Impact of Renaissance on Modern World

International Journal of Research

Available at https://edupediapublications.org/journals

p-ISSN: 2348-6848

e-ISSN: 2348-795X

Volume 04 Issue 06

May 2017

Available online: https://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJR/ P a g e | 1876

Impact of Renaissance on Modern World

Dr. Saroj Bala

M.A.,M.Phil.,Ph.D (A.I.H)

Abstract

Renaissance is one of the important

movements in the history of English

Literature that brought drastic and major

changes in the whole society of the world.

Renaissance means re-birth and re-

awakening of the dramatic and cultural

activities not only in the European countries

but also all over the world. Various

intellectual thinkers contributed a great deal

to the development of this movement.

Humanism is one of the chief traits of

renaissance that affected many thinkers of

the world during this period of time.

Paper

The Renaissance brought about a rebirth and

an expansion of cultural experience. It

included those outside the elite classes, and

it directed society toward more humanist

and realistic perspectives. Without the

Renaissance, we might not preserve and

appreciate the fine arts as we do today.

Science, too, might not have developed in

the same way without such Renaissance men

as Leonardo da Vinci. Cristopher Hibbert

says in this connection,” It was a kind of re-

birth and re-awakening in the modern age

with the advent of Renaissance.”1

The Renaissance brought about a rebirth and

an expansion of cultural experience. It

included those outside the elite classes, and

it directed society toward more humanist

and realistic perspectives. Without the

Renaissance, we might not preserve and

appreciate the fine arts as we do today.

Science, too, might not have developed in

the same way without such Renaissance men

as Leonardo da Vinci.

This cultural expansion and the new

directions of ideas in the Renaissance did

much to introduce and awaken many who

heretofore either had no interest or were not

included in the expression of and the

appreciation of the arts.

One of the Renaissance authors who set the

stage for literary realism was Giovanni

Boccaccio, who wrote The Decameron. This

work contains settings and characters that

were recognizable to many readers. In

addition, there is a short heading that serves

as an explanation of each tale. Readers could

connect with these personages and enjoy the

literary work. Even today, this style of

writing is popular.

The new humanist viewpoint of the

Renaissance also turned societies toward an

interest in scientific research and inventions.

Of course, one of the greatest contributors to

the development of the arts and sciences was

Leonardo da Vinci. He introduced realism

International Journal of Research

Available at https://edupediapublications.org/journals

p-ISSN: 2348-6848

e-ISSN: 2348-795X

Volume 04 Issue 06

May 2017

Available online: https://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJR/ P a g e | 1877

into the portrayal of the human form

because he combined science with his art as

he drew anatomically correct human forms.

This is not to say that he did not take artistic

license as, for instance, he did with his

sculpture of David, which has the right arm

constructed on a larger scale. Ferdinand

Schevill rightly puts it as,” With the

Renaissance, there was enlightening and

light of knowledge and cultural activities.”2

During the Renaissance the printing press

was created, followed by other inventions

and scientific discoveries. As there were

more developments in science and thought,

more mobility was witnessed in Europe.

And with more interest in humanism, the

Roman Catholic religion waned in its power.

Along with this lessening of the power of

the Church, Rome's prominence as the

cultural and intellectual center of Europe

was reduced. Therefore, Renaissance

scholars began traveling throughout Europe,

and they brought with them the preservation

of the classics and their artistic and humanist

ideals, which then became prevalent in other

countries. Indeed, the Renaissance was

extremely influential in developing the

cultures of Europe because it ignited the lost

human spirit.

Because of the revival of and great interest

in the fine arts and the sciences during the

Renaissance, modern society is enriched

with classical and humanistic works and

ideas. Without doubt, these advancements of

the Renaissance have enriched modern

societies socially, culturally, intellectually,

and scientifically. Paul Stranthern says

rightly, “During Renaissance period, there

were a number of books on humanism

enriched with the intellectual ideas.”3

Many of the innovations of the Renaissance

have shaped contemporary society. Perhaps

the most important innovations were the

beginnings of modern science. The

Renaissance marks the development of the

heliocentric theory of the universe, the

discovery of gravitation, and the invention

of the telescope, all improving navigation

and laying the groundwork for space travel.

