1400 - 1494 A.D. > The Early Renaissance
1494 - 1564 A.D. > The High Renaissance
1500 - 1603 A.D. > The Northern Renaissance
The Early Reniassance was dominated by the Italian city-states and a return to Classical roots in art, architecture, and literature, with an emphasis on humanism. Gutenburg's printing press revolutionized literary practices and helped fuel calls for educational reforms, resulting in a liberal arts curriculum as opposed to a religious curriculum. As Classicism increased in popularity, the Church decreased, and emphasis settled more on the individual's role in society rather than on society as a whole.
Italy—particularly Papal Rome, Florence, and Venice—continued to dominate the early period of the High Renaissance, and the emphasis remained on Classicism, but around 1520, unified kingdoms.in England, France, and Spain began to exercise their influence, and emphasis shifted away from Classical humanism and veered toward secularism and idealism. A new code for social behavior, or rules of courtesy, was established, as was the "cult of genius."
The Northern Renaissance was dominated by Spain and Northern Europe, with vernacular languages becoming well established in literature. Artistic styles were mixed. Religious reformations and scientific advances contributed to cultural upheavals.
In this course, we will study two works from the Renaissance: