Revival: what is the Renaissance and what are its consequences?

The history of Europe knows several turning points and phenomena that completely changed the picture of the world of its inhabitants. One of these milestones was the Renaissance. What is the Renaissance (these terms are equivalent)?

The main features of the Renaissance

Revival refers to the era that came tochange of the Middle Ages. Since the XIV century in some regions (primarily in Italy) there has been a cultural growth. It resulted in people's interest in their own history and the era of Antiquity. This, in turn, led to the growth of scientific knowledge, the spread of humanism and interest in the human person.

One of the reasons for the beginning of these processes wasthe fall of Constantinople. The Byzantine Empire, which had existed for thousands of years, fell under the attacks of Muslim Turks. Many Greeks did not want to betray the Christian faith and fled to Western Europe. Scientists took with them ancient books, which were soon translated into Latin and national languages. All this pushed the Renaissance. What is the Renaissance in Italy? This is also the emergence of new estates, which were independent of the old feudal relations within the monarchies.

A large number of Italian republics havebankers, scientists and other people of a new type. Among them, humanism aroused interest in human nature and personality. First they were small schools of philosophers.

However, they became the new centers of scientificresearch and art. In Italy, the development of book printing and new types of art began. An important phenomenon was that local tycoons and influential families with large capitals began to give money to education.

The centers of the Renaissance are Florence and Rome. Pope Julius II has done a great deal to ensure that the "greatest city creators" work in the "eternal city". Without his enterprise, it is difficult to imagine the Renaissance. What did this mean the Church's increased attention to artists and sculptors? This indicated that they could create, relying on the support of the most influential people in Italy. Among them were such masters as Michelangelo and Raphael. Renaissance artists created great paintings and murals on biblical subjects. Their works are now adorned with numerous churches and museums all over Europe.

Leonardo da Vinci

The world of Renaissance culture would be inadequate withoutLeonardo da Vinci. His stunning pictures of expressiveness conquered contemporaries and continue to amaze people of the XXI century. In addition, he is known as an inventor. His ideas for many years ahead of the Renaissance. What is man? How is it arranged and where is its place? All these questions were asked by the great Italian.

The artists of the Renaissance could not surpass his "Mona Lisa". This picture has become a universal symbol of the sense of beauty and perfectionism.

Revival in other European countries

The late Renaissance in historiography is calledsecond half of the XVI century. At this time, art and culture have moved to a new level not only in Italy, but also in many other European countries. The centers of the Renaissance were Germany, the Netherlands and England.

The British are proud of their most famousa compatriot of the Renaissance - William Shakespeare. Without it, the revival literature would be inadequate. His comedies and tragedies have become the eternal classics of the theater.

Reformation

Christian theologian Martin Luther is consideredone of the most important figures of the Renaissance. This German was dissatisfied with the Catholic Church. His lectures, exposing the corrupt priests and the vices of religion, gathered thousands of audiences.

Especially violently, Luther criticized the new rules,according to which Christians could buy for money indulgences (forgiveness of sins). The ideas of the famous preacher resulted in 95 theses. October 31, 1517 Martin hung them on the door of the church in the German city of Wittenberg. This famous episode later became a symbol of the beginning of the Reformation.

So called the process of reformattingthe Catholic Church. German Christians began to criticize Rome for its stagnancy and conservatism. This led to numerous religious conflicts. The apotheosis of confrontation between Catholics and Protestants was the Thirty Years' War of 1618-1648.

The struggle with dependence on the church led to the fact,that European society has become secular. For some time the Protestants were in a very difficult situation. Many of them went to North America in the 17th century, where they managed to create a truly new society.