Life of the Commoners during the Renaissance

A renaissance is a rebirth of art and literature. It is also a French word, meaning “rebirth”. Throughout history, it has been shown that social and philosophical changes are represented in the form of art during a renaissance. Beliefs and values throughout society are being reborn by these changes. Artists have always been involved during periods of societal change to express the experiences of the people who are going through changes in their way of living and working.

In The Renaissance James A. Corrick introduces the reader about the period of time when a cultural movement was introduced first in Italy and marked the rebirth of old Greek and Roman culture and society. This led to the advancement in science, art, technology, education, economics, and politics. The Renaissance began in Italy in the 1300s, throughout much of Europe during the next three hundred years. The author’s purpose is to inform and entertain the reader about the amazing accomplishments that many people achieved during this period of time. He is not refuting or showing the reader a specific viewpoint, but he produces a straightforward factual explanation about the past.

According to Wassace K. Ferguson, there was a Renaissance and he stated in The Renaissance, “The idea that there was a great revival or rebirth of literature and the arts, after a thousand years of cultural sterility, in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries originated with the Italian writers of the Renaissance themselves.… they turned for inspiration to the civilization of Roman and Greek antiquity.” (Doc. 1). While living during the Renaissance, Ferguson recognized the change initiated by the Italians that revived the Roman and Greek classics. However, Ferguson was not the only one because Petrarch, a humanist, also observed this shift in life and thinking.

Without the renaissance people today would not be as highly educated and would be less open-minded. In the Renaissance man’ s view of man changed to one that views itself as perfect, as seen in the art, literature, and scientific discoveries. If the Renaissance was to be known only for one thing it would be art.

From the fifteenth century to the seventeenth centuries society experienced a shift from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. During this time Europe underwent many significant changes that were often expressed through the historical art. Passionate and experienced artists used their skills to create masterpieces that would highlighted these changes and led to the success of their careers. During this shift Medieval point of views began to fade away and a new Era full of new perspectives began to form. The Renaissance was known by many as the rebirth of the humanist culture.

The human race has gone through many extravagant eras and ages. From the space age to the Victorian era, humans have seen civilizations fall and revolutions ensue. Possibly the most well known era was the age of the Renaissance. The Renaissance was an advanced age fueled by an infatuation for art and literature. People began to focus on the concept of individualism, and portrayed that in their art.

Chivalry’s usefulness waned after battles such as Crecy and Courtrai as the cavalry began to be replaced by pikes and longbows. The battle tactics used at the Battle of Crecy can be seen through Froissart’s writings about the event. Their formation involved men of arms staying behind while bands of archers were wedged at the sides. It was this form of warfare that defeated the purpose of a cavalry.

Imagine having a whole kingdom ready to serve or sharing a small one room house with four other people, that is what it was like in the Middle ages. Life was either very difficult or very luxurious in the Medieval Times depending on who someone was and where they were in the social classes. It is unimaginable to know how hard it really was back then especially when everything is now so easy and almost done for everyone. The poor now would be considered higher middle class in the Middle Ages, because of this everyone worked harder for what they got unless you were born into the royal family. It was like winning the lottery to be born into a royal family but going bankrupt to be born to a servant's family.

In the Renaissance, the world changed forever. New thinking about humans being the most significant rather than religious figures would have been unheard of in the Middle Ages, but now in this new period, the world has begun to accept this. These new ideas led to them being present in art, leading to a new beginning for art. In “The Last Days of the Renaissance & The March to Modernity” by Theodore Rabb, he discovers that what occurred in the Renaissance changed art permanently. He said, “The new artistic styles would echo the broader movements and interests of the new age ....

As Europe exited the Middle Ages, an era known as the Renaissance began, which was the most influential period of European history, and the effects of this era can still be felt today. The Renaissance, which is French for “rebirth,” was a period of prosperity and cultural revival in Europe. As feudalism broke down and learning spread, the main topics strayed away from religion to other ideals. The Renaissance notably changed man’s perspective of both himself and the world around him. As education became more accessible during the Renaissance, people’s lives began to stop revolving around religion, and instead focused on art, literature, and science.

Between the 14th and 16th century, Italy went through what they termed as Renaissance which was characterized by several changes in the country. As described in Italy, Renaissance means rebirth or rebuilding of a given societal role. The transition of the country came from the medieval to the early European period where different normal operations of the society were greatly altered. Before the rebirth process began, the Italians had the desire to rebuild some of their greatest being thus the creation of the Renaissance process. As a result of the process, Italy had several achievements regarding science, literature, philosophy, music and arts.

In 1347 Europe saw a large explosion in expression that would eventually evolve into many different kinds of styles and techniques and become a part of everyday life and inspire many different people. This explosion occurred first in Italy and is now known as The Italian Renaissance which was inspired by the rediscovery of Roman and Greek classic art and literature. Renaissance stands for rebirth; it was a period of cultural shift often seen as Europe coming out of the Middle (dark) ages. This period was a breakthrough of humanism and believing in the idea to accomplish something, and do something for just God’s gain but your own as well. The 14th and 15th century found themselves experimenting in individualism and freedom of being

They used swords, daggers, lances, maces, war hammers, axes, and crossbows. Swords were personalized according to who owned the sword. Rich men had extra things like jewels added. A dagger was used when a knight breaks/loses his sword. The lance was used in 2 different ways.

For them, life was difficult. They had to work long, hard hours on the manor that belonged to their lord. Most peasants were farmers. Peasants did not have good food or clothing. They did not have the right to be educated.

The renaissance was a time of many different improvements and changes to the era previous to it, the medieval ages, the renaissance re-introduced many different Roman and Greek traditional aspects, so much so that renaissance literally translates into “rebirth” in French. Other changes include social such as the rise of humanism and humanist beliefs, secularism, individualism, big changes in mathematical studies, sciences and all types of learning in general, the printing press invention, as well as religious changes, and the arts were also affected and changed with techniques such as chiaro-scuro, perspective, sfumato, and further more to be explained. The renaissance started in the end of the 14th century and ended in the 17th century. In