The Medieval Age was a time period full of plagues, disease, dark and war. When the catastrophe slowly declines, people later saw the world in a different way. This gives rise to the age called the Renaissance. The Renaissance is a cultural movement that originates in Italy and advances to the rest of Europe. The Renaissance is considered the ‘Rebirth’ or the ‘Enlightenment’ of Europe, which put a huge emphasis on art and literature. The Renaissance later gives birth to the new movement called the ‘Reformation.’ The Reformation is a period where there have been many efforts to reform the Catholic Church. It was aimed to reform some practices of the Roman Catholic Church due to its corruption. The Catholic Church later split off and form many branches of Catholicism called Protestant Churches.
The Renaissance is a phrase used to describe several changes that happen in many places. Much of it was art, architecture, literature, science, and philosophy. One effect that the Renaissance is that it started the humanism movement which is the study of humanity. Humanists study the human values, religious beliefs, philosophy, and history. Francesco Petrarch, also known as ‘Father of Humanism’ is one example. He was a scholar and a poet who lived in Florence, Italy in the 1300s. He was known as the Father of Humanism because he believed that humans can achieve new heights from past accomplishments and later his ideas and poetry inspire other poets and poets throughout Europe at the time and became what known as the humanist movement. It also created the idea of individualism which means individuals are capable of achieving many accomplishments. The idea of individualism gives rise to many astounding people such as Leonardo da Vinci who emphasized the idea.
Another effect of the Renaissance is that it influences art. One example would be Leonardo de Vinci. He is a sculptor, artist, architecture, and mathematician that lived during the Renaissance. Some paintings that were recognized in the present today that was made by Leonardo da Vinci are the Mona Lisa, which depicts a female figure sitting in the painting, and behind her are imaginary landscape. The Last Supper, also made by Leonardo da Vinci, represents the last supper of Jesus with his disciples having their last meal when Jesus told them that one of them will betray him. While Leonardo da Vinci is an extraordinary person, another person that is well known during the Renaissance is Michelangelo. He was an Italian sculptor, painter, and architect, and he painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling. Michelangelo believed that humans are meant as the divine beauty and perfect proportions. Overall, the Renaissance affects every aspect of life during that time, from education to the culture of the society.
The Reformation was not an attempt to divide the Roman Catholic Church, but it was a religious movement that took place in order to reshape the Catholic Church. During that time, the Church was corrupted, they started selling indulgences, which is an act buying relics to decrease your time in purgatory and be able to get into heaven faster. One effect of the Reformation is that people are now questioning the Catholic church and not relying on religion to answers all their problems. Martin Luther, a monk that work inside the Catholic church, created the ninety-five theses which are ninety-five complaints to the Catholic church to why it is corrupted and nailed it on to the door of the church. Luther believed that salvation is obtained through good faith. Due to the Ninety-five thesis was written by Martin Luther, people show distrusts towards the Catholic church, and stop relying on the Catholic church to answers all their problems.
Additionally, the Reformation also started the Protestant churches, which is the second form of Christianity. One example would be Lutheranism which was named after Martin Luther. He created Lutheranism because he believed that the way the Catholic church was wrong. Lutheranism believed that salvation is achieved through good faith, while the Catholic church believed that people must do good deeds, give to the church, and buy indulgences in order to get into heaven. Similarly, another Protestantism church is Anabaptists. Anabaptists believed religion should be voluntary, and all believers are equal. They are separated from the government and the church. In conclusion, the Reformation helps people to recognize the corruptions of the church and started Protestantism.
Overall the Renaissance created some of the most well-known artists in the whole world. While the Reformation inspires many great people such as John Calvin and Martin Luther. Both the Renaissance and the Reformations changed the world into a better one. It brought out and promotes different varieties of life and beliefs. Both affect our religious beliefs and give ideas to those to try and achieve their goals. Without the Renaissance and the Reformation, I do not think that we will be living in the same world. From Leonardo’s Mona Lisa to Luther’s Ninety-five thesis, they all support the idea that man can achieve new heights and will continue to do so.