renaissance essay outline

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• Chapter Outlines
• Chapter 13: European Society in the Age of the Renaissance
•  The fourteenth century witnessed the beginning of remarkable changes in the Italian society and in the fifteenth century, this “Renaissance” spread to northern Europe
• Economic growth laid the material basis from the Italian Renaissance, from 1050 to 1300, witnessed commercial and financial development, the growing political power of self-governing cities, and great population expansion (cultural achievements)
• The period from the late sixteenth century was characterized by artistic energies
• In the great commercial revival of the eleventh century, northern Italian cities led the way
• Venice, supported by a huge merchant marine grew rich through overseas trade
• Genoa and Milan enjoyed benefits of a large volume of trade with the Middle East and Europe (exchange between the East and West)
• Genoa and Venice also made advancements in shipbuilding allowing ships to sail all year long and the increased the volume of goods that could be transported (accelerated speed) --the risks in such operations of trade were great, but the profits were enormous
• The first artistic and literary manifestations of the Italian Renaissance appeared in Florence but toward the end of the thirteenth century, Florentine merchants and bankers acquired control of papal banking (acted as tax collectors for the papacy)
• For Florence, profits from loans, investments, and money exchanges contributed to the city’s economy but the wool industry was the major factor in the city’s financial expansion and population increase as they purchased the best quality of wool
• Florence developed remarkable techniques for its manufacture into cloth, and employed thousands of works in the manufacturing process
• The economic foundations of Florence were so strong that even severe crises could not destroy the city such as huge debts of King Edward III or the Black Death
• Northern Italian cities were communes , worn associations of free men seeking complete political and economic independence from local nobles and fought for and won independence
• Marriage vows often sealed business contracts between the rural nobility and the mercantile aristocracy forming the new social class, an urban nobility
• New class made citizenship in the communes dependent on a property qualification, years of residence within the city, and social connections
• A new force, popolo , disenfranchised and heavily taxed, bitterly resenting their exclusion from power, wanted places in the communal government
• Throughout thirteenth century, popolo used violence to take over the city governments
• Because they practiced the same sort of political exclusivity as had the noble communes, the popolo never won the support of other groups
• The popolo could not establish civil order within their cities and the movements for republican government failed and by 1300, signori (despots) or oligarchies (rule of merchant aristocracies) had triumphed everywhere
• Nostalgia for the Roman form of government, combined with calculating shrewdness, prompted the leaders of Venice, Milan, and Florence to use the old forms
• In the fifteenth century, political power and elite culture centered at the princely courts of despots and oligarchs who flaunted their patronage of learning and the arts by munificent gifts to writers, philosophers, and artists
• Renaissance Italians had a passionate attachment to their individual city-states which hindered the development of one unified state of Italy
• In the fifteenth century, five powers dominated the Italian peninsula: Venice, Milan, Florence, the Papal States, and the kingdom of Naples
• Venice, with its trade and vast colonial empire, ranked as an international power
• Central Italy consisted mainly of the Papal States—Pope Alexander VI aided militarily and politically by his son Cesare Borgia united the peninsula by ruthlessly conquering
• The large cities used diplomacy, spies, paid informers, and any other available means to get information that could be used to advance their ambitions while the states of northern Europe were moving toward centralization and consolidation
• Whenever one Italian state appeared to gain a predominant position within the peninsula, other states combined to establish a balance of power against the major threat
• Renaissance Italians invented the machinery of modern diplomacy: permanent embassies with resident ambassadors in capitals where political relations and commercial ties needed continual monitoring
• Imperialistic ambitions resulted in an inability to form a common alliance against potential foreign enemies made Italy an inviting target for invasion
• When Florence and Naples entered into an agreement to acquire Milanese territories, Milan called on France for support
• At Florence, the French invasion had been predicted by Dominican friar Girolamo Savonarola who attacked paganism and moral vice of the city, the undemocratic government of Lorenzo de’ Medici and the corruption of Pope Alexander VI
• Girolamo Savonarola was excommunicated by the pope and executed
• The invasion of Italy by the French king Charles VIII inaugurated a new period in Italian and European power politics; Italy became the focus of international ambitions and foreign army
• Florence, Rome, and Naples soon bowed and Charles VIII’s son Louis XII, formed the League of Cambrai with the pope and German emperor Maximilian for the purpose of stripping rich Venice of its mainland possessions
• Pope Leo X called on the Spanish and Germans in a new alliance to expel the French
• When France returned to Italy in 1522, a series of battles called the Habsburg-Valois Wars began and in the sixteenth century, the political and social life of Italy was upset by the relentless competition for dominance between France and the empire
• Italian cities suffered from continual warfare and thus the failure of the city-states to form some federal system, consolidate, or at least establish a common foreign policy led to the continuation of the centuries-old subjection of the peninsula by outside invaders
• Renaissance was characterized by self-conscious awareness and the realization that something was happening came to men of letters such as poet/humanist Francesco Petrarch
• He considered the first two centuries of the Roman Empire to represent the peak in the development of the human civilization
• The sculptors, painters, and writers of the Renaissance spoke contemptuously of their medieval predecessors and identified themselves with the thinkers/artists of Greco-Romans
• A humanism characterized by a deep interest in the Latin classics and a deliberate attempt to revive antique lifestyles emerged
• Christian humility discouraged self-absorption and provided strong support for the individual and to exercise great social influence (new sense of historical distance from earlier periods)
• A large literature specially concerned with the nature of individuality emerged
• Italians of unusual abilities were self consciously aware of their singularity and unafraid to be unlike their neighbors; they had enormous confidence in their ability to achieve great things
• Individualism stressed personality, uniqueness, genius, and the fullest development of capabilities and talents; thirst for fame, a driving ambition, and a burning desire for success drove such people to the complete achievement of their potential
• In cities of Italy, civic leaders and the wealthy populace showed phenomenal archeological zeal for the recovery of manuscripts, statues, and monuments
• Pope Nicholas V planned the Vatican Library, which remains one of the richest repositories of ancient and medieval documents (built by Pope Sixtus IV)
• There was a profound interest in the study of the Latin classics (“new learning” – humanism)
• Humanists studied the Latin classics to learn what they reveal about human nature and emphasized human begins, their achievements, interests, and capabilities
• Where medieval writers accepted pagan and classical authors uncritically, Renaissance humanists were skeptical of their authority
• Renaissance humanists studied human nature, and while they fully grasped the moral thought of pagan antiquity, Renaissance humanists viewed humanity from a strongly Christian perspective: men and women were made in the image and likeness of God
• Humanists rejected classical ideas that were opposed to Christianity or they sought reinterpretation of an underlying harmony between the pagan and secular and Christianity
• Fourteenth and fifteenth-century humanists loved the language of the classics and considered it superior to the corrupt Latin of the medieval schoolmen
• They became concerned more about form than about content, more about expression
• Secularism involves a basic concern with the material world instead of with the eternal world of spirit and thinking finds the explanation of everything and the final end of human beings
• The fourteenth and fifteenth centuries witnessed the growth of such secularism in Italy
• Worries of life did not leave much time for thoughts about penance and purgatory as wealth allowed greater material pleasures and a more comfortable life
• Humanist Lorenzo Valla in his study On the False Donation of Constantine demonstrated by careful textual examination that an anonymous eighth-century document supposedly giving the papacy jurisdiction over vast territories in western Europe was a forgery; thus, exemplifying the application of critical scholarship to old and almost sacred writings as well as the new secular spirit of the Renaissance
• Nor did church leaders do much to combat the new secular spirit; the papal court and the households of the cardinals were just as worldly as those of great urban patricians
• Renaissance popes beautified the city of Rome, patronized artists and mean of letters, and expended enormous enthusiasm and huge sums of money
• Papal interests, far removed from spiritual concerns, fostered the new worldly attitude
• Renaissance evokes admiration for its artistic master pieces of painting, architecture and sculpture in which the city of Florence led the way
• In the period art historians describe as the “High Renaissance,” Rome took the lead and the main characteristics of High Renaissance art—classical balance, harmony, and restraint—are revealed in the masterpieces of Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, and Michelangelo
• Powerful urban groups such as guilds or religious confraternities commissioned works of art
• The works of Florentine cloth merchants represented the merchants’ dominant influence
• Religious themes appeared in all media—wood, carvings, painted frescoes, stone sculptures, paintings; art served as educational purpose—a religious picture or statue was intended to spread a particular doctrine, act as a profession of faith
• A great style of living, enriched by works of art, served to prove the greatness of the ruler
• The study of classical texts brought deeper understanding of ancient ideas; classical themes and motifs, such as the lives and loves of pagan gods and goddesses, figured into art pieces
• The individual portrait became distinct artistic genre (Renaissance portraits mirrored reality)
• Florentine Masaccio, sometimes called the father of modern painting, inspired a new style characterized by great realism, narrative power, and remarkably effective use of light/dark
• Rich color decorative detail, curvilinear rhythms, and saying forms (international style)
• Narrative artists depicted the body in a more scientific and natural manner
• Perspective in painting, the linear representation of distance and space on a flat surface
• In the Renaissance the social status of the artist improved as the Renaissance artist was considered a free intellectual worker and usually worked on commission from a powerful prince; thus the artist’s reputation depended on the support of the powerful patrons
• Renaissance society respected and rewarded the distinguished artist
• Renaissance artists were not only aware of their creative power, they also boasted about it; some medieval painters and sculptors had signed their works but now, Renaissance artists almost universally did so, and many of them incorporated self-portraits
• The medieval conception recognized no particular value in artistic originality
• Renaissance artists and humanists thought that a work of art was the deliberate creation of a unique personality, of an individual who transcended traditions, rules, and theories
• The culture of the Renaissance was that of a small mercantile elite, a business participant with aristocratic pretensions; the Renaissance maintained a gulf between the learned minority and the uneducated multitude that had survived for so many centuries
• One of the central preoccupations of the humanists was education and moral behavior such as the treatises on the structure and goals of education and the training of rulers
• Part of Vergerio’s treatise specifies subjects for the instruction of young men in public life: history teaches virtues by examples from the past, ethics focuses on virtue itself, and rhetoric or public speaking trains for eloquence
• Baldassare Castiglione’s The Courtier sought to train, discipline, and fashion the young man into the courtly ideal, the gentleman; the educated man of the upper class should have a broad background in many academic subjects, and his spiritual and physical as well as intellectual capabilities should be trained (familiar with dance, music, the arts)
• The subject of The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli is political power: how the ruler should gain, maintain, and increase it – also addressed citizen’s relationship to the state
• Machiavelli concluded that human beings are selfish and out to advance their own interest and this pessimistic view of humanity held him to maintain that the prince may have to manipulate the people in any way he finds necessary (fox and lion)
• Medieval political theory had derived ultimately from Saint Augustine’s view that the state arose as a consequence of Adam’s fall and people’s propensity to sin
• The test of good government was whether it provided justice, law, and order
• They set high moral and Christian standards for the ruler’s conduct (increase of power?)
• Machiavelli even showed his strong commitment to republican government
• In the thirteenth century, paper money and playing cards from China reached the West; they were block-printed (characters were carved into a wooden clock, inked, and the words or illustrations transferred to paper) -- method expensive and time consuming
• In 1455, Johann Gutenberg, Johann Fust, and Peter Schoffer started movable type; the mirror image of each letter was carved in relief on a small block
• Since letters could be arranged into any format, an infinite variety of texts could be printed by reusing and rearranging pieces of type
• The knowledge of paper manufacture had originated in China, and the Arabs introduced it to the West in the twelfth century; durable paper was far less expensive than parchment
• Printing transformed both the private and the public lives of Europeans making propaganda possible, emphasizing differences between opposing groups, such church and state
