different perspectives.
- Some thought to spend day in best possible way.
- Some wanted to surround themselves with beautiful art.
- Some followed spirituality
- some thought to do betterment for the other souls and,
- some thought about the philosophical ideology , which ultimately gave rise to humanism (for human betterment).
2. Fall of Byzantine Empire (eastern roman civilization):
The great roman civilization was vast in it's territory covering major land of Europe,Africa and Asia. So it was trouble-some for the roman leader to rule the entire territory from it's so-called capital, Rome. In 285 A.D.,the former roman leader Diacletion was looking for a way to fix this. He decided that the only thing to do was to actually break the empire into two separate autonomous empire. One piece would be western empire run centrally from Rome and other piece would be eastern empire based on Byzantium and this decision was practically implemented.
fig: western empire (yellow) with center Rome and eastern empire (Purple) with center Constantinople.
But this division became a night-mare for western roman empire. After approximately two hundred years, In 476 A.D, it suffered an attack from the German Barbarians and could not withstand and fell-off. The Empire which was never under any circumstances for millennium (1000 years), was under now in the hand of Barbarian. This incident is marked as "fell of roman civilization" but actually it just downfall of western empire not overall Roman empire.
Fig : Roman's During war.
Many Romans then flew off from their residential area as it was not safe for them. It's estimated that during this period population of Rome which was previously 1 million reduced to 50K.
The science, math and philosophy which roman has developed over thousand of years was now in a verse of extinct from Europe.
On the other hand, Byzantine Empire was prosperously running and immigration of western Romans even enriched their math, philosophy, science and mathematics. Many land marks and architectural development was taking place in eastern empire. It was moving towards prosperity.
But the western Rome was facing up's and down's. Many attempts were made from Byzantine empire to regain Rome's original power. After series of wars for centuries between eastern empire and Barbarians (which took about 400 years from fell of western empire), Rome was now free, and started to evolve to it's originality but due to adverse affect of wars and destruction the pace was slow.
During 15th century, the lust of territorial expansion was increasing in the Ottoman Empire which led to a series of war between Byzantine empire and Ottoman empire and eventually in 1453, Eastern Roman empire was under the control by Ottoman empire.
After this, many Greeks and Latins fled from east to the European christian state, especially Italy and it's nearby state.
Furthermore, western Europeans were beginning to rediscover antique Greeks and Roman wisdom, art, writings, science and mathematics.The spark was already in Italy but Byzantine scholars who fled from Byzantine to western Europe brought the knowledge to light Renaissance.
3. Individual Enthusiasm:
During 15th century,Western scholars were keenly interested in old Greeks and Romans wisdom. They were highly influenced by the philosophy of Socrats and Aristotle , mathematical and physics related principles of Archimedes, landmarks and architectural developments like Roman Colosseum, Parthenon (Greece) , Stone hedge,etc. and other literary and artistic works. They were researching on this factors and trying to re-establish history, literary, grammar, logic, etc within the citizen which was lost due to wars and destruction. This principle is collectively called as "Humanism".
Changes brought by Renaissance:
Field like Geography, Engineering and architecture, science , politics,music and art were highly revolutionized during renaissance period.
a) Artistic works:
Michelangelo Buonarrotti , Leonardo da vinci, Raphael, etc are the key person who took the artistic works to the new level.
- St. Peter's Basilica (largest church of the world) is a stunning example of culmination of Greek-Roman-Italian and Byzantine engineering and architecture, where Michelangelo worked as chief architect.
- David, a nude 5m tall statue of biblical figure was a marvelous piece of architecture.it took him 3 years to complete.
- Leonardo da vinci's artistic work of Monalisa (a portrait of wife of wealthy Florentine named Madam Lisa Giocondo) has a genuine smile and is still toady it's a topic of mystery and research.It took him 4 years to make this painting.
- The Last Judgement, another painting on the ceiling of Sistine Chapel was another remarkable art by Michelangelo. This painting depicts the about the second coming of Jesus Christ and Judging the Human Kind. The blessed are on the right and going to heaven while the cursed are on left and are going to hell.It took him 5 years to create.
