Question

Humanism was an intellectual movement embraced by scholars, writers, artists & government leaders in

Renaissance Italy focusing on humanity's potential for achievement. The movement developed in response to the
control of the Medieval Catholic Church. Humanists weren't anti- Christian, but they reacted against the idea that the
human possessed no importance at all, while God was all-important. Humanists studied the Humanities in
universities: grammar, rhetoric, history, poetry, art and moral philosophy.
Humanism initially began as a literary movement, but quickly classical Greek and Roman art forms were re-
introduced, contributing to the development of the Renaissance. Humanists considered the ancient world to be the
pinnacle of human achievement, and thought its accomplishments should serve as the model for contemporary
Europe.
Humanism was an optimistic philosophy that saw man as a rational and sentient being, with the ability to
decide and think for himself. It saw man as inherently good by nature, which was opposed to the Christian view of
man as the original sinner needing redemption. It provoked fresh insight into the nature of reality, questioning beyond
God and spirituality, and provided knowledge about history beyond Christian history.
Renaissance Humanists saw no conflict between their study of the Human potential and Christianity. The
lack of perceived conflict allowed Early Renaissance artists to combine Human beauty & Christian theology freely.
Early Renaissance sculpture is a great vehicle to explore the emerging Renaissance style. The leading artists of this
medium were Donatello, Filippo Brunelleschi, and Lorenzo Ghiberti. Donatello became renowned as the greatest
sculptor of the Early Renaissance, known especially for his Humanist statue of David (from the Bible), which became
an iconic piece of art-work Florence, Italy.

What Humanist changes occurred during the Renaissance?

Thesis-

Context-

Evidence 1-

Evidence 2-

Evidence 3-

Outside Evidence -

Answer 1

Renaissance Humanism was an intellectual movement that shifted focus from a theocentric to a human-centered view, impacting education, art, and religious thought. It expanded the curriculum to include the humanities and propelled artists to integrate classical and Christian elements. Moreover, it influenced church leaders to become patrons of Humanist-inspired arts.

Step-by-step explanation:

Humanist Changes During the Renaissance

The Renaissance Humanism was a vibrant and influential cultural movement that emphasized the potential and achievements of humanity, marking a departure from the intensely religious and God-centric views of the Middle Ages. This intellectual movement championed the value of human dignity and sought to harmonize the spiritual beliefs of Christianity with the teachings of the classical world. Educators and thinkers focused on developing eloquent communication as a tool for active civic participation, drawing from classical texts and moral philosophy.

Thesis

Humanism reinvented the way individuals understood their place in the world, placing human experience and intellect at the core of learning and artistic expression.

Context

Originating in 14th-century Italy, Humanism challenged the Medieval Church's dominance over intellectual life, promoting a curriculum rich in the humanities.

Evidence 1

The humanities curriculum adopted by Humanists fostered analytical thinking and eloquence in speech and writing, which was essential for engaging in public life and governance.

Evidence 2

Artists like Donatello and Lorenzo Ghiberti combined classical themes with Christian iconography, demonstrating Humanism's influence on the arts and reflecting a new appreciation for human beauty and form.

Evidence 3

Northern European scholars of the later Renaissance, like Desiderius Erasmus, advocated for a scholarly approach that aimed to improve individual piety and Christian values through classical and early Christian texts.

Outside Evidence

The papacy's patronage of artists like Michelangelo and Raphael illustrates the synthesis of Humanist and Christian ideas, where the Church itself became a proponent of the arts characteristic of the Renaissance.