The Renaissance (1450 – 1600) marked the flowering of culture, science and ideas about the nature of humanity that occurred in Europe, starting in Italy, spread throughout Europe. Characterized by philosophy, art, architecture, and literature, the Renaissance was a cultural revolution fueled by wealth from trade and new technology, along with political consolidations.
The Big Question:
What were the economic, political, and technological innovations that made the flowering of the Renaissance possible?
Watch: Renaissance and Humanism
With ships and caravans equipped with new astronomical equipment, and able to travel long distances without getting hopelessly lost, the brave crews encountered new civilizations, and, more destiny-changing than anything else, new sources of spices, precious gems, new plants, and intoxicatingly vast hoards of gold and silver.
The new wealth poured into Italy and Spain, and then to France and England, resulting in a building and cultural boom that was to celebrate not only the church, but the monarchies that sponsored the quests and the expansion.
Stability was perhaps the most critical element. In Italy, the Medicis were powerful trading and banking moguls who financed enterprises and kings. In Spain, the Moors were finally expelled and when Isabella married Ferdinand, the new Spain unified almost the entire Iberian Peninsula. In France, warring factions came together under a single monarch, and in England, religious warfare was brought to a close as Queen Elizabeth I successfully bridged the divides.
The name of the new focus was Humanism. Petrarch, Pico, More, and Montaigne looked at the human being as being able to advance through the exercise of will, ingenuity, and self-directed effort. God still existed, but God desires self-directed creativity and innovation. God helps those who help themselves, thought the Humanists.
But, what was the best way to express this new exuberance and belief in the limitless potential of humankind? The answers were in the mysterious ruins and statues of Ancient Greece and Rome, and also in their mythologies, with gods with magical powers and humans who could be part-god, part human.
The silk, spice, and precious gems that came along the Silk Road and in the voyages to Asia, and then the gold, silver, tobacco, indigo and rum that flowed in from the Americas, enriched the monarchies and the entrepreneurs.
The models they found in Classical Art and Architecture were inspiring to them. So were the writings of Plato and Aristotle, preserved in libraries thanks to the work of Muslim philosophers who translated the work into their Arabic and had written extensive commentaries. Later, these were translated into Latin and found by Renaissance philosophers. They were embraced by an entirely new audience who loved their ways of viewing the world.
We will explore what happens when vast wealth meets new monarchies who want to show the world they are on equal footing with the church (Catholic or Church of England), and when they eagerly fund the efforts of artists, architects, writers, and philosophers whose work illustrates the new Humanistic worldview.
Read: Technology, Political Ambition, and a Boundless World
Overview: The Renaissance had a foundational philosophy that encouraged people to think of a limitless world, and one with treasure and infinite possibilities. The encounters with the Americas and the voyages around the world to the Spice Islands and back were absolutely magical, as were the tales brought back – some true, some greatly embellished. The Renaissance benefitted from the convergence of facilitating inventions, political-economic developments, and the discovery of new lands.
Facilitating Inventions
Astrolabe: a mechanical device for determining one’s position in relation to the Sun and constellations. It could be used for calculating distances as well. It was vital for sea navigation.
Magnetic Compass: A device that consistently and accurately measures direction, using a magnetically charged “lodestone” (iron oxide) that aligns north and south.
Mechanical Clock: The earliest accurate mechanical clocks used the pendulum (which had been invented by Galileo) to mark time, and to assure accuracy within a few seconds.
Gunpowder: an chemical explosive and firearm propellant that consists of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate (saltpeter). Its use transformed warfare in Europe, and gave great advantage to invading armies coming from Spain to the Americas.
Printing Press: invented by Gutenberg, the printing press made it possible to spread pamphlets, religious tracts, and publicity, both raising literacy and a knowledge of the world and its marvels.