• These differences laid the basis for the formation of distinct political parties
• Printing also stimulated the literacy of lay people and eventually came to have a deep effect on their private lives; printers printed moralizing, medical, practical, and travel manuals
• Since books and other printed materials were read aloud to illiterate listeners, print bridged the gap between written and oral cultures
• During the Renaissance the status of upper-class women declined – in terms of the kind of work they performed, their access to property and political power, and their role in shaping the outlook of their society, women had generally less power than women in the feudal age
• In cities of Renaissance Italy, young ladies learned their letters and studied the classics and many read Greek as well as Latin, knew poetry, and could speak Spanish or French
• Laura Cereta illustrates the successes and failures of educated Renaissance women
• Educated by her father. She learned languages, philosophy, theology, and mathematics and she gained self-confidence and a healthy respect for her own potential
• The question of marriage forced the issue; she could choose a husband, family, and full participation in social life or else study and withdrawal from the world
• Women’s inferiority was derived not from the divine order of things but from themselves
• Men frequently believed that in becoming learned, a woman ceased to be a woman
• Women were supposed to know how to attract artists and literati to her husband’s court and how to grace her husband’s household, whereas an educated man was supposed to know how to rule and participate in public affairs
• In Castiglione’s The Courtier , the woman was to make herself pleasing to the man; with respect to love and sex, the Renaissance witnessed a downward shift in the women’s status
• Educational opportunities being severely limited, few girls received an education (social divide) but apart from that, the works of the Renaissance had no effect on ordinary women
• Rape was not considered a particularly serious crime against either the victim or society. Noble youths committed a higher percentage or rapes than their small numbers
• The rape of a young girl of marriageable age or a child under twelve was considered a graver crime than the rape of a married woman
• By contrast, the sexual assault of a noblewoman by a man of working-class origin, which was extraordinarily rare, resulted in a sever penalization because the crime had social and political overtones
• Early medieval penitential and church councils had legislated against abortion and infanticide
• Infanticide -- some were simply abandoned outdoors; some were said to have been crushed to death while sleeping in the same bed with their parents; some died from “crib death” or suffocation and occurred to frequently to have all been accidental
• Far more girls than boys died, thus reflection societal discrimination against girl children as inferior and less useful than boys (also sometimes the cause was poverty)
• But beginning in the fifteenth century, sizable numbers of black slaves entered Europe
• Black servants, because of their rarity, were highly prized and much sought after
• Many served as maids, valets, and domestic servants
• They supplemented the labor force in virtually all occupations---as agricultural laborers, craftsmen, herdsmen, frappe pickers, workers in the manufacture of olive oil, and seamen on ships going to Lisbon and Africa
• Most Europeans’ knowledge of the black as a racial type were based entirely on theological speculation; theologians taught that God was light and so blackness, therefore represented the hostile forces of the underworld: evil, sin, and the devil
• Blackness symbolized the emptiness of worldly goods, the humility of the monastic way of life; black clothes permitted a conservative and discreet display of wealth (Christ had said that those who mourn are those who are blessed)
• In Renaissance society, blacks, like women, were signs of wealth; both used for display
• In the last quarter of the fifteenth century, Italian Renaissance thought and ideals penetrated northern Europe; students from the Low Countries, France, Germany, and England flocked to Italy, imbibed the “new learning” and carried it back to their countries
• Northern humanists interpreted classical antiquity, individualism, and humanism in terms of their own traditions, even though in Italy, secular and pagan themes and Greco-Roman motifs received more humanistic attention
• Christian humanists believe that the best elements of classical and Christian cultures should be combined for example, classical ideals of calmness, stoical patience, and broad-mindedness with Christian virtues of love, faith, and hope
• Northern humanists were impatient with Scholastic philosophy and believed it was capable of improvement through education, which would lead to peaty and an ethical way of life
• Works of French priest Jacques Lefevre d’Etaples attempted to apply humanistic learning to religious problems and wrote a solid education in the Scriptures would increase piety and raise the level of behavior in the Christian society
• Englishman Thomas More towered above other figures in sixteenth-century English social and intellectual history ( Utopia written in 1516)
• Utopia describes an ideal socialistic community on an island somewhere where children receive a good education, primarily in the Greco-Roman classics, and learning does not cease with maturity, for the goal of all education is to develop rational faculties; adults divide their days equally between manual labor or business pursuits and activities
• Because the profits from business and property are held strictly in common, there is absolute social equality and the citizens lead an ideal existence living by reason
• Society’s flawed institutions were responsible for corruption and war
• More, the key to improvement and reform of the individual was reform of the social institutions that molded the individual
• Better known by contemporaries was Dutch humanist Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam
• Two fundamental themes run through all of Erasmus’s scholarly work
• Education is the means to reform, the key to moral and intellectual improvement; the core of education ought to be study of the Bible and the classics
• “The philosophy of Christ” -- Christianity is an inner attitude of the heart of spirit; Christianity is not formalism, special ceremonies, or law. Christianity is Christ—is life and what he said and did, not what theologians have written (the Sermon on the Mount, for Erasmus, expresses the heart of the Christian message)
• French humanist Francois Rabelais was convinced that “laughter is the essence of manhood”
• Rabelais combined the Renaissance zest for life and enjoyment of pleasure with a classical insistence on the cultivation of the body and the mind
• Jan van Eyck, one of the earliest artists to use oil-based paints successfully, shows the Flemish love for detail in paintings such as Ghent Altarpiece or Giovanni Arnofini and his Bride , the effect is great realism and remarkable attention to human personality
• A quasi-spiritual aura likewise infuses architectural monuments in the north from shrines by the northern architecture was little influenced by the classical revival
• Sheriffs, inquests, juries, circuit judges, professional bureaucracies, and representative assemblies all trace their origins to the twelfth and thirteenth centuries
• The resurgent power of feudal nobilities weakened the centralizing work begun earlier
• Rulers began the work of reducing violence, curbing unruly nobles and troublesome elements, and establishing domestic order
• Dictators and oligarchs of the Italian city-states preferred to be secure, rather than loved
• These monarchs were new in that they invested kingship with a strong sense of royal authority and national purpose; they stressed that monarchy was the one institution that linked all classes and peoples within definite territorial boundaries
• These monarchs ruthlessly suppressed opposition and rebellion, especially from the noble
• They seized the maxim of the Justinian Code, “what pleases the prince has the force of the law” and rulers tended to rely on middle-class civil servants
• With tax revenues, medieval rulers had built armies to crush feudal anarchy
• The Hundred Years’ War left France badly divided, drastically depopulated, commercially ruined, and agriculturally weak under the control of Charles VII
• Charles reconciled the Burgundians and Armagnacs, who had been waging civil war for thirty years and by 1453, the French armies had almost completely driven out the English
• Charles reorganized the royal council, giving more influence to the middle-class men and strengthened royal finances with taxes such as those on salt and land
• Charles created the first permanent royal army by establishing regular cavalry/archers
• Pragmatic Sanction of Bourges, asserting the superiority of a general council over the papacy, giving the French crown major control over the appointment of bishops and depriving the pope of French ecclesiastical revenues (Gallican liberties)
• Charles’s son Louis XI (“Spider King”) promoted new industries, such as silk weaving and welcomed tradesmen and foreign craftsmen, he entered into commercial treaties
• With the army Louis stopped aristocratic brigandage and slowly cut into urban independence (goal of expanding royal authority and unifying the kingdom)
• On the timely death of Charles the Bold, duke of Burgundy, France gained the territory and the extinction of the house of Anjou France gained Anjou, Bar, Maine, and Provence
• Louis was thought to be typical of the new monarchs in his reliance on finances supplied by the middle classes to fight feudal nobility
• Francis I and Pope Leo X formed a new treaty, the Concordat of Bolonga, in 1516
• The treaty canceled the Pragmatic Sanction’s superiority of the general council over the papacy and approved the pope’s right to receive the income of new bishops and abbots; in return, Leo X recognized the French ruler’s right to select French bishops and abbots
• Population decimated by the Black Death, continued to decline in England
• Henry V was dependent on the feudal magnates who controlled the royal council/Parliament
• Henry V’s death gave the barons a perfect opportunity to entrench their power and between 1455 and 1471, the ducal houses of York and Lancaster waged civil war, commonly called the Wars of the Roses (York -- white and Lancastrians – red)
• The war hurt trade, agriculture, and domestic industry
• Edward IV began establishing domestic tranquility and defeated the Lancastrian forces and began to reconstruct the monarchy and consolidate royal power after 1471
• Edward, a brother Richard III, and Henry VII of the Welsh house of Tudor worked to restore royal prestige, to crush the power of the nobility, and to establish order and law at local level
• All three rulers used methods that Machiavelli would have praised -- ruthlessness, efficiency, and secrecy
• The Parliament had been the arena where nobles exerted their power and because the monarchy was dependent on the Lords and the Commons for revenue, the king had to call Parliament and he lived on his own financial resources
• Edward conducted foreign policy on the basis of diplomacy avoiding expensive wars
• Henry VII used these assemblies primarily to confirm laws and Parliament remained the highest court in the land and a statute approved there by the lords, bishops, and Commons gave the appearance of broad national support plus thorough judicial authority
• The center of royal authority was the royal council which handled any business the king put before it -- executive, legislative or judicial
• The council also prepared laws for parliamentary ratification
• Henry VII set up the court of Star Chamber to prevent aristocratic interference in the administration of justice and to combat fur-collar criminal activity
• Unlike Spain/France, England had no standing army or professional civil service bureaucracy
• The Tudors won the support of the influential upper middle class because the Crown linked government policy with the interests of that class
• Henry VII rebuilt the monarchy and encouraged the cloth industry and merchant marine
• Henry VII crushed an invasion from Ireland and secured peace with Scotland
• He left a country at peace both domestically and internationally, a substantially augmented treasury, and the dignity and role of the royal majesty much enhanced
• The central theme in the history of medieval Spain was disunity and plurality
• The centuries-long reconquista -- the attempts of northern Christian kingdoms to control the entire peninsula -- had both military and religious objectives: expulsion or conversion of the Arabs and Jews and political control of the south
• The wedding in 1469 of Isabella, heiress of Castile and Ferdinand, heir of Aragon was the final major step in the unification and Christianization of Spain
• Although Ferdinand and Isabella pursued a common foreign policy, Spain under their rule remained a loose confederation of separate states
• Each kingdom continued to maintain its parliament, laws, systems of coinage & taxation
• To curb rebellious and warring aristocracy, they revived an old medieval institution: the hermandades , or “brotherhood,” which were popular groups in the towns given the authority to act both as local police forces and judicial tribunals
• They also restructured the royal council in which aristocrats and great territorial magnates were rigorously excluded; thus the influence of the nobility on state policy was reduced
• Thus, executive, judicial, and legislative power was under the monarchy
• The council, people of middle-class background, supervised the local authorities
• Through a diplomatic alliance with the Spanish pope Alexander VI, the Spanish monarchs secured the right to appoint bishops and because of this the monarch could influence ecclesiastical policy, wealth, and military resources
• Revenues from church estates could raise an army to continue the reconquista
• Granada in the south was incorporated into the Spanish kingdom and in 1512, Ferdinand conquered Navarre in the north
• Although the Arabs had been defeated, there still remained a sizable amount of Jews
• Jews had played a decisive role in the economic and intellectual life of several of the Spanish kingdoms
• Anti-Semitic riots and pogroms in the late fourteenth century led many Jews to convert; they were called conversos
• At first, Isabella and Ferdinand continued the policy of royal toleration but many conversos reverted back to their faith of their ancestors and Ferdinand and Isabella secure Rome’s permission to revive the Inquisition, a medieval judicial procedure for heretic punishment
• The Spanish Inquisition commonly applied torture to extract confessions
• Shortly after the reduction of the Moorish stronghold at Granada in 1492, Isabella and Ferdinand issued an edict expelling all practicing Jews from Spain (150,000 out of 200,000)
• Absolute religious orthodoxy and purity of blood (untainted by Jews or Muslims) served as the theoretical foundation of the Spanish national state
• When Charles’s son Philip II united Portugal to the Spanish crown in 1580, the Iberian Peninsula was at last politically united

