Transcript 1) Individual Worth

Renaissance:
Humanism
The big question…..
Are you a Humanist???
Europe at the end of the Middle Ages was ready for a
change. The Crusades and the Plague were sparks
propelling Europe into a new era. As a result of the
Crusades, trade increased between Europe and the outside
world. As Europeans came into contact with Middle
Eastern and Arab Scholars they discovered many Greek
and Roman texts that had been
lost for centuries. This desire for
Roman and Greek writings led
to the Renaissance, a time when
Greek, Roman and Judeo
Christian traditions came
together.
In Italy during the 1400’s, scholars began studying Roman
and Greek writings. These Renaissance scholars wanted to
learn more about the literature, art, architecture, poetry,
and history of Ancient Rome and Greece.
These scholars were latter called humanists because they
studied the classics or the humanities. They undoubtedly
spent a lot of time learning Greek and Latin so they could
read these sources from the Greeks and Romans.
Humanism began in Padua, Italy when people who were
paid to write letters and documents began to copy the
format of Roman poetry. They also began to translate
some of the great texts written by Roman and Greek
writers.
Renaissance Humanists focused on three main ideas of
the Greeks and Romans.
1.Individual Worth
2. Commitment to
public service
3. Development of a
variety of skills and talents.
3
1) Individual Worth
a. People could improve themselves by
studying and reflection
b. Success on earth rather than
afterlife
#1
#2
2) Dedicated to Public Service
a. Build public buildings
b. Encourage the Arts
c. Wealthy people paid for it so
everyone could enjoy it
3) Have a Variety of Skills
a. People need a well rounded
knowledge
b. People could achieve anything, no
limits to their accomplishment
Now back to the big question…
Are you a Humanist???