Map of the World: The “Mappa Mundi” published by Amerigo Vespucci was the map that suggested that there were many more yet to be explored lands in that great space between Europe and Asia. The Mappa Mundi inflamed the imagination of generations and triggered investment in joint stock companies and expeditions.
Facilitating Political Developments
Unified Spain: Spain was unified by the marriage of Ferdinand (Aragon) to Isabella (Castile), and the union of their kingdoms. No longer was it partially dominated by the Moors, and no longer was it referred to as Al-Andalus.
La Reconquista: The term that signifies the final expulsion of the Moors from the Iberian Peninsula in 1492.
Church of England / Henry VIII: The creation of a new church – somewhere between Catholic and Protestant, successfully wrested the power of the Catholic Church and lodged it squarely on the head of its ruler, who was head of both the secular and the religious state.
Elizabeth I: Sought to heal wounds of religious partisanship and seek reconciliation. Elizabeth I was focused on rebuilding England through protecting itself and not wasting resources on internecine clashes.
Facilitating Economic Developments
Financed Voyages for Spice, Gold, Jewels, Treasure: Kings and queens, especially those of the unified Spain under Ferdinand and Isabella, were willing to gamble and invest in expeditions in search of gold and treasure. The investments paid off many times over. The territories were extremely rich, not only in gold but also in productivity.
Medici Mercantilism: The Medicis invested in trade, with the goal of opening up new routes and controlling territories.
Privateering - Legalized Piracy: The French and English preyed upon the Spanish galleons because they often held cargos of gold, silver, and jewels. They allowed pirates to be legitimate rather than outlaws, as long as they shared with the king or queen.
Colonialism: Colonies were established in the Americas, determined by which nation first staked a legitimate claim. At the end of the Renaissance, the following countries had claimed territory for their countries.
Spain: North America, Central America, South America, Philippines
Portugal: Parts of South America and the Caribbean, parts of India, Java, Africa
France: Islands in the Caribbean and New France (Canada)
England: Parts of Canada, a few islands in the Caribbean, parts of North America
Holland: Parts of Africa and South America, West Africa
Reflect: That was impressive! What impresses you most?
1. The Reconquista
2. Unification of Spain
3. Voyages of Discovery
4. Inventions such as the astrolabe and magnetic compass
5. The evolving level of knowledge of geography of the world
6. Privateers
7. French exploration of Canada
8. Control of trade networks
Expand! Let’s Explore the World
Voyages of Discovery
Magellan: According to most historians, the Portuguese nobleman Ferdinand Magellan never actually planned to the globe. He was simply trying to find a new way to get to the Spice Islands of the East Indies. He commanded a fleet of 5 ships, and went from Portugal to Patagonia through the Strait of Magellan, where he encountered many storms. He arrived in the Spice Islands in 1521, after two years on the seas. He was killed in the Philippines on April 27, 1521. His ships returned home via the Indian Ocean and then around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope.
Columbus: Columbus, born in 1451 in Genoa, Italy to a weaver, was the first to explorer to encounter the Americas, which he did in his first voyage in 1492 in which he was trying to find a direct path from Europe to Asia. His later voyages, which took place in 1493, 1498, and 1502, were motivated by the same goal. Needless to say, he did not find a direct route to Asia, but he did encounter Hispaniola, Trinidad, and the South American mainland. In his last voyage, he encountered Panama where he was attacked by hostile natives. He died in Spain in 1506.
Martin Frobisher: An English privateer and explorer, Martin Frobisher set out to find a Northwest Passage that would provide a direct link from England to Asia. Born in 1535 in Yorkshire, first sailed at the age of 9 when he joined the Navy as a cabin boy. In addition to attempting to find a direct route to China and India, Frobisher tried to find vast stores of the gold and silver that the Spanish had encountered. He was unsuccessful, although he did bring back ore (primarily different types of iron ore, he later found out) in each of his three voyages. Although Frobisher never did find gold (and eventually bankrupted his company), he did claim territory for the Queen of England, and also gained prestige and honor for being a talented privateer, bringing back much Spanish gold to fill the English coffers.