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More ap euro chapter outlines.

• Chapter 12 Identifications (Spielvogel)
• Chapter 14: Reform and Renewal in the Christian Church
• Chapter 15: The Age of European Expansion and Religious Wars
• Chapter 16: Absolutism and Constitutionalism in Western Europe
• Chapter 17: Absolutism in Eastern Europe to 1740
• Chapter 18: Toward a New World-view
• Chapter 19: The Expansion of Europe in the Eighteenth Century
• Chapter 21: The Revolution in Politics (1775-1815)
• Chapter 22: The Revolution in Energy and Industry
• Chapter 23: Ideologies and Upheavals
• Chapter 24: Life in the Changing Urban Society
• Chapter 25: The Age of Nationalism
• Chapter 26: The West and the World
• Chapter 27: The Great Break: War and Revolution
• Chapter 28: The Age of Anxiety
• Chapter 29: Dictatorships and the Second World War
• Chapter 30: Cold War Conflicts and Social Transformations, 1945-1985
• Chapter 31: Revolution, Rebuilding, and New Challenges: 1985 to the Present
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Eng 102 - The Argumentative Essay: Harlem Renaissance

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• Issues and Controversies

Harlem Renaissance

Issues and Controversies in American History  is an excellent source for information on the Harlem Renaissance . 

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The issue:  Should Harlem Renaissance writers and artists primarily seek to integrate with mainstream culture and advance the political goals of the civil rights establishment through their works? Or should Renaissance artists be free to express authentic and distinctly African American themes?

• Arguments for cultural integration:  In order to counter more than a century of racist stereotypes of blacks in American pop culture, Renaissance artists have an obligation to convey "respectable" images of African Americans to white society. In other words, art should be used as a political means, not for its own sake. Once black culture is accepted and integrated into mainstream culture, then political, social and economic equality will follow. Furthermore, the whole notion of "black art" is stereotypical in its own right; artists should express a wide array of themes and subject matter that aims to transcend racial identity.
• Arguments against cultural integration:  Countering racist portrayals in popular culture is crucial to achieving equality for African Americans, but not at the cost of sacrificing authentic and realistic forms of black artistry. A Renaissance artist should capture the unique voice of the black masses, not the whitewashed, "proper" portrayals that cater to the elite tastes of the black bourgeoisie and white society. The melting pot of cultural integration should be rejected in favor of the mosaic of cultural harmony, in which many cultures coexist apart from one another. Only when African Americans are accepted and respected for their own unique culture can genuine equality follow.

