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Northern Renaissance Research Paper

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During the early stages of Europe, the Renaissance became an age of change and intellectual advancements for all civilization. Many of history’s brilliant thinkers can attribute their thoughts and beliefs to this time period. Even though the Renaissance is often grouped as a whole, there were two different locations of such change, one considered “Italian” and the “ Northern”. The Italian and Northern Renaissance contrast in the way that the Northern Renaissance focuses on religious aspects of life and the Italian Renaissance is more secular in its focus of art and literature rebirth. Yet both remain similar in that they both developed similar views on ideas such as revamping social norms or the new idea of humanism. This area of the world …show more content…

Even though the two movements were different, both were similar in that they were focused around similar ideals. Humanism was one of the most prominent reasons.Humanism which emphasized individualism as well as classicalism influenced thinkers all over Europe and generations to come. Humanism preached that people should “ be a jack of all trades” rather than a particular occupation because the importance of liberal arts presided in this period. Humanism was practiced in both regions of the Renaissance, as shown by writers such as Erasmus. New, innovative ideas of people, and the way they act and feel, were used in the artwork of both as well, shown by the work of Leonardo Da Vinci. The criticism of authority and the way the government was operated, and was challenged by philosophers such as Tomas Moore in his novel of how society should be in order for perfection in “Utopia” and Nicole Machiavelli’s ideas of governing in an authoritative manner in his book “The Prince”. All of these things were made possible due to Gutenberg’s printing press, to transmit thoughts and ideas. Although the movements were different in forms of approach the ideas of change steamed from the same branch, so to

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