History of Christianity: The Renaissance

By the mid 15th century, the Spanish Empire ruled the west while a new rising power, known as the Ottoman Empire, began to dominate the east. In the year 1453, the Muslim Ottoman Empire conquered the city of Constantinople, which marked the end for the Byzantine Empire. This resulted in Christian migrations to the westward lands of Italy, most notably to a small city in Tuscany, known as the city of flowers, Florence.

The city of Florence, would soon become the Christian epicenter of cultural inspiration, ranging from the arts, politics, architecture, economics, science, and knowledge. This movement was especially initiated by powerful families, most notably the Medici. During this time, some of the greatest artists to have ever existed, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Botticelli, all lived in Florence.

By the mid 15th century, the cultural movement known as the Renaissance took way in Florence, and began to spread it's inspiration throughout Europe. The dark medieval ages, had finally come to an end, and humanity had once again continued to progress. This rebirth of ideas, ushered in a new age of Enlightenment that significantly challenged the Christian institution. The Catholic Church would soon have to contend with various cultural movements, ranging from the Scientific Revolution, an Industrial Revolution, and a total Christian Reformation.

The Medici Family

By the late 14th century, wealthy families began taking power in the city-states of Italy. The most powerful of these families was the Medici, who at the time, owned the largest banks in Europe. Other wealthy families such as the Borgia (Pope Alexander VI and Ceaser Borgia) the Pazzi, and the Sforza are no comparison to the long-lasting might of the Medici. They influenced both the church and the political affairs of the Republic of Florence for over two centuries, and can be credited as the fathers of the Renaissance.

The family rose to prominence in 1434, with Cosimo de' Medici who used his wealth to influence the politics of Florence. Cosimo's greatest aspiration was to turn the city of Florence into a thriving capital of arts and culture. He achieved this by making peace with the neighbors (Naples, Venice, Milan, and the Holy Roman Empire), welcoming many notable Byzantine scholars from the recently fallen Constantinople, strengthening ties with the church, and especially encouraging the enrichment of art.

Cosimo de' Medici was considered the father and elder of the booming city, and his passion was later passed on to his grandchild, Lorenzo. In 1469, after the death of Cosimo, Lorenzo the Magnificent took the lead role of directing the city of Florence. His greatest contribution, was as patron of the arts, sponsoring many famous artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Sandro Botticelli, and Michelangelo. Following his death, the Medici power diminished for a while, and was replaced by the Dominican monk, Savonarola, and later by the political guidance of Machiavelli.

The Medici family however once again rose to prominence over Italy, when Lorzeno's son became crowned Pope Leo X in 1513, and was  later followed by his cousin Pope Clement VIII in 1523. In 1537, Cosimi I, was recognized as Duke of Florence by the Holy Roman Emperor. Cosimo I de' Medici continued to uphold the family legacy and enrich the city of Florence, with a newly organized government, architecture, and arts. He was later promoted by the pope to become the first Grand Duke of Tuscany. The Medici family would obtain this post for the next 200 years.


The Borgia Family

By the end of Lorenzo's life, Florence had become a thriving capital of culture and arts, and the Renaissance was underway.  However by this time, the Medici dominance was challenged by rival families such as the Pazzi and the Borgia, as well as the Catholic Church. Several Christian leaders, most notably a friar named Savonarola, began to feel that Florence had begun to stray away from Christian principles. He condemned the corruption of Lorenzo and the Medici family, and would later target the Borgia Pope Alexander VI.

In 1492, after the death of Lorenzo, Rodrigo Borgia became Pope Alexander VI. With their Spanish ties, the Borgia family had risen to prominence within the Catholic institution. The family was however extremely corrupt, and used means of bribery and simony to reach the top. Savonarola was the families' harshest opponent, and in 1494 took advantage of the French invasion, to redirect the city of Florence. He was however excommunicated by the corrupt Pope Alexander VI in 1497, and was later publicly executed. He was replaced by Machiavelli's standing army and thriving democracy, which lasted until 1512.