Harlem 1900-1940 . The website for the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture contains an online exhibition on black life in Harlem during the era of the Harlem Renaissance. Includes timeline of events, images, text, bibliography, and resources for teachers.

Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia . A project Ferris State University, the Jim Crow Museum website houses an exhaustive collection of artifacts documenting the Jim Crow era.

Rhapsodies in Black . The Institute of International Visual Arts presents an online exhibition of text and images highlighting the history and culture of the Harlem Renaissance. 

The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow . The website for the PBS series includes brief summary text and images exploring the Harlem Renaissance. Links to related topics and larger themes provided.  

Second Resource:

The Gale In Context: U.S. History database provides access to Academic Journals, Magazines, Primary Sources, Reference Books, and Biographies related to the Harlem Renaissance . 

The Harlem Renaissance (c. 1918- c. 1937) was an important period in the development of African American culture. During this era, a group of influential figures in the creative arts helped to turn the New York City neighborhood of Harlem into a major center of African American music, literature, politics, and culture. It was less a movement than an attempt by artists to support each other in a cultural environment during a period in American history when there was not broad support for African American creative expression.

Also called the “New Negro Movement,” the Harlem Renaissance was merely the most famous of several urban clusters of African American expression. Cities such as Chicago, Kansas City, Memphis, and Cleveland were also...

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"Harlem Renaissance."  Gale U.S. History Online Collection , Gale, 2020.  Gale In Context: U.S. History , https://link-gale-com.ezproxy.tmcc.edu/apps/doc/CSVSGR697740729/UHIC?u=tmcc_main&sid=UHIC&xid=5f9a33e3. Accessed 9 Apr. 2020.

The EBSCO ebook collection provides access to dozens of books dedicated to the Harlem Renaissance.

Use the Table of Contents to identify specific aspects of the Harlem Renaissance. 

Subjects:  SOCIAL SCIENCE / Ethnic Studies / American / African American Studies; American literature--African American authors--History and criticism; African American arts--New York (State)--New York--20th century; African American arts--20th century; African Americans--Intellectual life--20th century;  Harlem Renaissance ; African Americans--New York (State)--New York--Intellectual life--20th century

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Huggins, Nathan Irvin.  Harlem Renaissance . Vol. Updated ed, Oxford University Press, 2007.  EBSCOhost , search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=362479&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

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Renaissance Essay | Essay on Renaissance for Students and Children in English

February 13, 2024 by Prasanna

Renaissance Essay:  The word renaissance means rebirth. The Renaissance that took place in the periods of 15th and 16th centuries in is probably one of the most celebrated periods of European history. Even though two different periods of history do not have any form of demarcation, but the Renaissance worked to mark the transition from the Medieval Age to the Modern Age.

The Renaissance period is celebrated all around the globe. It has been an important period to pave culture and art in Europe, which eventually spread all around the globe due to colonization.

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Long and Short Essays on Renaissance for Students and Kids in English

We are providing students with essay samples on a long essay of 500 words and a short essay of 150 words on the topic “Renaissance” for reference.

Long Essay on Renaissance 500 Words in English

Long Essay on Renaissance is usually given to classes 7, 8, 9, and 10.

The meaning of the word renaissance means rebirth. The period was named so as the period was almost sort of a rebirth of human thinking capabilities, art, culture, morals, etc. in Europe between the 14th and 16th centuries (the period is debated over at times). The Renaissance has been associated with the great social change which followed the later medieval period (a period of crisis).

It is said that the period of the Renaissance was a break from the middle ages, but some argue that it was an extension of the Middle Ages. Humanism is what defined the earliest ages of the Renaissance which came into being and formation because of the events of the later Middle Ages, such as the fall of the Roman Catholic Church and intellectual reawakening.

Humanism developed earliest in Italy by secular men like Leonardo Bruni, Giovanni Pico Della Mirandola, etc. instead of scholar clerics who had dominated intellectual awakening in the Middle Ages. Dante was one of the predecessors of Humanism.

The concept of Humanism was derived from the concept of Roman Humanitas and the rediscovery that was done regarding Greek philosophy, one of them being the Protagoras. The fall of Constantinople worked as a boost for Humanism and many scholars arrived in Italy with books and manuscripts from Greece. Humanism emphasized took all forms of human manifestation as a subject emphasized the dignity of man and highlighted about the compatibility and unity of all truth in syncretism.

Art and architecture, science, culture, geography, religion, political establishments and human thinking, all went through massive changes in the period of Renaissance. In art, during the Renaissance, the ‘point perspective’ was established, and artists like Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael flourished. Even though Michelangelo and Raphael were contemporaries and both had their unique styles with the touch of Renaissance Art and hence were both celebrated for their differences and similarities. Da Vinci’s work on human anatomy is something that the world will be ever grateful for. Thus, intermingling art and science also led to scientific and medical changes and improvements during the Renaissance.

Europeans set out into the world and found out about the various other continents and established trade connections (which later led to colonization) with them. Christopher Columbus is one big name during this period because he was responsible for the finding of the ‘New World’ (even though Columbus intended to find a different route to India, hence when he landed on the ‘New World’ he thought it was India).In the scientific fieldworks of Copernicus, Vesalius, Galileo, Kepler, etc. are celebrated. Copernicus’ book ‘On the revolutions of the heavenly spheres’ (translated in English) and Vesalius’ book on ‘The Workings of the Human Body’ paved ways for several other scientific innovations and discoveries, which, many historians argue paved the way for the Modern Age to set in. The Renaissance period, to be defined in a single sentence was the period of light, discoveries, rebirth and reawakening.

Short Essay on Renaissance 150 Words in English

Short Essay on Renaissance is usually given to classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

The time between the Medieval Age and Modern Age in Europe is called the Renaissance French word), which means rebirth. It took place around 14th to 16th centuries which at times are also argued by historians.

Some prefer to segregate the Renaissance as a separate period. In contrast, some say that it was the extension of the later Medieval Age, regardless it worked as a marking period between the medieval age and modern age. Art, architecture, science, literature, geography, human thinking and philosophy, religion and political and social structures, all by mingling with each other, went through a reawakening or rebirth, hence living up to the name of the period in history.

Humanism, beginning in Italy, was one of the earliest characteristic features of the Renaissance which was inspired by the Roman ‘Humanitas’ and was ignited by the fall of Constantinople which led scholars to come into Italy with Greek books and manuscripts. Historians believe that the later developments in science and medicine are what led to the setting in of the Modern Age.

10 Lines on Renaissance in English

• The word Renaissance means ‘rebirth’.
• The Renaissance took place in Europe between the Middle and Modern Ages.
• The time of the Renaissance starts from the 14th century and continues onto the 16th century.
• One main and earliest aspect of the Renaissance was Humanism.
• The fall of Constantinople in 1453 ignited the path for Humanism.
• New continents were discovered during this time, which led to trade and later colonization.
• Ptolemaic astronomy replaced Copernican astronomy.
• Leonardo Da Vinci’s works on the human body and anatomy through his art paved the way for development in science.
• There was an increased interest in Classical Scholarship values.
• The Renaissance is one of the most celebrated historical times.

FAQ’s on Huck Finn Essay

Question 1.  What does the word Renaissance Mean?

Answer:  The French word Renaissance means rebirth.

Question 2.  When did the Renaissance take place?

Answer:  The Renaissance took place between the 14th and 16th centuries.

Question 3.  What is the Renaissance?

Answer: Renaissance is a period in history when in Europe science, art, medicine, astronomy, art, literature, human values flourished and had an awakening, leaving an impact all over the world. It worked as a demarcation point between the middle and modern age.

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Renaissance Research Paper Topics

In this comprehensive page on Renaissance research paper topics , we delve into a captivating array of historical subjects that shaped one of the most transformative periods in human history. Within the following sections, we will present an extensive list of Renaissance research paper topics divided into 10 categories, explore the profound impact of the Renaissance on various aspects of society, and provide valuable insights on selecting and crafting exceptional research papers. As a bonus, we will showcase iResearchNet’s writing services, offering students the opportunity to unlock their full potential in academic excellence. Embrace the journey of rediscovering the Renaissance era through the lens of research and academic exploration.

