The Renaissance and Reformation : a history in documents

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Bibliographic Information

The Renaissance and Reformation : a history in documents

Merry Wiesner-Hanks

Oxford University Press, c2012

  • : hardcover

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Note

Includes bibliographical references (p. 152-156) and index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

At first glance, the Renaissance and the Reformation--two movements (one cultural, one religious) that defined Europe from 1400 to 1600--may appear to be polar opposites. The Renaissance found scholars and artists celebrating the beauty and splendor of the material world, while the Reformation saw Protestant and Catholic religious leaders and their followers focusing on eternal salvation. However, there were actually striking similarities between these two worlds. For instance, while both Renaissance artists and Reformation pastors originally desired a return to a "golden age" of the past, they both ended up creating something very new instead.In The Renaissance and Reformation, Merry Wiesner-Hanks allows the historical participants to tell their own stories. She presents a mix of visual sources and written documents not only from learned scholars, trained artists, university-educated religious reformers, and powerful political leaders--but also from more ordinary men and women. Leonardo da Vinci considers the merits of painting versus poetry in his notebook, while the Italian diplomat Baldassar Castiglione recommends the pastime of music-making to gentlemen in his book The Courtier. A group of small-time investors signs a contract for a trading venture from Genoa to Corsica and Sardinia, and a wealthy Florentine widow writes a letter to her son, weighing his ability to start a new business. A picture essay uses individual and family portraits to discuss ideas about personality, temperament, and "genius"; social differences in marital patterns; and changes in family relationships. Wiesner-Hanks places events in Europe in a global context, allowing readers to examine the ways in which they were related to the voyages of exploration.

Table of Contents

What Is a Document? How to Read a Document Introduction: Re-births and Reformations Note on Sources and Interpretation Chapter 1: The Tumultuous Late Middle Ages The Black Death Reactions and Explanations Religion and the Plague Economic and Social Effects War and Revolts Chapter 2: The Past and the Perfect Florence, A City of Gold The Glories and Perils of Poetry Fame and the Renaissance Man Perfect Gentlemen, Perfect Ladies A Perfect Prince or a Perfect Tyrant? Chapter 3: The Glory of the World The Book of Nature Nature vs. Art Painters, Poets, and Nature The Artist as Poet Fleeting Life, Fleeting Love Music to Charm the Soul Messages from the Stars Chapter 4: Picture Essay: The Individual and the Family Chapter 5: Merchants and Master Craftsmen The Commercial Revolution Families and Fortunes Merchants and Morality Jews in Renaissance Cities Clothing and Capitalism Craft Guilds Chapter 6: Religious Reform and Renewal Prayer, Pilgrimages, and Penance The Power of the Pope Calls for Reform Reform Becomes Reformation The Catholic Response Chapter 7: Radical Hopes, Popular Protests, and Mystical Visions Church and State Martyrs and Enemies The Peasants' War A Mystic Reformer Chapter 8: A New Moral Order Calvin's Geneva Marriage and the Reformation Preaching and Teaching Were the Reformers Successful? Chapter 9: Global Connections and Challenges Spices from the Indies The Voyages of Columbus The Impact of European Voyages in America and Africa European Thinking about the Americas Timeline Further Reading Websites Text Credits Picture Credits Index

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