Experiments on cadavers increased

understanding of human anatomy. Harvey's

discovery of the mechanism of circulation of

blood is one of the foundational advances in

medicine. In religion, the Reformation

marked the origin of Protestantism, and a

growth in religious liberty and diversity in

Europe, although not complete freedom of

religion.

The Renaissance was a great age of

colonization and exploration, with

Europeans visiting North and South

America, many parts of Africa, and Asia.

Trade and colonies swiftly followed these

discoveries.

The Renaissance marked the rise of the

vernacular in the arts, government, law and

religion, along with the growth of the middle

class. Both these have shaped contemporary

society, in which Latin is almost unknown,

and many art forms cater to a broadly

educated middle class rather than a small

aristocracy.

International Journal of Research

Available at https://edupediapublications.org/journals

p-ISSN: 2348-6848

e-ISSN: 2348-795X

Volume 04 Issue 06

May 2017

Available online: https://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJR/ P a g e | 1878

The Renaissance was inspired by the

Classical World of Ancient Greece and

Rome. However, until the fifteenth century,

the Italian humanists only knew of Ancient

Greece and the great works of Plato and the

other great Greeks through the Romans.

Cosimo the Elder helped to introduce

Ancient Greek manuscripts and culture into

Italy. Cosimo the Elder sought to end the

schism in the Christian Church. He helped to

negotiate the union of the Catholic and the

Orthodox Church that was formalized at the

Council of Florence in 1439. This Union

ultimately failed but it was to have a

profound impact on the development of the

Renaissance. All of the de Medici had an

interest in the arts in the fifteenth century.

This was in order to legitimize the rule of

the family. The works commissioned by the

family often sought to raise the status of the

family in the city. They used art to fortify

their position in Florentine Society.

However, the family was also genuinely

fond of art, architecture, and literature.

Cosimo was very knowledgeable about

architecture and Lorenzo the Magnificent

was a connoisseur of paintings and

sculptures. Lauro Martines puts as, “There

was growth in the field of painting and art as

well as in sculptures.”4

The Medici’s used their lavish wealth to

patronize many of the greatest artists of the

time. The family was directly responsible

for some of the greatest works in the

Renaissance. Cosimo the Elder was the

patron of the great architect Bruneschelli

and it was under De Medici orders that he

built the great Medici Sacristy in the Church

of San Lorenzo. It was Cosimo who ordered

the building of the great De Medici Palace

with its magnificent paintings by Ucelleo. It

was Cosimo who also commissioned

Donatello's, Bronze of David, one of the

most influential pieces of sculpture in the

period. Lorenzo was equally lavish in his

patronage of artists and the commissioning

of great works of art.

The de Medici during their rule of Florence

in the fifteen century did much to influence

the Renaissance and to enable the great

artists, humanists, and writers, to produce

their works that have been so influential

down the centuries. The family brought

stability and peace to the city of Florence.

This was crucial in the cultural flourishing

in the city in the fifteenth century. The de

Medici largely peaceful rule did much to

promote the Renaissance in the city. They

also in their relations with the other city-

states did much to bring peace to North

Italy. Then the de Medici was very

instrumental in the growing interest in Greek

culture and history. Cosimo de Medici and

his policies promoted, unintentionally, the

study of the works of the Greeks. This was

to move the Renaissance in new directions,

especially under the influence of Neo-

platonism. Then there was the patronage of

the de Medici, the family directly helped

many great artists to produce many new and

great works of art. Lorenzo the Magnificent

especially helped to raise the status of the

artists in Florentine society. By the time of

their expulsion in 1494, the family had made

a significant contribution to the development

International Journal of Research

Available at https://edupediapublications.org/journals

p-ISSN: 2348-6848

e-ISSN: 2348-795X

Volume 04 Issue 06

May 2017

Available online: https://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJR/ P a g e | 1879

of the Renaissance, which has been crucial

in the evolution of the modern world.

REFERENCES:

1. Hibbert, Christopher.The House of

Medici: Its Rise and Fall (London,

Morrow, 1975)p.67

2. Ferdinand Schevill, History of Florence:

From the Founding of the City Through

the Renaissance (London, Frederick

Ungar, 1936), p. 113

3. Paul Strathern, The Medici—

Godfathers of the Renaissance (London,

Pimlico, 2005), p. 213

4. Lauro Martines, April Blood: Florence

and the Plot Against the Medici(Oxford,

Oxford University Press 2003), p. 114