100 Renaissance Research Paper Topics

The Renaissance period was a time of remarkable cultural, artistic, and intellectual growth, spanning from the 14th to the 17th century in Europe. It marked a significant shift from the medieval era to the modern age, reviving classical learning, embracing humanism, and unleashing a surge of creativity across various disciplines. Delving into the captivating realm of Renaissance history, we present a comprehensive list of research paper topics, organized into 10 categories, each capturing a unique facet of this transformative era.

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• Leonardo da Vinci: The Universal Genius and His Masterpieces
• Michelangelo’s David: A Symbol of Human Perfection
• The Sistine Chapel Ceiling: Unraveling the Symbolism
• Raphael’s School of Athens: Portrayal of Renaissance Philosophers
• Titian’s Venus of Urbino: Redefining Beauty in Art
• Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus: Reviving Classical Mythology
• Donatello and the Renaissance Sculptural Revolution
• Jan van Eyck and the Pioneering Techniques of Northern Renaissance Art
• Caravaggio: The Controversial Genius of Baroque Art
• Vermeer’s Mastery of Light and Shadows: The Girl with a Pearl Earring
• Dante Alighieri and The Divine Comedy: A Journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise
• Petrarch’s Sonnets: The Father of Humanism and Modern Love Poetry
• Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales: A Window into Medieval and Renaissance England
• Shakespeare’s Hamlet: A Tragic Hero in a Changing World
• Machiavelli’s The Prince: A Political Handbook for Rulers
• Montaigne’s Essays: Personal Reflections in a Time of Intellectual Transition
• Cervantes’ Don Quixote: Satire and the Birth of the Modern Novel
• Sir Thomas More’s Utopia: An Exploration of Ideal Societies
• Rabelais’ Gargantua and Pantagruel: Satire, Humanism, and Social Critique
• John Milton’s Paradise Lost: A Religious Epic in a Time of Religious Turmoil
• Copernicus and the Heliocentric Model: Challenging the Geocentric Universe
• Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion: Revolutionizing Astronomy
• Galileo’s Observations and the Telescope: Advancements in Science and Technology
• Vesalius and the Fabric of the Human Body: A New Understanding of Anatomy
• Harvey’s Circulation of Blood: Groundbreaking Discoveries in Physiology
• Bacon’s Scientific Method: The Empirical Approach to Knowledge
• Newton’s Laws of Motion and Universal Gravitation: The Foundation of Modern Physics
• The Invention of the Printing Press: Revolutionizing Communication and Education
• The Exploration and Mapping of New Worlds: The Age of Discovery
• The Renaissance Impact on Navigational Techniques and Cartography
• The Renaissance Papacy: The Influence of the Church on Politics and Culture
• The Medici Family: Patrons of the Arts and Political Power in Renaissance Florence
• The Tudor Dynasty: Consolidating Power in England during the Renaissance
• The Habsburg Dynasty: European Politics and Diplomacy in the Renaissance
• The Holy Roman Empire: Challenges and Transformations in the Renaissance
• The Ottoman Empire: Expansion and Cultural Exchange during the Renaissance
• The Role of Women in Renaissance Politics: From Queens to Noblewomen
• The Rise of City-States: Venice, Genoa, and the Renaissance Maritime Republics
• The Thirty Years’ War: Religious Conflicts and Political Realignment in Europe
• The Peace of Westphalia: Redefining State Sovereignty and International Relations
• The Protestant Reformation: Martin Luther and the Ninety-Five Theses
• The Counter-Reformation: The Catholic Church’s Response to Protestantism
• The Council of Trent: Reaffirming Catholic Doctrines and Addressing Corruption
• Erasmus and Humanist Theology: The Quest for Religious Reform from Within
• Savonarola and the Bonfire of the Vanities: Religious Zeal and Cultural Destruction
• The Spanish Inquisition: Religious Persecution and the Quest for Orthodoxy
• The Anabaptist Movement: Radical Reformers in the Early Modern Period
• The Impact of the Reformation on Art and Iconography: From Religious to Secular Themes
• The Printing Press and the Spread of Religious Ideas: Dissemination of Reformist Writings
• The Edict of Nantes: Religious Tolerance and the Challenges of Coexistence
• Humanism and the Rediscovery of Ancient Learning: The Renaissance Intellectual Revolution
• The Influence of Classical Greek and Roman Philosophy on Renaissance Thought
• Pico della Mirandola’s Oration on the Dignity of Man: Human Potential and Freedom
• Giordano Bruno: Philosopher, Astronomer, and Heretic in the Renaissance
• The Impact of Stoicism and Epicureanism on Renaissance Ethics
• Renaissance Neoplatonism: The Search for Spiritual Unity and Harmony
• The Debate on Free Will and Predestination in Renaissance Theology and Philosophy
• The Skepticism of Michel de Montaigne: Questioning Truth and Knowledge
• Machiavelli and Political Realism: The Pragmatic Approach to Politics
• Francis Bacon’s New Atlantis: Utopian Vision and the Advancement of Knowledge
• Palestrina and the Renaissance Polyphony: Sacred Music in the Catholic Church
• The Advent of Opera: Monteverdi and the Birth of a New Art Form
• Josquin des Prez: Master of Renaissance Choral Music
• The Influence of Renaissance Music on Later Baroque Composers
• Orlando di Lasso: The International Composer of the Renaissance
• Gabrieli and the Venetian School: Innovations in Instrumental Music
• The Development of Musical Notation in the Renaissance
• Thomas Tallis and William Byrd: English Renaissance Composers
• Secular Music in the Renaissance: Madrigals, Chansons, and Villancicos
• Music Patronage in the Renaissance: The Role of Courts and Noble Families
• Filippo Brunelleschi and the Dome of Florence Cathedral: Engineering Marvel of the Renaissance
• Andrea Palladio: The Architect of the Venetian Renaissance
• The Medici Villas: Harmonizing Nature and Architecture in Renaissance Tuscany
• St. Peter’s Basilica: Michelangelo’s Architectural Legacy in Rome
• The Influence of Islamic Architecture on Renaissance Europe
• The Renaissance Garden: Artistic Expression in Landscape Design
• The Development of Perspective in Renaissance Painting and Architecture
• The Influence of Renaissance Architecture on Later Periods
• The Renaissance Palaces: Symbol of Power and Prestige
• The Evolution of Renaissance Urban Planning and Design
• The Elizabethan Theater: Shakespeare and the Golden Age of English Drama
• The Globe Theater: An Iconic Venue for Renaissance Theatrical Performances
• Christopher Marlowe: The Tragic Dramatist of the Elizabethan Era
• Commedia dell’Arte: The Italian Renaissance Improvisational Comedy
• The Role of Women in Renaissance Theater: Actresses and Playwrights
• Seneca’s Influence on Renaissance Tragedy: From Rome to the English Stage
• The Impact of Renaissance Drama on Society and Culture
• Renaissance Theater Costumes and Stagecraft: Enhancing the Theatrical Experience
• Moral Themes and Allegory in Renaissance Drama
• Renaissance Theater and the Exploration of Human Nature
• The Renaissance Court: Intrigue, Politics, and Cultural Patronage
• Education and Humanism in Renaissance Europe: The Rise of the Educated Elite
• The Role of Women in Renaissance Society: From Queens to Commoners
• The Renaissance Feast: Culinary Arts and Social Gatherings
• The Development of Banking and Finance in Renaissance Italy
• Renaissance Fashion and Clothing: Style, Status, and Symbolism
• The Printing Revolution and the Dissemination of Knowledge in Renaissance Europe
• Renaissance Medicine and Healthcare: Advancements and Superstitions
• The Renaissance Impact on Family Life and Marriage
• Renaissance Travel and Exploration: Journeys of Discovery and Exchange

Delve into the enchanting world of the Renaissance era through these captivating research paper topics, each offering a unique perspective on one of the most transformative periods in human history. As you embark on your academic journey, may these subjects inspire your exploration and contribute to a deeper understanding of the remarkable achievements and complexities of the Renaissance. The road to intellectual discovery awaits you, as you uncover the rich tapestry of cultural, artistic, and intellectual growth that shaped the course of history.

Renaissance: Exploring the Revival of Knowledge and Creativity

The Renaissance, a remarkable period spanning from the 14th to the 17th century, marked a profound intellectual, cultural, and artistic awakening in Europe. It emerged as a response to the challenges and transformations brought about by the Middle Ages, bringing forth a renewed interest in the classical works of ancient Greece and Rome. This revival of knowledge and creativity laid the foundation for the modern world, shaping the course of history and leaving a lasting impact on various aspects of human civilization.