The Philosophy of Humanism

The age of the Renaissance was inspired by a new ideal that challenged religious dogma and encouraged human practicality. This was in part due to the new invention of the printing press, which made it easier for people to study classical works. This new philosophy became known as humanism, and became a cultural movement during the Renaissance. Numerous Italian scholars such as Petrach, Leonardo da Vinci, and the political statesman, Niccolo Machiavelli, began to practice this concrete approach to understanding.

The general idea of humanism was to consider the realistic physical embodiment of existence, rather than it's divine metaphysical understanding. Although humanists did not completely reject Christianity and the ideals of faith, their ultimate ambition was to use reason and ethics as a means to better understand human nature. This philosophy became the backbone of the Renaissance, and was incorporated into the government, politics, education, science, literature, and especially celebrated in the arts.

The Art of Human Beauty

The ideals of the Humanistic Renaissance are best captured in the arts that celebrate human beauty. From it's architecture, paintings, sculptures, literature, and so forth, there was a great influx of creativity during this time. It is no wonder that some of the greatest artists and artworks came during this period of history. The Renaissance was a period of sudden cultural revolution. Much of this credit should fall upon the patrons of the arts, such as the Medici family, who encouraged and financed these monumental achievements, however one cannot deny that there was truly an inspirational fervor in the air.

The city of Florence was undergoing a rebirth of ideas, a sudden originality, perhaps even a freedom from theological restraints. And although these artists set out to glorify the Christian belief, they ultimately glorified the human body, in a revolutionary fashion. The art of the Renaissance celebrated Christian history and theology through a new captivating representation of human beauty.

As discussed before, it was not the church nor the government that initiated this sudden patronage of the arts, yet the powerful wealthy family of the Medici. The beginning of this art movement thus began in Florence, when the Medici discovered young artists such as Brunelleschi, who designed Florence Cathedral; and Donatello best known for his bronze sculpture of David.

Lorenzo the Magnificent initiated the golden age of the Renaissance when he discovered the young painters Sandro Botticelli and Michelangelo. The paintings of Botticelli accentuated human beauty by emphasizing their masculine and feminine features. His masterworks such as Primavera, The Birth of Venus, and Venus and Mars, are colorful works of mesmerizing beauty. Botticelli was later, discouraged by the harsh criticism of Savonarola, and eventually succumbed to the anti-humanistic pressure.

Michelangelo, however, did not give in to this pressure of modesty, and took the ideal of human beauty to new heights. His first masterpiece was completed in 1499, was known as the Pieta, a marble sculpture that depicted the crucified Jesus in the lap of his mother, Mary. This ideal of natural beauty was later intensified in his masterful sculpture of David. The sculpture was commissioned in 1502 to stand outside the town hall of Florence. It depicts David in a heroic yet calm stance, perhaps moments before he is about to face Goliath. In 1508 Michelangelo was commissioned by the church, Pope Julius II, to paint a glorious fresco on the ceiling and walls of the Sistine Chapel. Although Michelangelo was not as skilled a painter as he was a sculptor, he succeeded in creating the masterful illustrations of the Book of Genesis and the Last Judgement.

Leonardo da Vinci, was also a Florentine native during this time, and is considered the utmost embodiment of the Renaissance ideals. He was a polymath, in expert of many subjects, and made numerous contributions to the humanist philosophy. He was a painter, sculptor, musician, architect, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist, and a writer. His greatest works were the Mona Lisa and the Last Supper, as well as many other technological contributions.

During the High Renaissance, came numerous other masterworks and artists such as Raphael, best known for his painting the School of Athens, that celebrates philosophy. Other notable Italian artists of this time included Bellini, Titian, and Giorgione. The Italian artistic quality however spread to  other countries as well, and inspired their own unique style. Such as depicted in the Dutch masterworks of Hieronymous Bosch (The Garden of Earthly Delights) and the Flemish painter, Pieter Brugel the Elder and his numerous works.

