Shift from Medieval Scholasticism to Humanism - 800 Words

The fourteenth and fifteenth centuries saw a shift away from the traditional methods of medieval scholasticism which focused primarily on preparing men to be doctors, lawyers and priests and instead saw the beginnings of a movement which would become known as Rennaissance Humanism. This new movement was a rejection of the traditional methods, aiming instead to create a citizenry which could read and write with eloquence, and allowing them to participate in civic life - in this we see the origins of what would later come to be known as the humanities (Kristeller, 1965). It can be viewed as the fulfilment of life through reason and science, as opposed to religion and faith. The protagonists found in Shakespeares Hamlet and Marlowes Dr. Faustus can be seen as literary explorers in the shift from medieval schloasticism to humanism - each embodying the ideals of humanist thought. Prior to the societal shift away from the scholasticism which had become so evident, most productions explored contemporary, and often very Christian themes and motiffs. The Arthurian legends had provided a distinctly European system of thought based on the notions of chivalry, Christendom and faith (Green, 2007). Humanism served the predominant purpose of celebrating human accomplishment and development. It followed on from an era of institutional celebration where the church mattered more than the individuals within it, into an era where the contemplative life of religion and the ChurchShow MoreRelatedWhy Did The Renaissance Come From Northern Europe?1696 Words   |  7 Pagesout of the medieval era and becoming a powerhouse on a global scale. The Italian Renaissance is what the majority of people think of when thinking about the Renaissance period but that was just the starting point. The Italian Renaissance changed as it spread across Europe, creating a French Renaissance, an En glish Renaissance and a Northern Renaissance. The focus of this essay is the Northern Renaissance, discussing why it arrived later to northern Europe and what distinguishes it from the ItalianRead MoreThe Myth Of Fourteenth Century Europe845 Words   |  4 Pagesbubonic plague swept across eastern Asia and into England via trade, leaving millions dead in its wake. The Black Plague arrived at a time of war and famine in Europe, only further devastating the lives of medieval citizens. Religiously, socially, and politically, there were no immediate changes from the Black Plague, however, a Catholic schism, the ability for social mobility, and standing armies would develop in the following years, ultimately leading to sizable differences in life. The essence ofRead More Francois Rabelais’ Satire of Medieval and Renaissance Learning In Gargantua and Pantagruel2321 Words   |  10 PagesFrancois Rabelais’ Satire of Medieval and Renaissance Learning In Gargantua and Pantagruel In his book Gargantua and Pantagruel, Francois Rabelais uses satire to address the dislocation felt by Renaissance Humanists. By providing an exaggerated fable, comical in nature, Rabelais poses a serious introspection into the extremes of both the Medieval and the Renaissance man. More importantly, however, he brings into question his own ideals of Humanism. Through an analysis of Rabelais’ satiricalRead MoreFrancis Bacon Essay example1282 Words   |  6 PagesFrancis Bacon grew from poverty to expand his career as a British politician entrepreneur and wrote prominent essays on humanism and innovative scientific philosophy. Most notably known as â€Å"the father of the English essay,† (McDougal 455) Bacon’s influential works were vastly impacted by the tenets of the Renaissance period. Even Thomas Jefferson, one of the founding fathers of our nation, credited being influenced by Bacon’s essays (McDougal 455). One of the core ideologies determined by his works