Rediscovering the Past

The Renaissance was characterized by a fervent desire to rediscover and emulate the achievements of classical antiquity. Scholars and intellectuals sought to study and preserve the works of ancient Greek and Roman authors, including philosophers like Plato and Aristotle, historians like Herodotus and Thucydides, and poets like Homer and Virgil. The translation and dissemination of classical texts were instrumental in spreading ancient wisdom and sparking intellectual curiosity across Europe.

Humanism and the Celebration of Human Potential

At the core of the Renaissance was humanism, an intellectual movement that emphasized the value and potential of the individual. Humanists believed in the power of reason and sought to develop human capabilities in various fields, including literature, art, science, and politics. They promoted education and sought to create well-rounded individuals, known as the “Renaissance man” or “Renaissance woman,” who could excel in multiple areas of knowledge and expertise.

Artistic Renaissance and the Mastery of Realism

The Renaissance witnessed a flourishing of art, with artists exploring new techniques and styles to depict the world with unprecedented realism. This period saw the emergence of legendary artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Titian, who brought forth a level of detail and skill that had not been seen since the classical era. Their masterpieces captured the essence of the human form, as well as the beauty of the natural world.

Patronage and the Medici Influence

The support of wealthy patrons, notably the Medici family in Florence, played a crucial role in the flourishing of the arts during the Renaissance. These patrons sponsored artists, architects, and scholars, providing them with the resources and opportunities to create their finest works. The Medici, in particular, were influential in nurturing artistic talent and promoting cultural exchange.

Scientific Advancements and the Pursuit of Knowledge

The Renaissance also witnessed significant advancements in the field of science. Pioneering minds like Nicolaus Copernicus, Galileo Galilei, and Johannes Kepler challenged the geocentric model of the universe and proposed the heliocentric model, which placed the Sun at the center of the solar system. These breakthroughs laid the groundwork for the scientific revolution that would follow in the centuries ahead.

Literary and Linguistic Achievements

In addition to the revival of classical literature, the Renaissance also witnessed the development of vernacular languages, such as Italian, English, French, and Spanish, as literary languages. Writers like Dante Alighieri, Geoffrey Chaucer, and Miguel de Cervantes contributed to the elevation of their respective languages through their literary works, such as “The Divine Comedy,” “The Canterbury Tales,” and “Don Quixote.”

Religious Reformation and the Impact on Art and Thought

The Renaissance coincided with the Protestant Reformation, led by figures like Martin Luther and John Calvin. This movement challenged the authority of the Catholic Church and led to religious conflicts across Europe. The impact of the Reformation on art and thought was profound, with artists and intellectuals grappling with questions of faith, morality, and individual spirituality.

Scientific Method and the Empirical Approach:

The Renaissance saw the emergence of the scientific method, an approach to inquiry that relied on observation, experimentation, and evidence-based reasoning. This marked a departure from the reliance on ancient authorities and paved the way for modern scientific inquiry, laying the foundation for the Age of Enlightenment.

Architecture and Urban Planning

Renaissance architects, inspired by the classical orders and principles of ancient Roman architecture, designed magnificent structures, including cathedrals, palaces, and public buildings. The era also witnessed advancements in urban planning, resulting in the creation of elegant cities and well-designed public spaces.

Legacy of the Renaissance

The legacy of the Renaissance continues to reverberate throughout the centuries, leaving an indelible mark on human history. Its impact on art, science, literature, philosophy, and politics laid the groundwork for the subsequent periods of intellectual and cultural growth, shaping the modern world we inhabit today.

The Renaissance, a time of intellectual and creative rebirth, remains a source of fascination and inspiration for scholars and history enthusiasts alike. The revival of knowledge, the celebration of human potential, and the pursuit of artistic excellence during this period continue to captivate our imagination and remind us of the enduring power of human ingenuity. As we explore the rich tapestry of the Renaissance, we gain a deeper understanding of the profound transformations that shaped the course of history and continue to influence our lives today.

How to Choose Renaissance Research Paper Topics

Selecting the right research paper topic is a crucial step in the academic journey, especially when delving into the vast and fascinating world of the Renaissance. With such a diverse and influential period in history, choosing a research paper topic can be both exciting and overwhelming. To assist you in this process, we have compiled a comprehensive guide with ten tips to help you navigate through the myriad of possibilities and select a compelling and engaging Renaissance research paper topic.

• Understand the Renaissance Period : Before choosing a research paper topic, it is essential to develop a solid understanding of the Renaissance period. Familiarize yourself with the historical context, major events, key figures, and prevailing cultural, intellectual, and artistic trends. This foundational knowledge will provide you with a broader perspective to identify specific areas of interest for your research.
• Identify Your Area of Interest : The Renaissance covers a wide range of subjects, including art, literature, science, politics, religion, philosophy, and more. Determine your area of interest and identify topics that resonate with you personally. Choosing a topic that captivates your curiosity will make the research process more enjoyable and productive.
• Narrow Down Your Topic : The Renaissance is a vast and multi-faceted period, so it is crucial to narrow down your research topic. Rather than attempting to cover the entire Renaissance, focus on a specific aspect, individual, city, or theme within the period. For example, you could explore the impact of the Renaissance on a particular region, such as Renaissance Florence or Renaissance England.
• Consult Secondary Sources : Conduct preliminary research using secondary sources, such as books, academic journals, and reputable websites. Secondary sources will provide you with insights into the existing scholarship on various Renaissance topics, helping you identify gaps in the research and potential areas for exploration.
• Formulate a Research Question : Once you have identified your area of interest, develop a clear and concise research question. A well-defined research question will guide your investigation and provide a focus for your paper. Make sure your research question is specific, relevant, and open to exploration.
• Consider Primary Sources : Incorporating primary sources in your research is essential for delving deeper into the historical context and gaining a firsthand perspective. Primary sources may include letters, diaries, artwork, speeches, and other contemporary materials. Accessing and analyzing these sources will enhance the authenticity and credibility of your research.
• Evaluate the Feasibility of Your Topic : Consider the availability of resources and the feasibility of conducting research on your chosen topic. Ensure that there is sufficient information and materials available to support your investigation. If your topic is too obscure or lacks credible sources, it may be challenging to develop a comprehensive research paper.
• Consult with Your Instructor or Advisor : Seeking guidance from your instructor or academic advisor can be valuable in refining your research paper topic. They can provide valuable feedback, suggest additional resources, and offer insights into potential research avenues.
• Stay Open to Revision : As you delve deeper into your research, be open to revising your research topic if necessary. You may discover new information or angles that lead you to modify your focus. Flexibility is key to ensuring your research paper evolves organically and addresses significant aspects of the Renaissance.
• Be Passionate and Curious : Ultimately, the most successful research paper topics are born out of passion and curiosity. Choose a topic that ignites your enthusiasm, as your passion for the subject will drive you to explore it thoroughly and produce an exceptional research paper.

Selecting a Renaissance research paper topic requires a careful balance of curiosity, knowledge, and focus. By understanding the period, identifying your interests, and formulating a specific research question, you can narrow down your options and choose a captivating topic that will engage readers and showcase your academic prowess. Embrace the opportunity to explore the rich and transformative era of the Renaissance, and let your research paper unveil the profound impact it had on the course of human history.

How to Write a Renaissance Research Paper

Writing a research paper on the Renaissance is an exciting endeavor that allows you to explore a period of history marked by a profound revival of art, culture, and knowledge. As you embark on this academic journey, it is essential to approach the writing process with a systematic and thoughtful approach. In this section, we will guide you through the steps to craft a well-structured and compelling Renaissance research paper.

• Conduct In-Depth Research : Before diving into the writing process, conduct thorough research on your chosen topic. Utilize both primary and secondary sources to gather relevant information and gain a comprehensive understanding of the Renaissance era. Take notes and organize your research material to streamline the writing process later.
• Develop a Strong Thesis Statement : Your thesis statement is the backbone of your research paper. It should present the main argument or point of your paper in a clear and concise manner. A strong thesis statement will provide direction to your writing and help readers understand the purpose of your research.
• Create an Outline : Organize your research and ideas into a well-structured outline. An outline serves as a roadmap for your paper, helping you arrange your thoughts logically and ensure a smooth flow of information. Divide your paper into sections and subsections, each supporting a specific aspect of your thesis.
• Introduction : Begin your research paper with an engaging introduction that provides context to the Renaissance era and presents your thesis statement. Hook your readers with a captivating opening and offer a brief overview of what they can expect from your paper.
• Provide Historical Context : In the introduction or early sections of your paper, provide the necessary historical context for readers who may not be familiar with the Renaissance. Highlight the key developments, events, and influential figures that characterize this period.
• Use Proper Citation and Referencing : When citing sources and referencing historical materials, adhere to the citation style specified by your instructor, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago/Turabian. Accurate and consistent citation ensures the credibility and authenticity of your research.
• Analyze Primary Sources : If your research includes primary sources from the Renaissance, analyze them critically. Offer insights into the significance of these materials and their relevance to your research topic. Use direct quotes or paraphrasing to support your arguments.
• Present Clear Arguments and Evidence : Each section of your research paper should present clear arguments supported by relevant evidence. Analyze your research findings and draw connections between different aspects of the Renaissance to strengthen your arguments.
• Address Counterarguments : Acknowledge and address potential counterarguments to your thesis. By engaging with opposing viewpoints, you demonstrate a nuanced understanding of the topic and present a more well-rounded research paper.
• Provide Critical Analysis : In addition to presenting information, offer critical analysis of the Renaissance era and its impact on society, art, politics, and culture. Demonstrate your ability to evaluate historical developments and draw meaningful conclusions from your research.
• Conclusion : Summarize the key points of your research and restate your thesis in the conclusion. Offer insights into the significance of your findings and how they contribute to the broader understanding of the Renaissance period.
• Revise and Edit : After completing the first draft, take time to revise and edit your research paper. Review the content for clarity, coherence, and accuracy. Check for grammatical errors, typos, and formatting issues. Consider seeking feedback from peers or instructors to gain different perspectives.
• Embrace Your Voice and Style : While adhering to academic conventions, let your unique voice and style shine through in your writing. Engaging and passionate writing will captivate your readers and make your research paper more enjoyable to read.

Writing a Renaissance research paper is a rewarding experience that allows you to explore the rich and transformative era of history. By conducting thorough research, developing a strong thesis, and presenting clear arguments supported by evidence, you can create an exceptional research paper that sheds light on the Renaissance’s enduring impact on human civilization. Embrace the opportunity to delve into this extraordinary period and let your passion for history shine in your writing.

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• In-Depth Research : Our writers are skilled researchers who know how to gather relevant and reliable sources for your Renaissance research paper. They delve into historical archives, academic databases, and reputable journals to provide well-supported and thoroughly researched papers.
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Are you ready to embark on a journey through the fascinating world of the Renaissance era? Do you seek to craft a remarkable research paper that captures the essence of this transformative period in history? Look no further! iResearchNet is here to unleash your potential and empower you to excel in your academic endeavors.

At iResearchNet, we understand that every student has unique needs and requirements. Whether you need assistance in selecting a research paper topic, conducting in-depth research, crafting a compelling thesis statement, or polishing your final draft, our services are tailored to your specific needs. We take pride in offering customized solutions that align with your academic goals.

At iResearchNet, your success is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to helping you achieve your academic goals and surpassing the expectations of your professors. When you choose our Renaissance writing services, you are choosing a path to academic excellence and a research paper that will leave a lasting impact.

Seize this opportunity to delve into the captivating world of the Renaissance and leave your mark with an exceptional research paper. Let iResearchNet be your guiding light as you explore this transformative era, uncovering its cultural, artistic, and intellectual wonders. Join our community of satisfied students who have experienced the excellence of our writing services. Unleash your potential with iResearchNet’s Renaissance writing services today!

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Visiting Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion?

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Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History Essays

Renaissance drawings: material and function.

Design Fragment for the Left Side of the 'Fonte Gaia' in Siena

Jacopo della Quercia (Jacopo di Pietro d’Angelo di Guarnieri)

Three Standing Figures (recto); Seated Woman and a Male Hermit in Half-length (verso)

Stefano da Verona (Stefano di Giovanni d'Arbosio di Francia)

Allegory on the Fidelity of the Lizard (recto); Design for a Stage Setting (verso)

• Leonardo da Vinci

Standing Youth with Hands Behind His Back, and a Seated Youth Reading (recto); Two Studies of Hands (verso)

Filippino Lippi

Design for the Tomb of Pope Julius II della Rovere

Michelangelo Buonarroti

Compositional Sketches for the Virgin Adoring the Christ Child, with and without the Infant St. John the Baptist; Diagram of a Perspectival Projection (recto); Slight Doodles (verso)

Madonna and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist; upper left, Study for the Right Arm of the Infant Saint John; upper right, Study for Drapery (recto); Study of a Nude Male Figure (verso)

Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio or Santi)

Studies of the Christ Child

Landscape (recto); Landscape (verso)

Perugino (Pietro di Cristoforo Vannucci)

Studies for Hercules Holding a Club Seen in Frontal View, Male Nude Unsheathing a Sword, and the Movements of Water (Recto); Study for Hercules Holding a Club Seen in Rear View (Verso)

Studies for the Libyan Sibyl (recto); Studies for the Libyan Sibyl and a small Sketch for a Seated Figure (verso)

The Head of the Virgin in Three-Quarter View Facing Right

Two Satyrs in a Landscape

Titian (Tiziano Vecellio)

Study for the Head of Julius Caesar

Andrea del Sarto (Andrea d'Agnolo)

The Annunciation

Correggio (Antonio Allegri)

Seated Figure of Mercury

Parmigianino (Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola)

Bishop Saint in Bust-Length (Cartoon for an Altarpiece)

Saint John the Evangelist (recto; Cartoon for a Fresco); Saint Mark (verso; Cartoon for a Fresco)

Francesco Salviati (Francesco de' Rossi)

Carmen Bambach Department of Drawings and Prints, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

October 2002

During the late fourteenth century, artists began to use paper more and more to explore their ideas for the design of paintings and sculptures , rather than simply to copy or record finished works of art. This exploratory type of drawing offers a vivid and intimate glimpse of the artist creatively thinking on paper.

In preparing a composition, artists first drew quick sketches, usually in pen and ink, in which they formulated general ideas rather than focused on details. An example is Leonardo da Vinci’s fascinating double-sided sheet that includes an exquisite small sketch for an allegory on the fidelity of the lizard, and the stage design for a musical comedy ( 17.142.2 ). Another of Leonardo’s double-sided sheets combines an exciting array of ideas for different projects: a figure of Hercules probably intended for a sculpture, some scientific illustrations of the flow of water around obstacles, and a tiny figure of a man sheathing or unsheathing a sword ( 2000.328a,b ).

In the next steps of the creative process, artists investigated the poses of the figures from life models . The earliest such extant studies date from the first years of the fifteenth century. Using the medium of silverpoint on pink prepared paper to obtain delicate tonal effects, Filippino Lippi posed a male studio assistant to stand in for the figure of a bound Christ or Saint Sebastian, in order to observe the figure’s chiseled nude musculature ( 36.101.1 ). In contrast, Raphael’s sheet of studies of an infant ( 1997.75 ) attempts to capture his energy and delightful gestures, and the red chalk medium serves to imitate the soft tonal effects of his dimpled flesh. Artists then integrated the results of studying the figures from life models into a summary design of the composition, in order to pull together the figural arrangements with the lighting effects and setting. Raphael’s Madonna and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist ( 64.47 ) offers a fairly rough summary study of their pyramidal grouping, while Titian’s poetic study of two satyrs in a landscape ( 1999.28 ) concentrates especially on the transforming effects of light and atmosphere.

As a final step, artists drew cartoons (full-scale drawings). These were especially necessary in painting frescoes on moist plaster, for the enormously difficult medium of fresco demanded that artists paint quickly, one plaster patch per day, before the moist plaster and the water-based colors set in a chemical process. A monumental cartoon by Francesco Salviati ( 2001.409 ) is boldly rendered with black chalk and white highlights in the final size of the figure in the fresco painting, and the main outlines around the figure are incised with a stylus for the transfer of the full-scale design onto the moist plaster.

During the late fourteenth century, artists also began to work out the details of their commissions for paintings, sculptures, and buildings with their prospective patrons by drafting legally binding contracts. These contracts often included a drawing as an attachment in order to explain the details of the design that was expected and that would be agreed upon by the two parties. A number of drawings were also more generally produced as demonstration pieces ( modelli ) for the patron’s approval and for the workshop’s use, and these were often carefully modeled with pen and ink and were fairly complete regarding the iconography. These types of demonstration drawings for sculptural projects usually illustrate the architectural framework of the monument, as is seen in the designs by Jacopo della Quercia for the Fonte Gaia that was orignally meant for the Piazza del Campo in Siena ( 49.141 ), and by Michelangelo for the tomb of Pope Julius II , intended originally for Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican ( 62.93.1 ).

Bambach, Carmen. “Renaissance Drawings: Material and Function.” In  Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History . New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/drwg/hd_drwg.htm (October 2002)

Further Reading

Ames-Lewis, Francis. Drawing in Early Renaissance Italy . 2d ed. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2000.