Cabot: John Cabot (born Giovanni Caboto in Venice) received a commission from King Henry VII of England to explore the northern Atlantic. He landed near Newfoundland or southern Labrador. He returned to England, where he equipped a second expedition, but unfortunately, disappeared, probably perished in a shipwreck.
Cartier: Jacques Cartier sailed on behalf of France’s King Francis I in 1534 in order to find gold, spices, and gems in the Americas. Cartier successfully completed three expeditions in which he traveled up the St Lawrence River to the point that France could claim the territory that was first called “Kanata” (Huron-Iroquois for “settlement”). Cartier brought back massive quantities of ore, but they were disappointingly devoid of gold, silver, or precious gemstones. His last voyage took place in 1541.
Vasco de Gama: Born in Portugal around 1460, Vasco Da Gama’s first voyage rounded the Cape of Good Hope in Africa. His crew spent time in Mozambique, a Muslim city-state, Kenya, before sailing for India. Da Gama and his crew stayed in Calicut for three months. The people he encountered in his travels to Asia and Africa were traders and controlled very lucrative routes. Although he had received much hospitality, the King of Portugal charged Vasco da Gama with finding a way to dominate the trade routes. So, da Gama obliged his king and embarked upon grisly massacres. He did find a way to carve an alliance with the local leaders, and so was able to return home alive. Portugal claimed India as its own and created a Viceroyalty. Later, da Gama was named Portuguese viceroy in India. He died in India, still holding the title of viceroy.
Drake: Francis Drake, explorer, pirate (legitimized as a “privateer”), commissioned by Queen Elizabeth I. One of the most successful plunderers of Spanish galleons, Drake brought significant quantities of Spanish treasure back to England and to Queen Elizabeth I. Drake was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe. An accomplished naval officer, Drake was part of the team that defeated the Spanish Armada. Drake died in 1596 in Panama.
Coronado: Francisco Vazquez de Coronado (1510 – 1554) was governor of New Spain when he was essentially duped by reports of Seven Cities of Cibola that were theoretically paved with gold. In search of the famed cities, Coronado traveled up the western coast of Mexico, and through the desert Southwest through what is now California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma, encountering along the way the Grand Canyon and very hostile Indians. He wintered in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and spent the spring in Palo Duro Canyon (in the Texas Panhandle). The expeditions considered an expensive failure, Coronado returned to Mexico where he eventually lost his governorship of Nueva Galicia and spend his last days on the city council of Mexico City.
Champlain: Samuel de Champlain was an explorer who helped colonize French North America through his extensive exploration of Canada. He founded the city of Quebec, and helped popularize New France with French settlers.
Ponce de Leon: Born in 1474 in Leon, Spain, Juan Ponce de Leon was a member of the Aragonese nobility. He traveled to the Americas where he served as the governor of the eastern province of Hispaniola. He discovered Puerto Rico, Bimini, and also explored parts of Florida near what is now St. Augustine. Ponce de Leon died in Cuba.
Explore the Relationships between Exploration, Conquest, and Economic Systems
Exploration and conquest usually meant that a single European country controlled a part of a continent. This was a positive thing on the face of it, but there were tremendous costs. First, it was quite expensive to run a continent, and the 20 percent tax (la quinta) imposed by the Spanish government did not do much to defray the costs, particularly when there were uprisings and uncertain production of gold, silver, and plantation items.
Also, having control of a vast territory made you a target, which Spain quickly found out after galleon after galleon was attached and pillaged for its cargo.
The main economic system during this time was trade, which made a mercantilist economy a must.
Discuss: Similarity and Differences
What are the similarities and differences of the territories held by Spain, England, France, and Portugal?
Check your knowledge Quiz (5 questions):
1. Astrolabe: a device used to
a. shave down the edges of gold coins
b. measure the clouds and predict the kind of precipitation that would occur
c. calculate distances by means of stars and the Sun (correct)
d. used in astrology to predict one’s destiny
2. Magellan
a. founded a series of investment funds used to finance voyages
b. born in Norway and raised by his uncle, The Merchant of Venice
c. the first to circumnavigate the world (correct)
d. killed in Goa, India by a tiger
3. Mappa Mundi
a. a spice used to create a peppery meat dish
b. a map of the world published and sold widely (correct)
c. a map that given to Coronado and which showed the location of the Seven Cities of Cibola
d. another term for the Spice Islands
4. Privateer
1. A pirate who received a commission from a king or queen to plunder on their behalf (correct)
2. A type of ship developed by Frobisher which had a special cargo hold for private storage for investors
3. A person who did not work for the government but had a company dedicated to private enterprise
4. A type of weaving used to create sturdy hammocks.
5. Coronado
1. The governor of Nueva Galicia (Mexico) who raised funds to explore for the Seven Cities of Cibola, supposedly paved with gold (correct)
2. A method of roasting meat that was essentially flame-broiled over open flames, used in Argentina and in Chile
3. The explorer who searched for the Fountain of Youth, and discovered Puerto Rico and Florida
4. The coronation of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile
Glossary
Galleon: Spanish ship used for transporting gold to Europe and back
Privateer: Pirate with a commission from a king or queen
Astrolabe: device used in navigating using the stars
Mechanical clock: mechanism for keeping time using a pendulum
Gunpowder: chemical explosive containing charcoal and saltpeter
Magnetic compass: a device with an iron oxide lodestone that always aligns itself to the north and south
Reconquista: Christian takeover of the Iberian peninsula
Mappa Mundi: the map of the known world in the 1500s
La quinta: the 20% tax imposed by the Spanish monarchy on production in New Spain
Al-Andalus: The Arabic term used by the Moors to denote the Iberian peninsula
Key Takeaways
Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be able to
1. List key world events during the Renaissance
2. Describe voyages of discovery
3. Explain how new inventions made long voyages possible
4. Discuss the unification of Spain
5. Identify benefits to England for having privateers and pirates
Lesson Toolbox
Resources (links)
Renaissance Links
Encyclopedia Britannica: Renaissance art and architecture. https://www.britannica.com/event/Renaissance
Metropolitan Museum of Art: Renaissance.
https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/keywords/baroque-art/
History.com: Renaissance Art: http://www.history.com/topics/renaissance-art
Art Institute of Chicago: Arms, Armor, Medieval, and Renaissance http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/armor
Virtual Uffizi Gallery / Florence. https://plus.google.com/u/0/+UffiziFlorence
Art Museums: Where to see Renaissance Art. https://www.italian-renaissance-art.com/Art-Museums.html
Renaissance Inventions: http://www.inventionware.com/renaissance-inventions/
More, Thomas. Utopia. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/2130/2130-h/2130-h.htm
Machiavelli, Niccolo. The Prince. http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1232
Grotius. The Rights of War and Peace. http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/46564
Cortes, Hernan. Letters to Emperor Carlos V. https://archive.org/stream/lettersofcorts01cortuoft/lettersofcorts01cortuoft_djvu.txt
Lope de Vega. Comedias: El remedio en la desdicha; El major alcalde, el rey. http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/28408
Calderon de la Barca. La Vida Es Sueño. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/2587/2587-h/2587-h.htm
Garcilaso de la Vega. The works of Garcilaso de la Vega. http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/49410
Montaigne, Michel. Essays. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/3600/3600-h/3600-h.htm
Shakespeare, William. The Tempest. http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2235
Petrarch. Sonnets. Triumphs and other Poems. http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/17650
Sir Philip Sidney. Astrophel and Stella. https://archive.org/details/sirpshisastroph00sidngoog
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| Susan Smith Nash, Ph.D. |
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