Renaissance
a name given to the. great intellectual movement which marks the transition from the Middle Ages to the modern world. It was a change in attitude of mind and ideal of life, in philosophy, art, literary criticism, political and religious thought. Substantially a revolt against the dogmatism of the Middle Ages, the new spirit claimed the entire liberation of reason, aimed at a complete rehabilitation of the human spirit with all the free activities and arts and graces which invested the classpirit with all the free activities and arts and graces which invested the clasores brought forth a new ideal of culture, and the new view of life for which the ores brought forth a new ideal of culture, and the new view of life for which the as synonymous with the Revival of Letters, the revived study in a new spirit of the classical languages and classical literatures of Greece and Rome. The of the classical languages and classical ing the power of the papacy, in the establishment of Protestantism and the right of free inquiry. Under its impulse astronomy was eventually reformed by tablishment of Protestantism and the right of free inquiry. Under its impulse astronomy was eventually reformed by by it, too, feudalism, which had been weakened by the communal movements of the Middle Ages, was abolished, and the demand for political po liberty was advanced. National languages began to flourish. To the same general impulse belonged also the invention of printing and multiplication of books, new methods of paper making, the use of the mariner's compass, the discovery of America, and the exploration of the Indian Sea. The fall of the Eastern empire in 1453 sent Greek scholars to promote the revival of scholarship already in progress in western Europe. No definite date can be given for the beginning of the Renais- In its main elements the movement originated in Italy toward the end of the 14th century, and, attaining its full development there in the earlier half sance. In its main elements the movecated itself throughout the whole of the rest of Europe; France, Germany, England, and other countries participating later in the movement. The culmination of the Renaissance in Italy may be resance. garded as having fallen within the half century 1456-1500; and its close for the land of its birth may be fixed at the sack of Rome in 1527 by the Constable de Bourbon, followed by the transference of many and the Low Countries was very France, England, and the rest of Europe.
In Germany the change was as marked as in Italy, but the Humanism of Germany and the Low Countries was very Not less tinged by a revived love for andifferent in spirit from that of Italy. cient learning, it was never divorced from morality nor hostile to Christianity; and its most important direct outcome was the Reformation. Biblical and Ori- Among the noted leaders were Erasmus, school of painting was a notable develop- In the Netherlands and Flanders the new school of painting was a notable development. In France the movement had rich results in art and letters. Villon, Marot, Ronsard, but above all Rabelais are types ature; while within the sphere of scholarof the French Renaissance in pure literus, Cujacius, Salmasius, ship and religious reform are Scaligers, Dolet, Muretus, Cujacius, Salmasius, Dolet, Muretus , In England, Wyclif and Chaucer may be regarded as the forerunners of the Casaubon, Beza, Calvin.
Reformation and the Renaissance; but the main streams of both these movements reached England contempora- neously. In scholarship the great names the main streams of both these moveare Grocyn, Linacre, Colet, Ascham, and neously. In scholarship the great names More; but the fullest English outcome of the Renaissance was the glorious Elizathe Renaissance was the glorious Eliza- bethan literature, with Spenser and Shakespeare, and in philosophy Bacon, as its most noted representatives. nang), ), a French writer; born in Tréguier, France, Feb. 27, 1823. He studied at the seminary of St. Sulpice, Paris, but in 1845 gave up all intention of becoming a priest and devoted himself to historical and linguistic studies, especially the study of Oriental languages. an essay on the Semitic languages. In cially the study of Oriental languages. 1849 he was sent by the Academy of sion to Italy, and in 1860 on a mission to Syria. In 1862 he was appointed Professor of Hebrew, Chaldee, and Syriac in the Collége de France, but the skeptical views manifested in his "Life of however, in 1871.
Jesus" (1863), raised an outcry against ent throughout him, and he was removed from his chair, to be restored again, hov This work, the publication of which caused intense excitement Europe, was the first part of a comprehensive work on the "History of the Origins of Christianity," which includes RENDSBURG "The Apostles" (1866); "St. Paul" (1867); "The Antichrist" (1873); "The Gospels" (1877); "The Christian Church" (1879), and "Marcus Aurelius" (1880), all written from the standpoint of one who disbelieves in the supernatural claims of Christianity. Renan's latest important work is the "History of the People of Israel till the Time of King David." Other works are "General History and Comparative System of Semitic Languages," "Studies in Religious History," "Discourses and Lectures," several philosophical dramas, and his personal reminiscences called "Recollections Childhood and Youth." He became a member of the French Academy in 1878.
He died Oct. 2, 1892.