Mankind Through The Ages

The Renaissance (literally rebirth) was a period characterized by heightened interest in Classical Greece and Rome, a radical new and positive view of human nature, and an emphasis on individual growth through learning. The Italian scholar Petrarch is known for igniting the sparks of the Renaissance by his stumbling upon some lost letters of Cicero, a great orator and statesman of ancient Rome. His discoveries led to a rapid, widespread interest amongst scholars in ancient Greece and Rome. The values of classical civilization fit nicely into Europe's new hopes for herself; the strength of the individual, the spirit of enterprise, and the importance of education in ongoing self-improvement-- or in one word, humanism-- took center stage. Consequently, the arts and literature shifted from a Medieval focus on God to a more secular (though not Godless) glorification of man. As Jessie Bruner stated in her blogpost “When the Renaissance came into full swing, the emphasis lifted off of religious rituals and rites, and shifted to the actual worth and importance of the human soul”. (https://rhetciv.blogspot.com/search/label/worth%20of%20souls) This individualist spirit also led to a change in the political and economic sphere, as local nobles and princes increased in power and explorers sailed into the unknown in search of economic dominion and world influence. As put by Jenna Ahern, “The new sense of self-improvement launched a search for more knowledge, riches, and power.” (https://rhetciv.blogspot.com/2018/09/what-piece-of-work.html)

Michelangelo's David showcased the physical figure of man 

and embodied Renaissance humanism.

While Medieval Europe was grounded in heavy religious philosophy (or rather, religion was philosophy), Renaissance thinkers had turned away from this in favor of classical scholars such as Socrates and Aristotle. This, however, didn't come without backlash; Petrarch himself groaned at his love of Pagan philosophers. The solution came forth in Christian Humanism, which merged the ideas of glorified man from classical civilization into the backdrop of medieval Christianity. It was a liberation from dogma-- a doctrinal backing of the belief that man was truly of great worth. Christian Humanism primed society for the sparks ignited by Martin Luther in the early 16th century, who turned religion in Europe upside-down by successfully speaking-out against the Catholic church. The new wave of Protestantism challenged the institutional power of the Church by inviting and empowering individuals to gain spiritual knowledge for themselves. In this sense, it coincided with the Renaissance's ideals of personal growth and inquiry. Protestantism even promoted political sovereignty on a more local level. However, the religious frenzy somewhat overshadowed Renaissance views of man as a beautiful, powerful being full of divine potential, as seen in doctrines like Calvinist predestination. Even Protestantism's core Sola Fida stole the limelight from man by acknowledging his complete dependence upon God, thus echoing the Medieval ages. In a discussion on this topic, Somer Leathen simply phrased it this way: that during the religious Middle Ages, man was seen as fallen and dark; the more pagan Renaissance era elevated the glory of man and his endless potential; and the Reformation blended the two beliefs by seeing man as “not so bad” though still dependent upon God for salvation.