Skip to main content

How did people during the Renaissance view the ideas of ancient classical civilizations, like Greece and Rome?

During the Renaissance, there was a resurgence of interest in Greek and Roman civilizations. Throughout the Middle Ages most of the teaching and learning was church-centered. At the time of the Renaissance, the church had started to lose its hold on people’s thoughts and actions.


The invention of the printing press made books more widely available. In addition, the population was becoming wealthier and could afford these books. These readers from the upper classes and...

During the Renaissance, there was a resurgence of interest in Greek and Roman civilizations. Throughout the Middle Ages most of the teaching and learning was church-centered. At the time of the Renaissance, the church had started to lose its hold on people’s thoughts and actions.


The invention of the printing press made books more widely available. In addition, the population was becoming wealthier and could afford these books. These readers from the upper classes and nobility wanted to learn about history, math, finance, business, science, and philosophy outside the church’s teachings. They turned to the knowledge of the ancient Greeks and Romans to help them prepare to live and work in a much more secular world.


The Renaissance standard for what constituted an educated person was based on the Greek concept of a well-rounded man who could think, speak, and write about a variety of topics. Cicero and Demosthenes were favorite authors for these lessons. The study of politics drew on the workings of the Greek and Roman political systems. Renaissance architects recreated Greek and Roman style buildings. Depending on Greek and Roman texts for scientific knowledge also established another divide with the church.


As people began to question the authority of the church, they cast back to the days of ancient Greece and Rome to cull the knowledge gathered by those civilizations and bring it back into their own.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

In Martel's Life of Pi, how does writing a diary help Pi Patel build on his leadership skills?

At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can... At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can do this by writing down events, problems and solutions, and reflections to look back on when confronted with repeated problems. It can ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Discuss movements that were inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and list one success for each group.

African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change... African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change for their agendas. Two examples of moveme...
Post a Comment
Read more