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Jan 1, 1348
"The Decameron"
Giovanni Boccaccio, an early humanist, begins writing "The Decameron."
100 Short stories - fabliaux literature (short bawdy tales)
An account of the Plague that ravaged Europe ( esp. Italy) at that time.
Entertains but has some facts of the time(plague) -
Jan 1, 1350
Petrarch- 14th Century
Father of Humanism
Wrote works that revived ancient writings
Also wrote love poems
His works taught classics and entertained (poems) -
Oct 25, 1400
"Cantebury Tales "
Geoffrey Chaucer died
this uncompleted work was released later
fabliaux literature: bawdy, humorous short stories
like "The Decameron"
purpose to entertain -
Period: Oct 27, 1469 to Jul 12, 1536
Erasmus
Humanist
Wrote works on classics and used printing press to teach
tried to unite classical ideals of humanity with Christ.
Books use to teach and spread knowledge -
Jan 1, 1513
"The Prince"
The Prince was written by Niccolò Machiavelli in 1513.
Was not focused on how society should operate but how it actually operated at the time.
the book was use for political philosophy -
Oct 31, 1517
"Ninety-Five Theses Against Indulgences "
Martin Luther posts his Ninety-Five Theses Against Indulgences
Writing that attacks Church, he is trying to change church ways.
Writings are used to accomplish something instead of stating past. -
Jan 1, 1523
"Response to Luther"
Thomas More's attack on Martin Luther.
More also use literature to change the times, by trying to protect the then persecuted Catholic church -
Period: Jan 1, 1536 to Jan 1, 1559
"Institutes of the Christian Religion"
John Calvin's book on his beliefs of Christianity and salvation was republished throughout this timespan.
Spoke of predestination, that everyone had already been chosen to go to heaven or hell no matter what they did in life.
Like Luther used writings to promote change -
Jan 1, 1543
"On the Revolutions of the Hevanly Spheres"
Written by Nicolaus Copernicus
expressed a belief that the world was heliocentric
used published works to explain scientific hypotheses -
Jan 1, 1549
"Book of Common Prayer"
Thomas Cranmer's, "Book of Common Prayer," united the Anglican Church under one set of principles
It was imposed on all English churches in 1549(Act of Uniformity)
Book used to promote religious beliefs -
Jan 1, 1558
"First Blast of the Trumpet against the Terrible Regiment of Women"
Jonh Knox wrote this against the then Catholic queen of England, Mary I.
He wanted to remove her from office and restore the Anglican Church.
Uses writings to change the times, and spread religious opinions. -
Period: to
Shakespeare Era
This period was characterized by the many plays, sonnets, and poems that were written by Shakespeare.
His writings were either, comedic, tragic, or historic.
Like Dekker his writings were entertaining with factual aspects. -
Period: to
"The Faerie Queen"
Written by Edmund Spenser
Poetic novel made of 6 books, the first three being published in 1590 and the last three being published in 1596.
Arthurian tales that follow knights' adventures
Entertains audience -
"The Advancement of Learning"
Francis Bacon
attacked belief that truth only needed to be explained to accepted
His beliefs led to a need to prove reasoning and a change in science
Literature produces change -
"Seven Deadly Sins of London"
Thomas Dekker wrote this pamphlet while the Black Death struck Europe.
A story about people committing the seven capital sins in a city while the plague spreads outside the city.
His book was entertainment with some facts of the time (plague) -
"The New Astronomy"
Johannes Kepler published his book
He wrote about the Coperican view of the universe, and justified it with his mentor, Tycho Brahe's observations.
Book on scientific opinions -
"Leviathan"
Thomas Hobbes, political philosopher
wrote works containing his theory, people must give up certain rights and freedoms to a centralized power
influenced by English Civil War and scientific revolution
wrote to state his opinions -
"Observations Upon Experimental Philosophy"
Margaret Cavendish
published this book to make her observations known
tried to allow women to have equal rights as men (especially in the fields of science) -
"Theologico-Political Treatise"
Baruch Spinoza
This book explained the origins of religion in a naturalistic way.
Used written works to express opinions -
"The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy"
Issac Newton
a.k.a. Principia Mathematica
Newton's findings on gravity
another published work sharing scientific beliefs and observations -
"Two Treatises of Government"
John Locke, political philosopher
wrote this on his political theory(government serves people)
was influenced by scientific revolution
wrote books to publish his opinions -
Period: to
Voltaire
Voltaire was one of the first philosphes (promoted change and reform)
Wrote many works throughout his life such as "Letters on the English" and the "Candide" in both he showed his opposition to social injustice and inequality. -
"Spirit of the Laws"
Montesquieu, philosphe
used empirical method in union with politics
used books to express his political opinions -
"Discourse on the Origin of Inequality"
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, French philosphe
He states that human beings are good but social relations turn them bad.
This essay explained Rousseau's own opinions on the world at the time. -
"Emile"
Rousseau
He stresses the difference between a child and an adult in their thought process
His work was used to express his opinions -
"Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations"
Adam Smith
book on capitalism and free market system
one of the first books on government and economic reform
wrote to make public, his ideas on economics -
"A Vindication of the Rights of Woman"
Mary Wollstonecraft, strong woman during the Enlightenment
influenced by other Enlightenment writers
used writings to change views of women in 18th century -
"Lucinde"
Friedrich Schlegel
this novel attacked prejudices against women
Was affected by the social issues of the time
Used literature to express his opinions -
"The Phenomenology of Mind"
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
Hegel discusses the patterns of cultures throughout history
Hegel uses the book to make his opinions popular. -
"Lectures on Dramatic Art and Literature"
August Wilhelm von Schlegel
He praised Romanticism
He uses this work to express his views on Romanticism and its role in life. -
"Principles of Political Economy"
David Ricardo, economist
"iron law of wages" was an endless cycle
Used book to publish his opinions -
"Communist Manifesto"
Karl Marx, and Friedrich Engels
Stated that all of human nature is driven by man's desire
They used this pamphlet to make their opinions known -
"Essay on the Inequality of the Human Races"
Arthur de Gobineau
published this in four volumes from 1853-1855
states in "Essay.." that the degeneration of "pure Aryan blood" is the cause to western civilizations problems
Wrote this essay to express his opinions -
Science Fiction
Jules Verne, the father of science fiction publishes his first novel, "Five Weeks In a Balloon"
purpose of his book was to entertain -
"War of the Worlds"
H.G. Wells' book on alien invasion
1938 People actually believed it was occurring when it was read over the radio.
Wrote to entertain -
"Foundations of the Nineteenth Century"
Houston Stewart Chamberlain
Chamberlain was very anti-Semitic and believed that through biology a superior race could be created.
Used books to state his opinions -
"The Interpretation of Dreams"
Sigmund Freud
Freud published his findings on desires and dreams
Used literature to publish his observations. -
"Mein Kampf"
Adolf Hitler ("My Struggle")
Hitler's Wrote “Mein Kampf, ”( My Struggle)
expressed his political opinions on race and the future of Germany
His focus was to state his opinions and the reasons for those opinions.
