Renaissance & Reformation
Renaissance & Reformation
1. What was the Renaissance?
- Meaning: French word “re-birth”
- Period: 14ᵗʰ – 17ᵗʰ century (1350-1600)
- Birthplace: City-state of Florence, Italy
- Core idea: Revival of Greco-Roman art, literature, humanism & scientific enquiry
2. Causes of Renaissance
| Economic | Political | Socio-Religious | Intellectual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rise of trade towns (Venice, Genoa) | Patronage of Medici family (Florence) | Fall of Constantinople 1453 → Greek scholars fled to Italy | Invention of movable-type printing by Gutenberg c.1440 |
| Growth of wealthy merchant class | Competition among city-states | Corruption in Church → quest for reform | Rediscovery of classical manuscripts |
3. Italian & Northern Renaissance – Key Figures
| Personality | Country | Field | Famous Work / Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dante | Italy | Literature | Divine Comedy (1320) – first major vernacular work |
| Petrarch | Italy | Humanism | “Father of Humanism” – Sonnets to Laura |
| Boccaccio | Italy | Literature | Decameron (1353) – 100 tales against church hypocrisy |
| Johannes Gutenberg | Germany | Technology | Printed 1st Bible 1455 (42-line Bible) |
| Leonardo da Vinci | Italy | Art-Science | Mona Lisa (1503-06); Last Supper (1498) |
| Michelangelo | Italy | Sculpture | David (1504); Sistine Chapel ceiling (1508-12) |
| Raphael | Italy | Painting | School of Athens (1511) – Plato & Aristotle centre-stage |
| Machiavelli | Italy | Political thought | The Prince (1513) – “end justifies the means” |
| Erasmus | Holland | Humanist scholar | Praise of Folly (1511) – satire on church abuses |
| Thomas More | England | Utopian literature | Utopia (1516) – ideal socialist state |
| Copernicus | Poland | Astronomy | Heliocentric theory 1543 De Revolutionibus |
| Galileo | Italy | Science | Telescope 1609; prosecuted 1633 |
| Shakespeare | England | Literature | 37 plays, 154 sonnets (1564-1616) |
4. Renaissance Art – Quick Facts
- Fresco – painting on wet plaster (Masaccio Holy Trinity 1427 – 1st linear perspective)
- Oil painting perfected by Jan van Eyck (Flanders) – Arnolfini Portrait 1434
- Sfumato – smoky effect by Leonardo
- Chiaroscuro – light-shade contrast
5. The Reformation (1517-1648)
- Trigger: Martin Luther’s 95 Theses nailed at Wittenberg Castle Church 31 Oct 1517
- Main protest: Sale of Indulgences by Tetzel – “As soon as coin in coffer rings, soul from purgatory springs”
- Luther’s doctrine: “Sola Scriptura” (Bible alone), “Sola Fide” (faith alone), 2 sacraments only (Baptism & Eucharist)
- Diet of Worms 1521 – Luther declared outlaw; translated New Testament into German 1522
- Peace of Augsburg 1555 – ruler chooses religion cuius regio, eius religio
6. Protestant branches & founders
| Branch | Founder | Place | Year | Unique feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lutheran | Martin Luther | Germany | 1517 | 1st Protestant church |
| Calvinist | John Calvin | Geneva | 1536 | Predestination; Institutes of Christian Religion |
| Anglican | Henry VIII | England | 1534 | Act of Supremacy – King head of church |
| Presbyterian | John Knox | Scotland | 1560 | Church governed by elders (presbyters) |
| Anabaptist | Conrad Grebel | Switzerland | 1525 | Adult baptism; pacifist |
7. Counter-Reformation (Catholic Revival)
- Council of Trent 1545-63 – re-affirmed 7 sacraments, Bible + tradition, celibacy
- Society of Jesus (Jesuits) founded by Ignatius Loyola 1540 – education & missions
- Inquisition strengthened; Index of Prohibited Books 1559
8. Results of Renaissance & Reformation
- End of unified Christendom (Europe split Catholic-Protestant)
- Rise of Nation-states (strong monarchs)
- Literacy – Bible in vernacular languages
- Scientific Revolution – Copernicus → Galileo → Newton
- Capitalism – Protestant work ethic (Weber thesis)
9. Quick Reference Table
| Event | Year | Place |
|---|---|---|
| Fall of Constantinople | 1453 | Byzantine Empire |
| Gutenberg Bible | 1455 | Mainz, Germany |
| Discovery of America | 1492 | — |
| Leonardo paints Mona Lisa | 1503-06 | Florence |
| Reformation begins | 31 Oct 1517 | Wittenberg |
| Henry VIII breaks with Rome | 1534 | England |
| Copernicus publishes theory | 1543 | — |
| Council of Trent opens | 1545 | Trento, Italy |
| Peace of Augsburg | 1555 | Augsburg |
| Galileo uses telescope | 1609 | — |
One-Liner Revision Facts
- Petrarch = Father of Humanism.
