His202

Learning objectives:

"To develop an understanding of Western culture in the early modern era" periodization.

looking at the period from 1350 to 1750

"To analyse the impact of faith and religion in Western society"

"To discuss the elements of the clash between science and religion"

'Rinascita' - the rebirth of the human arts (Petrarch, Dante, Boccacio) Great figures of the 13 hundreds interested in reviving the skills and arts of the ancient Greeks and Romans.

In this frame of mind Petrarch spoke about humanitas. Recognising and controlling human emotions - maintaining temperance and cultivating a civilisation based on the platonic/stoic traditions of antiquity. It took a liberal education to liberate man from ignorance and to inspire him to greater things. One must liberate themselves from the uncivilised behaviour, from the raw emotions, and in doing so one becomes a cultivated, productive member of the community. The ideals of the ancients were believed to be perfected by the 15th century thinkers. They weren't just emulating the ancient ways, they were improving them.

It would be naive of any historian to think that the renaissance was just a religious issue in the 16th century.

Humanist beliefs blended with Christian values and beliefs.

Emperor Charles 5th maintaining power over the papacy.

Struggle emerged from constant reform in the Church continues into the 16th century, the reform is reflected in the intellectual currents of the period as well as the political imperatives such as Charles the 5th (invested interests in maintaining the harmony and authority of his region).

These issues came to arise in the 30 years war, etc.

17th century idea, if the world is mathematically written than it's written by god. So, essentially, we come to know God's mind through knowledge of nature. This attitude, this interest, reflects the humanistic opinion of this period.

This is what drove John Locke, Samuel Clarke, Voltaire, to talk about God's creation of the world and man's place in nature and relationship with God.

There is a continuitive thought and that is what allows us to talk about the events of this period in their context.

Was the renaissance the beginning of the modern world?

Was the renaissance defined by the emergence of individuality and self-consciousness?

Was there such a thing as a Scientific Revolution, or are the 17th century thinkers best describes as late Renaissance humanists?

What was the relationship between the natural sciences, theology,philosophy, politics and commerce?

Exam content:

Focusing mainly on the second half of the semester.
The only topic from part 1 of the semester and found in the exam is Machiavelli.

Part two: reformation

lectures:

1) Christian Humanism
2) Lutheranism
3) Attempts at Reconciliation
4) Catholic Reformation (or Counter-Reformation)

Compare and contrast Calvin and Erasmus.

Prepare for a question about the cannons and decrees of the council of Trent

Tutorials:

Compare Calvin, Erasmus, Luther

Part three: Scientific revolution
Lectures and tutorials

1)Copernicus
2) Tycho and Kepler
3) Galilo
4) Descartes
5) Bacon
5) Newton and the Newtonian Revolution

Why was Kepler writing about Platonic souls? The magnetism of the planets? Why was he talking about these sorts of things.

Why is someone writing
For what audience?
In what social, political, religious climate?
Aims, interests, agenda?
How do these aims compare to some one else?

Expect to be asked to compare and contrast these authors.

Go back to a small amount of the secondary sources.

Have to answer 3 questions