Renaissance England

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Renaissance England

• 1485-1660

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Renaissancerebirth (in French)

• Period of time between the 15th an 17th century
• Rebirth of interest in Greek and Latin learning
• Europe moving away from medieval thoughts to
  those more modern
• Humanism Renaissance devotion to Greek and Latin
  classics because of the focus on human life on
  earth, not life after death

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Medieval Thought vs. Renaissance Thought

• Medieval thought Decisions and questions
  answered by turning to some authority, be it the
  Roman Catholic Church or the feudal lord
• Happiness would be found after death, and earthly
  life was inconsequential and to be endured until
  the next step (hence the Medieval literature
  focus on religious subjects/themes)

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Medieval vs. Renaissance, contd

• Renaissance thought Decisions and questions
  require the individual conscience
• Renaissance literature dominated by questions
  related to human life What is a good life? What
  is a good state?
• Humanist philosophy based on the belief that
  human beings were made in the image of God and
  could, therefore, perfect themselves and the
  institutions of this world since they had such a
  close connection to the divine. Result new
  emphasis on learning, the arts, and religious and
  political debates that lead to the Protestant
  Reformation, decline of feudalism, and the
  emergence of modern nationalism

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Gutenbergs printing press

• Having Gutenbergs press led to mass book
  production whereby people began to learn to read,
  and write, which led to them thinking for
  themselves, challenging authority, and changing
  their lives and institutions

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Englands Royalty

• The Renaissance began with the end of the War of
  the Roses (York vs. Lancaster)
• Henry VII won-rebuilt the nations treasury,
  established a powerful centralized government,
  made profitable treaties with other nations, and
  built a fleet of merchant ships that contributed
  to Englands dominance for following centuries.
  Also funded exploratory expeditions into the New
  World that led to the colonization of North
  America (Plymouth)
• Henry VIII inherited the thronea colorful and
  extremely important figure to Renaissance England

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Henry VIII

• His desire for a male heir led to Englands break
  with the Roman Catholic Church
• Catherine of Aragon of Spain (his wife at the
  time) did not produce a male heir, so Henry
  desired to divorce her, an action that would
  require the permission of the Roman Catholic
  Church through an annulment. RCC did not grant
  him permission, so he broke with the Roman
  Catholic Church and asked Parliament to declare
  him the Supreme Leader of the newly formed Church
  of England (Anglican Church), which they did.

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Henry contd

• Henry then married Anne Boleyn, who gave birth to
  Elizabeth (VERY important to note).
• Also remember that Henry had another daughter by
  Catherine, named Mary (Also VERY important to
  note).
• Anne also did not give Henry male heirs, so Anne
  was convicted of adultery.
• Henry had her beheaded so he could marry Jane
  Seymour who gave birth to Edward, Henrys male
  heir, at last.
• Edward, though was a frail and sickly child, but
  he became king of England at the age of nine and
  ruled until his death at fifteen.
• Mary (Catherines daughter) then inherited the
  throne after her brothers death.

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Follow the family connection.

• Henry
• Catherine of AragonMary
• Anne BoleynElizabeth
• Jane SeymourEdward
• Edwardking first
• Then
• Mary
• Then Elizabeth
• (most important and successful monarch in all of
  Englands history)

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In the meanwhile

• Martin Luther 95 Theses nailed to a church door
  in Germany provided a list of objections to the
  beliefs and practices of the Roman Catholic
  Church
• Believed that people had to establish individual
  relationships with God whereby the details of
  each relationship existed between that person and
  God, not including a priest or any other
  religious figure
• Also protested selling or granting of pardons
  forgiveness of sin occurred because of Gods
  grace
• His ideas lead to the widespread and violent
  confrontation known as the Protestant Reformation

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Protestant Reformation contd

• John Calvin took Luthers ideas a step further
  and taught that all events were predestined by
  God and that God had predetermined who would be
  saved (the elect) and who would be damned. No
  one knew who was in which category, so each
  person had to live the best life possible so as
  to not lose the status of being one of the elect,
  or so one could possibly be added into the group
  of elect. Theory called Predestination and was
  central to the Puritan Movement
• Protestant Reformation occurred in England
  because of Henrys inability to have a male heir
  (predetermined by his reproductive capabilities)

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Mary

• Staunch Catholic who attempted to restore the
  Roman Catholic Church to England
• Ordered the execution of many Protestants, made
  the Pope the head of the English church, and
  married her Roman Catholic cousin, Phillip II.
  English people resented the marriage because they
  did not want to become a territory of Spain.
  Anti-Spanish and Anti-Catholic feelings were
  prevalent during Marys reign
• She died in 1558 of a medical condition
• Elizabeth (Anne Boleyns daughter) assumed the
  throne

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Elizabeth

• Ruler of England from 1558-1603
• One of Englands most powerful and successful
  rulers makes England the most powerful nation in
  Europe English literature reaches its highest
  point of success during this time
• Elizabeth is a shrewd leader who is widely read
  and educated in Greek and Latin texts she keeps
  many writers and literary greats around her at
  court
• Elizabeth remained unmarried throughout her
  reign, pretending to entertain ideas of marriage
  in order to force alliances from rival countries
  while she built up Englands navy and defense
  systems
• Elizabeths religious policy was tolerance of all
  beliefs, but she restored the Church of England
  to power. Continuous attempts were made on her
  life by Catholic zealots who hated her removal of
  the RCC from power.

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Elizabeth contd

• Elizabeth was continuously threatened by the
  existence of Mary, Queen of Scots, a potential
  heir to the throne through Henry VII. Mary was
  eventually executed by order of Parliament for
  plotting to kill Elizabeth, which angered King
  Philip of Spain who reacted by attacking England
  with his Spanish Armada. Part of armada sunk in
  a storm, and Englands fleet destroyed the rest,
  so England continued its reign as the most
  powerful nation in Europe
• Elizabeth died in 1603, and James I inherited the
  throne

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James I

• James I of Scotland was a Protestant but held
  Catholic sympathies and detested Protestant
  extremists (a.k.a Puritans-wanted to purify the
  Church of England by removing all indications of
  the Roman Catholic Church. He released all
  imprisoned Catholics and tried to force all
  people to adopt Protestant rituals, which brought
  him into conflict with Parliament which was ruled
  primarily by Puritans

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James I contd

• Believed in Divine Rights of King, which is the
  belief that God appointed the person who would be
  king or queen, so that persons decisions are
  those given by God, and any challenge to that
  monarchs rule is a challenge to Gods rule
• This arrogance led to growing resentment against
  the throne and a revolution against the monarchy
  after James death
• Charles I inherited the throne after James

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Renaissance Literature (non-drama)

• Major focus was printing existing literature, not
  creating new literature
• Literary terms to make not of during the
  Renaissance sonnet, blank verse, lyric poetry,
  drama, sonnet sequence,
• Most notable Renaissance contributionKing James
  Bible