1. Revival of antiquity

1. Revival of antiquity

• 1. Revival of antiquity

• 2. Belief in individual and potential of humans

• 3. Embrace VIRTÚ - “the quality of being a man” idea of excelling in all pursuits

3. Focus on study of ancient languages

• 3. Focus on study of ancient languages

• A. Latin, intially
• B. Greek after Fall of Constantinople in 1453
• C. Ancient texts translated by 1500

• 4. Largely reject Scholasticism in favor of:

• A. Favor Roman authors – esp. Cicero, Virgil
• B. Greek writers – esp. Plato
• C. Early Christian writers of New Testament

5. LIBERAL ARTS: Grammar, rhetoric, poetry, history, politics, and moral philosophy

• 5. LIBERAL ARTS: Grammar, rhetoric, poetry, history, politics, and moral philosophy

• 6. Civic Humanism: ed. to prepare leaders

• 7. Humanism more secular and lay dominated

1. Petrarch – Father of Humanism

• 1. Petrarch – Father of Humanism

• A. Literature not sub. to religion.
• B. “Dark Ages” = time between fall of Roman Empire and Renaissance
• C. Used textual analysis of ancient texts.

5. Pico della Mirandola

• 5. Pico della Mirandola

• A. Oration on the Dignity of Man
• 1. Most famous Ren. work on nature of humankind
• 2. Humans created by God and given tremendous potential for greatness, and even union with God if they desired it
• 3. Humans could also choose negative course. Thus, humans had FREE WILL to be great or fail.

6. Baldassare Castiglione

• 6. Baldassare Castiglione

• A. The Book of the Courtier
• 1. Most important work on Ren. Education
• 2. Outlined qualities of a gentleman
• 3. Described ideal “Renaissance Man”
• 4. Medieval view = master in one area
• 5. Virtú