Renaissance and Reformation

  • Humanism
    1304

    Humanism

    Humanism was based on human accomplishments and personal values rather than religion. This included the humanities; This includes grammar, rhetoric, poetry, and history. It motivated Greek and Roman Humanists to focus on their own culture and gave them a drive to learn more.
  • Johannes Gutenberg
    1395

    Johannes Gutenberg

    He was a german inventor, most notably credited for the printing press. The printing press was very important in the renaissance, allowing authors and religious groups to spread their material in mass.
  • Perspective
    1415

    Perspective

    Perspective was a major aspect of Renaissance art. It is where distance is applied to the size of the objects, giving the art a more lifelike appearance. Da Vinci found a lot of success using perspective. It is notably used in "The Last Suppe."
  • Lorenzo de Medici
    Jan 1, 1449

    Lorenzo de Medici

    Lorenzo was a member of one of the richest family’s in Florence. He used his riches to be a patron for artists in europe. He brought them to Florence and made it the art hotspot of the world.
  • Leonardo Da Vinci
    Apr 15, 1452

    Leonardo Da Vinci

    Da Vinci was a renaissance artist, engineer, inventor, and more. He is most known for his famous Mona Lisa. He’s an icon in art and science.
  • Desiderius Erasmus
    Oct 28, 1466

    Desiderius Erasmus

    Erasmus was a religious scholar who developed a greek version of the bible. He was the first to translate the bible into vernacular. This allowed for the bible to be more commonly eligible and more people could read it.
  • Niccolo Machiavelli
    May 3, 1469

    Niccolo Machiavelli

    Machiavelli was an author and philosopher in the renaissance. He wrote “The Prince” which goes over the ideal traits for a leader. The ideas he displays in this book are very influential and some still used to an extent today.
  • Albrecht Durer
    May 21, 1470

    Albrecht Durer

    Durer was a very talented artist who specialized in etching detailed artwork into wood and metal. He mostly portrayed religious settings in these art pieces. He was also a painter and one of the most unique and prolific artists of the Renaissance.
  • Michelangelo
    Mar 6, 1475

    Michelangelo

    Michelangelo was an Italian man with many expertise. He sculpted, painted, did architecture, and worked with poetry. He painted the Sistine Chapel, which is just one of his great achievements.
  • Thomas More
    Feb 7, 1478

    Thomas More

    He was an english humanist who made the idea of a Utopia. A utopia was described as an ideal society where everyone is educated and justice is achieved for everybody. This made people realize their world isn’t perfect and this made many people want a change.
  • Raphael
    Apr 6, 1483

    Raphael

    Raphael was a highly touted painter of his time. His art was very detailed and advanced especially for it’s time. He was a true renaissance man, also having experience in architecture, printmaking, and draftsmanship.
  • Martin Luther
    Oct 10, 1483

    Martin Luther

    Martin Luther was one of the most significant reformers of the time. He disagreed with the churches ideas of christianity and preferred a more traditional, laid-back approach that doesn’t ask for money for people to go to heaven.
  • Thomas Cranmer
    Jul 2, 1489

    Thomas Cranmer

    Thomas Cranmer was the Archbishop during Henry VII's rule. Cranmer was a major part of the protestant reformation due to his high power as Archbishop. He held this position for 22 years.
  • Henry VIII
    Jun 28, 1491

    Henry VIII

    Henry The 8th had 6 wives over his lifetime. Only 1 of them outlived Henry. Henry VIII changed the religious beliefs of the Catholic Church, allowing divorce so that he could leave 2 of his wives.
  • Indulgences
    1509

    Indulgences

    Indulgences were a paid way to "get into heaven." They were sold mainly during Leo X's rule as Pope, but popularized by Johann Tetzel, who was granted commissioner of indulgence sale by Pope Leo X. These were a huge scam in religion, used as a revenue farm for the church. Martin Luther fought heavily against these indulgences.
  • John Calvin
    Jul 10, 1509

    John Calvin

    French-born priest who believed in predestination. This was the idea that god determined your afterlife whereabouts before you’re even born. Calvin started a theocracy, birthing Calvinism.
  • Elizabeth I
    Sep 7, 1533

    Elizabeth I

    Elizabeth was one of Henry VIII's children who took the throne following his death. Elizabeth united religion in England by making a compromise between the protestants and Catholics. This was titled the Elizabethan Era.
  • William Shakespeare
    Apr 26, 1564

    William Shakespeare

    Shakespeare is the most well recognized and influential writer and playwright of the renaissance. Shakespeare used many lessons and values in his work. He is usually regarded as the greatest writer to ever live.