The Character of Renaissance Humanism

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Some historians in nineteenth century claimed that “Renaissance” was used to describe the cultural period of fifteenth century in Florence, while some argued that the term would be in earlier period. Jakob Burckhardt, in his book The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy, argued that the culture of the Europe “was reborn in the fifteenth century after a long dormant period that extended from the fall of Roman Empire until the beginning of the fourteenth century”(299). His idea was attacked by Charles Homer Haskins. In his book “The Renaissance of the Twelfth Century”, Charles claimed that what Burckhardt said “could be said equal justification about Paris in the twelfth century” (299). Regardless whenever the term “Renaissance” was in, through the book Culture and Value A Survey of the Humanities written by Lawrence Cunningham and John Reich, we will be clear that “something new was happening precisely because Italy’s long historical antecedents permitted it”(299). First, we can see that fifteenth century was the period that people had desire for an intellectual learning. Comparing with period of Middle Ages in which people was in the “self-effacing and world-denying attitude”(299), the fifteenth century was the time that people in “seeking personal fame(299). Particularly, Pico Della Mirandola, a closed friend of Lorenzo de’ Medici, was “deeply involved with the intellectual life of his day”(300). Pico had “read every book in Italy”, “mastered all the system that then existed”(300). His ability of studying attracted many students and a German named Johann Keuchlin was the most influential one. It is obvious that “humanist learning would not only ennoble and perfect the individual but also serve as a powerful instrument for social and religious reform”(299). Second, the intellectual learning was not restricted in Italy, but it spread out widely to the north
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