Bambach, Carmen C. Drawing and Painting in the Italian Renaissance Workshop: Theory and Practice, 1300–1600 . New York: Cambridge University Press, 1999.

Additional Essays by Carmen Bambach

• Bambach, Carmen. “ Anatomy in the Renaissance .” (October 2002)
• Bambach, Carmen. “ Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) .” (October 2002)

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Home — Essay Samples — History — Harlem Renaissance — Harlem Renaissance Essay Outline

Harlem Renaissance Essay Outline

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Introduction, origins of the harlem renaissance, key figures of the harlem renaissance, major works of the harlem renaissance, lasting impact of the harlem renaissance, historical context, economic factors, intellectual foundations, literary giants, musical innovators, visual artists, performers and actors, cultural legacy, civil rights movement, integration of african american culture.

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Writing the Renaissance: Essays on Sixteenth-Century French Literature in Honor of Floyd Gray

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Raymond C. La Charité, ed. Writing the Renaissance: Essays on Sixteenth-Century French Literature in Honor of Floyd Gray. Lexington, Ky: French Forum Publishers, 1992, 236 pp. (French Forum Monographs Vol. 77), ISBN 0-917058-81-X.

As the study of Renaissance literature expands at an ever increasing rate, with new theories and newly-resurrected works clamouring for attention, it is appropriate that the French Forum thought to honour an individual very much responsible for this critical resurgence. The essays collected under the title Writing the Renaissance pay tribute to the pioneering work of Floyd Gray. In the tradition of Gray, the literary text is always in the foreground in these discussions, never overshadowed by theory which is, instead, consistently applied in a judicious and illuminating fashion.

The nine English and five French essays in this collection are divided into three sections. The first section is devoted exclusively to Rabelais; the second, to Marot, Du Guillet, Du Bellay, and Ronsard; and the third, to Montaigne. Each of the essays addresses what the editor, Raymond C. La Charité, defines as the focus of Gray's own scholarship, the "writerly art" of French Renaissance authors. True to the diversity both of the authors examined and the theoretical concerns which inform these essays, the critics who contributed to the collection take this "writerly art" to constitute many various and fascinating things. In virtually all the cases, however, the concerns of the essayists surround the complexities of language and representation.

La Charité himself begins with an essay on "Originality and the Alimentary Design of Rabelais's Pantagruel," an appropriate opening focusing as it does on a theme generally sustained throughout the volume: the festive, challenging, and transformative energies within French Renaissance literature. Looking specifically at the final chapters of Pantagruel, La Charité maintains that they do not constitute "unrelated extras" as is commonly thought, but engage in a struggle for independence and originality that is a dominant theme throughout the text. In Pantagruel, he contends, the origin of this struggle can be found in the story of the "grosses mesles" which represents "the birthing of Rabelaisian practice" (22). The "mesles" stand for "transposition, hybridization, fusion," the very forces which empower the "mashing and mixing" necessary for the production of the literary work itself (23). Instead of...

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• How to write an essay outline | Guidelines & examples

How to Write an Essay Outline | Guidelines & Examples

Published on August 14, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

An essay outline is a way of planning the structure of your essay before you start writing. It involves writing quick summary sentences or phrases for every point you will cover in each paragraph , giving you a picture of how your argument will unfold.

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Organizing your material, presentation of the outline, examples of essay outlines, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about essay outlines.

At the stage where you’re writing an essay outline, your ideas are probably still not fully formed. You should know your topic  and have already done some preliminary research to find relevant sources , but now you need to shape your ideas into a structured argument.

Creating categories

Look over any information, quotes and ideas you’ve noted down from your research and consider the central point you want to make in the essay—this will be the basis of your thesis statement . Once you have an idea of your overall argument, you can begin to organize your material in a way that serves that argument.

Try to arrange your material into categories related to different aspects of your argument. If you’re writing about a literary text, you might group your ideas into themes; in a history essay, it might be several key trends or turning points from the period you’re discussing.

Three main themes or subjects is a common structure for essays. Depending on the length of the essay, you could split the themes into three body paragraphs, or three longer sections with several paragraphs covering each theme.

As you create the outline, look critically at your categories and points: Are any of them irrelevant or redundant? Make sure every topic you cover is clearly related to your thesis statement.

Order of information

When you have your material organized into several categories, consider what order they should appear in.

Your essay will always begin and end with an introduction and conclusion , but the organization of the body is up to you.

Consider these questions to order your material:

• Is there an obvious starting point for your argument?
• Is there one subject that provides an easy transition into another?
• Do some points need to be set up by discussing other points first?

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Within each paragraph, you’ll discuss a single idea related to your overall topic or argument, using several points of evidence or analysis to do so.

In your outline, you present these points as a few short numbered sentences or phrases.They can be split into sub-points when more detail is needed.

The template below shows how you might structure an outline for a five-paragraph essay.

• Thesis statement
• First piece of evidence
• Second piece of evidence
• Summary/synthesis
• Importance of topic
• Strong closing statement

You can choose whether to write your outline in full sentences or short phrases. Be consistent in your choice; don’t randomly write some points as full sentences and others as short phrases.

Examples of outlines for different types of essays are presented below: an argumentative, expository, and literary analysis essay.

Argumentative essay outline

This outline is for a short argumentative essay evaluating the internet’s impact on education. It uses short phrases to summarize each point.

Its body is split into three paragraphs, each presenting arguments about a different aspect of the internet’s effects on education.

• Importance of the internet
• Concerns about internet use
• Thesis statement: Internet use a net positive
• Data exploring this effect
• Analysis indicating it is overstated
• Students’ reading levels over time
• Why this data is questionable
• Video media
• Interactive media
• Speed and simplicity of online research
• Questions about reliability (transitioning into next topic)
• Evidence indicating its ubiquity
• Claims that it discourages engagement with academic writing
• Evidence that Wikipedia warns students not to cite it
• Argument that it introduces students to citation
• Summary of key points
• Value of digital education for students
• Need for optimism to embrace advantages of the internet

Expository essay outline

This is the outline for an expository essay describing how the invention of the printing press affected life and politics in Europe.

The paragraphs are still summarized in short phrases here, but individual points are described with full sentences.

• Claim that the printing press marks the end of the Middle Ages.
• Provide background on the low levels of literacy before the printing press.
• Present the thesis statement: The invention of the printing press increased circulation of information in Europe, paving the way for the Reformation.
• Discuss the very high levels of illiteracy in medieval Europe.
• Describe how literacy and thus knowledge and education were mainly the domain of religious and political elites.
• Indicate how this discouraged political and religious change.
• Describe the invention of the printing press in 1440 by Johannes Gutenberg.
• Show the implications of the new technology for book production.
• Describe the rapid spread of the technology and the printing of the Gutenberg Bible.
• Link to the Reformation.
• Discuss the trend for translating the Bible into vernacular languages during the years following the printing press’s invention.
• Describe Luther’s own translation of the Bible during the Reformation.
• Sketch out the large-scale effects the Reformation would have on religion and politics.
• Summarize the history described.
• Stress the significance of the printing press to the events of this period.

Literary analysis essay outline

The literary analysis essay outlined below discusses the role of theater in Jane Austen’s novel Mansfield Park .

The body of the essay is divided into three different themes, each of which is explored through examples from the book.

• Describe the theatricality of Austen’s works
• Outline the role theater plays in Mansfield Park
• Introduce the research question : How does Austen use theater to express the characters’ morality in Mansfield Park ?
• Discuss Austen’s depiction of the performance at the end of the first volume
• Discuss how Sir Bertram reacts to the acting scheme
• Introduce Austen’s use of stage direction–like details during dialogue
• Explore how these are deployed to show the characters’ self-absorption
• Discuss Austen’s description of Maria and Julia’s relationship as polite but affectionless
• Compare Mrs. Norris’s self-conceit as charitable despite her idleness
• Summarize the three themes: The acting scheme, stage directions, and the performance of morals
• Answer the research question
• Indicate areas for further study

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You will sometimes be asked to hand in an essay outline before you start writing your essay . Your supervisor wants to see that you have a clear idea of your structure so that writing will go smoothly.

Even when you do not have to hand it in, writing an essay outline is an important part of the writing process . It’s a good idea to write one (as informally as you like) to clarify your structure for yourself whenever you are working on an essay.

If you have to hand in your essay outline , you may be given specific guidelines stating whether you have to use full sentences. If you’re not sure, ask your supervisor.

When writing an essay outline for yourself, the choice is yours. Some students find it helpful to write out their ideas in full sentences, while others prefer to summarize them in short phrases.

You should try to follow your outline as you write your essay . However, if your ideas change or it becomes clear that your structure could be better, it’s okay to depart from your essay outline . Just make sure you know why you’re doing so.

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