The church considered many of these nude paintings to be overbearing, and initiated a campaign of Decorum, to bring modesty to these paintings by covering up their genital with fig leaves. This campaign was agreed upon, during the Council of Trent in 1545, that began a Counter-Reformation against growing heretics, such as the Protestants, as well as the ideals, science, and immodest art of the Renaissance.

The European Spread

By the late 15th century, the cultural movement of Florence, began to spread throughout Europe. Similar to the spread of Christianity, these new ideals of humanism were quickly understood and accepted within the general population. European cultures began incorporating their own customs and heritage into this common pursue of enlightenment.

In the ports of Portugal and the mighty Spanish Empire, an age of Discovery took forth, into the unmarked territories of the Americas. This success was greatly contributed to the navigational advancements and the technological innovations of the Renaissance.

In parts of Northern Europe, music began to develop, and change from the previous Medieval and Gregorian formats. Thanks to the invention of the printing press, musicians could add and share complexity to their music. This era of Renaissance music was an important musical transition that would later evolve into Opera, Baroque, and Classical Music.

In 1440, a German inventor, named Johannes Gutenberg, invented the printing press that would essentially play a key role in sparking this renaissance. This invention made it easier for people to share knowledge with one another, and perhaps question what they had been taught. It may have been just the tool needed for the German monk, Martin Luther, to openly disagree with the teachings of the Catholic Church and thus initiate a Protestant Reformation. (More on this in the next post)

By the late 16th century, the Italian Renaissance in Florence had lost it's steam, however eventually shifted it's cultural ideals to the new rising power of England. This was a culmination of Protestant Beliefs, the defeat of the Spanish Empire, and the crowning of Queen Elizabeth. In 1558, Queen Elizabeth ushered in a new golden age, of cultural, economic, and military prominence, that became known as the Elizabethan Age. At the core of this cultural age, was a sudden appreciation and practice of theater, led by great writers such as William Shakespeare, heavily influenced by the Italian Renaissance.

The Scientific Revolution

The ideals of the Renaissance such as humanism, practicality, and the pursue of knowledge, gave way to a new age of scientific discovery. This era began in the mid 16th century, and could perhaps be considered the final blow to the Catholic Church. New scientific ideas ranging from astronomy, physics, biology, medicine, and chemistry, were presented to the public, that did not entirely line up with the church's teachings. This of course infuriated the Catholic institution, who began to accuse these groundbreaking scientists of heresy.

By 1533, Nicolaus Copernicus, had introduced a theory of heliocentric cosmology, that explained the earth was not the center of the universe, however the sun was. This idea went against the Christian principle, that the earth was at the center of everything. Copernicus died before his theory could be openly disputed and analyzed. Nearly a century later, however, Galileo Galilei renewed this discovery, with new scientific evidence. This led to the church's response of a Roman Inquisition, in 1615, to bring an end to scientific heresies.

The Scientific Revolution continued however, into the 17th century, when Johannes Kepler presented his concept of planetary motion in 1610. The next monumental discovery came in 1687, when the English physicist, Isaac Newton presented his theories of gravity and laws of motion. This scientific age of discovery began to demonstrate a means of explaining everything.

By this point, the French philosopher, Renee Descartes, coined the term "scientific method" as a means of acquiring knowledge through scientific investigation. This new philosophy of Rationalism, encouraged intellectual reasoning while denouncing the practice of faith.

The Renaissance marked a pivotal shift for human reason and the role of the Catholic Church. It was an age of Enlightenment, where people began to purse knowledge and self-awareness rather than forced dogma. It especially played a crucial role in cleansing a corrupt and fear-mongering institution, that had perhaps lost sight of it's flock. Following the Renaissance and the Protestant Reformation, the Catholic Church significantly changed it's role in society, to become more of a sanctuary of peace. And although the church has somewhat lost it's muscle and influence of the past, the ideals of Christianity; spirituality and eternal life, cannot be disproved by rational evidence.