Answer:
Throughout the Middle Ages, religion was a strong, widespread force in society. The Catholic Church held great power throughout Europe. Most individuals were more concerned with God than they were with material belongings. This all changed with the Renaissance.
The Renaissance was a period in time, from around the fourteenth, to the seventeenth century. During this period of time, Europe experiend changes artistically, politically, economically, and religiously. Some call these changes, “The Revival of Europe”.
While there are many known causes of the Renaissance, Humanism sticks out to be the primary cause. Humanism is, “a philosophy that emphasized the ability for humans to act, rather than simply rely on the will of God.”. Interest grew in a variety of extracurricular affairs, apart from the church. Alongside Humanism, Secularism played a major role in the Renaissance. Secularism is described as, “an indifference to or rejection or exclusion of religion and religious considerations.”. People had began to question the teachings and the science behind the Catholic Church. This led many to abandon the church, which ultimately led to the loss of power that the Catholic Church held.
Henry VIII became Tudor king after he defeated Richard III. Henry was married to Cathrine of Aragon. Cathrine was a widowed wife, of Henry’s older brother. Henry desperately wanted a male heir because his position as Tudor king was unstable without one. Henry and Cathrine tried for children, but after many losses, only one baby girl survived. Henry was not satisfied, he believed that Cathrines inability to produce a suitable heir was punishment for marrying his late brother’s wife. Henry asked the Pope for his marriage to be annulled but he was denied. He pushed and became Supreme Head of the Church of England. Meaning that the Pope no longer held any religious power.
Cardinal Wolsey was Henry VIII’s chaplain until the death of the king. Wolsey navigated his way through different titles of power. Aside Henry, the two worked together to ensure England was the primary power in all of Europe. Wolsey went about this by promoting a peace treaty with France. After the ineffective peace treaty, France and England broke out in war. Wolsey sent troops to France. He funded this by raising taxes of the European citizens, which ultimately resulted in a vast dislike in Cardinal Wolsey.
During this time, Europe bloomed in cultural, artistic, political and economic advances. Religion was still practiced, but people began to be more focused on secular or humanist values, rather than spirituality. A painting created by artist, Quentin Metsys, is used to describe the Renaissance. The illustration can be interpreted in many different ways. There is a woman in this painting holding a Bible and there is a man weighing jewels and pieces of gold, as well as other symbolic trinkets spread throughout. It could be said that the woman represents the Christian and the man represents secularism and humanism.
Religion was still practiced during the Renaissance, but people began to be more focused on secular or humanist values, rather than spirituality. The Catholic beliefs are still practiced in many countries in Europe. Many of the advances that flourished during the Renaissance are still largely valued in European cultures. The Renaissance will forever be one of the most important eras of Europe. It is widely recognized all over the world each year, celebrated through festivals. These festivals keep the history of the Renaissance alive by sharing pieces of that time in Europe’s history with each new generation.
Step-by-step explanation:
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