How Did European Renaissance Humanism

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The European Renaissance started in northern Italy during the 14th century and lasted into the 1700s. During this period, various artistic, philosophical, and political movements were rooted in an educational system of thought known as humanism. Renaissance humanism spread in the early 15th century, as many writers and educators were inspired by rediscovered Greek and Latin texts. Using this study of classical works, humanists resolved to use their knowledge to encourage the growth of a well-educated citizenry active in civic life. Humanism was ultimately the defining product of the Renaissance and helped characterize it as a distinct historical era. Therefore, its influence on the social and cultural development of Western Europe’s early modern history is greater than the Renaissance itself. Prior to the Renaissance and the rise of humanism, the educational pursuits of scholars were dull at best. The Church dominated everyday life, and controlled schools, art, and published writing. Learning was restricted to a minority of people who could read and write. But the early 14th century posed some interesting changes to social life in Italy. As merchants begin to gain markets and monopolies, port cities became …show more content…

Humanists believed that education was meant to empower the people and have them put their ideas in action in the real world, rather than idly philosophise about irrelevant theories. It was Petrarch who taught that “It is better to will the good than to know the truth,” (Kagan, 64) This revolutionary idea about education inspired many to reform. Pietro Paolo Vergerio, the author of Of the Morals That Befit a Free Man, wrote what many believe to be the epitome of a humanist education: “We call those studies liberal which are worthy of a free man...which calls forth, trains, and develops those highest gifts of body and mind which ennoble men..” (Jensen, p.

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