- Gutenberg = Father of Printing.
- Leonardo = epitome of “Renaissance man”.
- Michelangelo painted Sistine Chapel lying on his back.
- Luther’s seal – rose with heart & cross.
- Calvin’s Geneva = “City of God”.
- Henry VIII had 6 wives; founded Royal Navy.
- Jesuits’ motto: Ad maiorem Dei gloriam (AMDG).
- Index Librorum Prohibitorum abolished 1966.
- Renaissance ended with sack of Rome 1527.
MCQs for Railway Exams
Show MCQs
Who is called the “Father of Humanism”?
A. Dante B. Petrarch C. Erasmus D. Boccaccio
Answer: BThe first printed book in Europe was
A. Divine Comedy B. The Prince C. Gutenberg Bible D. Decameron
Answer: CMatch: Artist – Work
Raphael a. Mona Lisa
Leonardo b. School of Athens
Michelangelo c. David
Correct code:
A. 1-b, 2-a, 3-c B. 1-c, 2-b, 3-a C. 1-a, 2-c, 3-b D. 1-b, 2-c, 3-a
Answer: A“A prince ought to be feared rather than loved” is from
A. Utopia B. The Prince C. Praise of Folly D. Institutes
Answer: BThe 95 Theses were nailed in
A. Geneva B. Wittenberg C. Rome D. Zurich
Answer: BWho started the sale of indulgences that provoked Luther?
A. Tetzel B. Calvin C. Knox D. Loyola
Answer: AThe Peace of Augsburg 1555 accepted
A. Lutheranism only B. Calvinism C. Cuius regio, eius religio D. Anabaptism
Answer: CThe Society of Jesus was founded in
A. 1492 B. 1517 C. 1540 D. 1560
Answer: CHeliocentric theory was proposed by
A. Galileo B. Kepler C. Copernicus D. Newton
Answer: CWho translated the Bible into German?
A. Luther B. Calvin C. Zwingli D. Knox
Answer: AWhich English king broke with the Pope over divorce?
A. Henry VII B. Henry VIII C. Edward VI D. James I
Answer: B“Predestination” is associated with
A. Luther B. Calvin C. Wesley D. Loyola
Answer: BThe Renaissance first began in
A. France B. Spain C. Italy D. England
Answer: CThe Sistine Chapel ceiling was painted by
A. Raphael B. Leonardo C. Michelangelo D. Donatello
Answer: CWhich invention helped spread Renaissance ideas fastest?
A. Compass B. Printing press C. Telescope D. Astrolabe
Answer: BCouncil of Trent was held between
A. 1517-25 B. 1545-63 C. 1560-70 D. 1492-1500
Answer: B“Utopia” describing an ideal socialist island was written by
A. More B. Erasmus C. Machiavelli D. Shakespeare
Answer: AThe fall of Constantinople aiding Renaissance occurred in
A. 1453 B. 1492 C. 1521 D. 1517
Answer: AWhich city was called the “Queen of Adriatic” & major trade centre?
A. Florence B. Venice C. Naples D. Milan
Answer: BWho among the following was NOT a Renaissance artist?
A. Titian B. Giotto C. Bernini D. Copernicus
Answer: D (Copernicus was astronomer)
BETA