- The Last supper by Leonardo depicts Christ taking his last supper with his followers.it took his 3 years to complete it.
- Botticelli Primavera, School of Athens (by Raphael) are some other artistic works.
fig :Sculpture of David
Fig : Monalisa
fig : The Last Judgement.
fig: St. Peter's Basilica , Rome
During Renaissance, the known world tripled in it's size due to sea travelers.
- Invention of astronomical table (recording celestial movement) and Jacob's staff ( a cross- staff used for latitude) made easier for sea-traveler for sea-routing.
- America was discovered the Christopher Columbus (a Italian) in 1492, with the assist of Portuguese and Spanish government providing 3 ships name The Lina, The Pinta and The Santa-Maria along with some fellow companions.
- Exploration of gold and silver was made on different geographical locations.
fig: The Lina, The Pinta and the Santa Maria ships.
c) Science and discoveries:
During those period, The religious information given by The Bible and the church were more dominant. Any actions which were against the law of Church were recognized illegal and were sentenced to punishments.
- Astronomical observations by Nicolas Copernicus proved that the sun as in center of all the planets. But he could not publish his mathematical paper work coz. Bible state that earth as in center so it would be against the law of Church to do so.
- After 70 years, Galileo Galilee based on Nicolas knowledge and his personal explorations supported that Earth as not in center of planet and revolves around the sun- got sentenced to House of arrest.
- Galileo Galilee invented telescope.
- Leonardo da vinci invented scissors, a model of helicopter and perpetuals machines.
- Pocket sized time pieces were invented.
- Printing Press was developed by Johann Gutenberg (German, in 1440) which made books available at chief prices and ultimately helped to spread educational knowledge on Europe. Before publishing a book used to cost very high and could only be afforded by rich community.
- Study of Human anatomy reached it's peaked (although prohibited by Church).
d) Music:
Music was generally distinguished by the graceful flowing melodies written solely for voice. the vocal music was beautiful and pure . It was the Golden period of Acapella Style - singing without instrument like operas.
e) Philosophy:
A principle called "Humanism" evolved during the Renaissance period. Teaching historical ideologies, literary, grammar, logic's , geography etc prevailed thorough out. Human were more attentive on goals about being human rather being religious.
f)Political changes:
However political system was run with absolute power , especially in a cruel and oppressive way.
Church used to make major rules and laws, and make decision on supreme political issues. By discoveries of new routes, trade and services flourished across Europe and globe. Gold and silver were major interest of European rulers. Even cultural exchanges and artistic assists can be seen among different dynasties of Asia and Europe during those times.
Church used to make major rules and laws, and make decision on supreme political issues. By discoveries of new routes, trade and services flourished across Europe and globe. Gold and silver were major interest of European rulers. Even cultural exchanges and artistic assists can be seen among different dynasties of Asia and Europe during those times.
At last, I would like to honorably mention Cozy Medici - a businessman who was the governing man in terms of wealth but working for betterment of other souls.
- He provided spent about quater of billion of Euros before he died for buildings, arts, business and church.
- He provided financial assists to scholars and artist to carry on their discoveries and creative works.
- He turned war and iron to gold and gold to art.
Convincingly,what we can say that
This ideologies and discoveries which were developed during Renaissance period inspired the whole world to promote Humanism along with mechanical and technological development which could be seen during history through industrial revolution , world war ( I and II ) , cold world and space-explorations.
We are now in the path which our history has taught to us.........
Thank you for reading::::
Share and Care!!!!
Milan Tomic
Hi. I’m Designer of Blog Magic. I’m CEO/Founder of ThemeXpose. I’m Creative Art Director, Web Designer, UI/UX Designer, Interaction Designer, Industrial Designer, Web Developer, Business Enthusiast, StartUp Enthusiast, Speaker, Writer and Photographer. Inspired to make things looks better.
0 comments:
Post a Comment