Northern Humanist Essay - 1154 Words

The Northern Humanists were firm believers in higher education. Yet, they were also very critical of the way it was carried it out. Analyze their main criticisms of higher education and learning. The Northern Humanists are strong believers in higher education. They differed from the more Italian approach; The Northerners emphasized education across a broader band of society, not just a more scholarly yet secluded class of intellectuals. Somewhat oddly, the study of the ancient classics was valued, but not thought to have much relevance in solving their current issues. Thus those who were attracted to the new learning tended to be those who were simply curious rather than those who were dedicated to discovering†¦show more content†¦Similarly, when the imaginative and well educated Conrad Celtis travelled from Germany to visit Italy, he was unfavorably impressed with the pretensions of Italian intellectuals and their scorn for the North.(Wilcox p.279). Overall there was more support for humanist thought in the North by the ruling class, perhaps because they were more pleased to hire educated men to attend them in their councils. Erasmus believes in the need of a universal language, both in verse and prose. He was well versed in Latin and in Greek. Erasmus and Thomas More were both staunch Catholics, opposed the reformation as proposed by Martin Luther but thought the church needed adjustments. Erasmus differed from some of Mores ideas, for instance he believed in free will of the individual, whereas More did not. They all advocated social reform and were interested in improvement for society. Erasmus thought science unworthy of a gentleman. Erasmus appeared as a responsible and constructive critic of society. He attacked the superstition and formalism of late medieval religion, offering in their place a simple piety that could appeal to all levels of society.(Wilcox) Castiglione writes an instruction manual or self help book on how to make your way up the Courtier ladder. Men should have a well roundedShow MoreRelatedAlbrecht Durer s Self Portraits2317 Words   |  10 PagesSelf-Portraits Introduction The life of Albrecht Durer is described as that of a person who spent it on influencing art, culture and society during the Northern Renaissance. During his time, he represented and witnessed some of the most momentous events in the modern European history, including both cultural and religious dimensions of the religious humanist movement1. He conceptualized the movement of Martin Luther as part of the larger matrix of religious and theological reforms that were grounded inRead MoreAlbrecht Durer s Self Portraits2317 Words   |  10 PagesSelf-Portraits Introduction The life of Albrecht Durer is described as that of a person who spent it on influencing art, culture and society during the Northern Renaissance. During his time, he represented and witnessed some of the most momentous events in the modern European history, including both cultural and religious dimensions of the religious humanist movement1. He conceptualized the movement of Martin Luther as part of the larger matrix of religious and theological reforms that were grounded inRead MoreAlbrecht Durer: Catalyst of the Northern Renaissance Essay2177 Words   |  9 Pagesand worked. These artists are based mainly in Southern Europe of course, but what about Northern European countries like Germany? What were the Germans up to and how did this new way of thinking as well as new use of techniques and tools spread up there, to Germany, and other countries? It is believed by many that Albrecht Durer was the main catalyst and one of the most important contributors for the Northern Renaissan ce. Many artists visited Italy at the time of the Italian Renassaince, but DurerRead MoreThe History Of Western European Religious Landscape989 Words   |  4 Pagesmixed ideas and emotions. The enlightenment and cumulative effort of individuals of that time produced different ideas contributing to the renaissance or re-birth of religious doctrine. Change was instigated by various Italian humanists or Popes of the era, norther humanists such as Desiderius Erasmus, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Henry VII, and Queen Elizabeth I were some of the participants that changed the paradigm of Western European religious landscape. Like the secular despots, popes engagedRead MoreWhy Did The Renaissance Come From Northern Europe?1696 Words   |  7 PagesWhy did the Renaissance come later to northern Europe than to Italy and what were its distinctive characteristics? The Renaissance, a term coined by Giorgio Vasari in 1550 , is used to describe the period of cultural and intellectual change which started in Italy and then spread across the rest of Europe. This development in society led to Europe stepping out of the medieval era and becoming a powerhouse on a global scale. The Italian Renaissance is what the majority of people think ofRead MoreComparing The Italian And Italian Renaissance1748 Words   |  7 PagesOctober 26, 2015 Art 111 Northern Renaissance and Italian Renaissance Differences between the Italian and Northern Renaissance The Renaissance was a period of great cultural and technological changes which swept Europe from the end of the 13 century. It was integral in developing Europe into a powerhouse. Although, each part of Europe was subjected to different changes, there were two primary renaissances which were most notable. They were the Italian and the Northern renaissance. Both of theseRead MoreSimilarities Between Humanism And Italian Humanism1945 Words   |  8 Pagesas the first great humanist. Humanism first started to become popular in the mid-15th century though during the Italian Renaissance due to many factors but at the same humanism was spreading all throughout Europe and became increasingly popular in Northern Europe, but didn’t spread as fast. With humanism spreading around in different areas of the world it was safe to assume that the teachings and practice of humanism from these areas would also be different. With Italian humanists focusing more onRead MoreDid The Reformation Ha d Been Stopped? Why Or Why Not?988 Words   |  4 Pagesfollowers which sparked the challenge of Papal powers during the Renaissance period. With the development of humanism during the Renaissance came a new idea of change known as known as the â€Å"Northern Renaissance humanism† which demanded amendments to Christianity. (Speilvogel p. 368) These northern humanists, all shared the desire to improve their knowledge of Christianity, help the needy of the lower classes, and share what they learned. They wanted to challenge the very foundation of deceit fromRead MoreThe Bubonic Plague And The Renaissance865 Words   |  4 Pagesmeditative withdrawal. The main thread of the humanistic belief was that man, possessing of a vast range of powers, was the center of his own universe a, a theme which featured heavily in the art, literature and architecture of that time period. Humanists believed in the enjoyment of wealth and materialism and worried less about the need for God in their lives. They valued secularism over religion and emphasized strongly on physical beauty, individualism, and man’s achievements. The Italian RenaissanceRead MoreThe Renaissance and Italys Decline1592 Words   |  7 Pages From Italy the new Humanist spirit and the Renaissance it engendered spread north to all parts of Europe, aided by the invention of printing, which allowed literacy and the availability of classical texts to grow explosively. Foremost among northern Humanists was Desiderius Erasmus, whose Praise of Folly (1509) epitomized the moral essence of Humanism in its insistence on heartfelt goodness as opposed to formalistic piety. The intellectual stimulation provided by Humanists helped spark the Reformation