Western Studies

The Renaissance is considered to be one of the most important time periods in human history. It was a time of rebirth, discovery and recovery. Europe was recovering from disasters such as the Black Death, political disorder, and economic recession. It was this rebuilding that spawned the outset of new ideas. People began to study their pasts and learn classical knowledge; that is, they were studying Greek and Roman antiquities. However, the Renaissance's most significant developments were the advancements in the arts, the rise of humanism, and the growth of liberal studies.
The arts were advanced a great degree during the Renaissance. Paintings went from unrealistic, simple 2-D pictures, to 3 dimensional masterpieces with astounding realism. Artists learned how to properly recreate lighting on an object, and the human figure was now very proportionate. Much time was devoted to the portrayal of the human figure; this was the result of the rise of humanism. Artists now painted people and the events that really existed, and drew them in great detail. The master painters of the Renaissance gave the world some of its greatest treasures, such as the Sistine Chapel and the statue of David.
Another significant characteristic of the Renaissance was the rise of humanism. Before, people devoted their time to religious matters only. In the Renaissance, we see the rise of secularism, or interest in worldly things. People now studied their world and tried to make it better; they also tried to improve themselves. The social ideal was a well-rounded individual such as Leonardo Da Vinci, who was an inventor, painter, mathematician, and much more. People could now pursue their own interests and focus on one thing that they liked to do. Great value was placed on the human being as far as intellectual capabilities. People were given opportunities that they never could have before.
Perhaps the greatest development of the Renaissance was the growth of liberal studies. This included the classics of the Greek and Roman worlds, and a great deal of rediscovered literature. Emphasis was placed on matters such as poetry, literature, mathematics, the arts, plays, and rhetoric. Citizens tried to make themselves well-rounded by gaining knowledge in all possible areas. Also, physical strength was valued. People believed that they should be strong, both mentally and physically. People also sponsored the arts and architecture. Also, since the printing press was invented, more books could be made at a cheaper price and more knowledge could be spread. Knowledge now had more room to expand and ideas had a better chance of being spread. This had a profound impact upon the Renaissance. People were now better educated and could put more into the community. A group of well-rounded citizens made for a vastly improved society and it was in the Renaissance that the communities of Europe flourished.
The Renaissance was all about advancement. Great leaps in knowledge were made after the static Medieval times. It is the Renaissance that spawned later events such as the Industrial Revolution. The Renaissance may be the most beneficial time period in human history.

At the end of the fourteenth century, people were ready to improve their lives from the chaos caused by the Black Death. This desire to improve life lead to the Renaissance-a significant time period which brought changes that affect our world today. With the Renaissance came many positive values, such as individualism and humanism. Yet the Renaissance also brought an obsession with materialism, leading to corruption of the church. Finally, the Renaissance led to the Protestant Reformation.
One of the most outstanding values of the Renaissance is the notion that human beings are special. For the first time, individualism became an accepted way of life. People recognized the potential that every individual is born with, and started expecting others to do something with their capabilities. Luther picked up on this idea, and ended up transforming it into an entire different branch of religion- Lutheranism. He felt that humans were capable of having a direct relationship with God, and that they didn't need to go through an entire elaborate process of church, sacraments, etc. Luther was the key founder of the Protestant Reformation, and if it weren't for the Renaissance, he would not have the value of individualism to help him begin the notorious Reformation.
Inextricably linked with individualism, Christian Humanism, also surfaced with the Renaissance. Humanism is the idea that one should work to improve the world around them (work meaning use their individual abilities). Christian Humanists believed that one should not only work to improve their society, but also use their individual capabilities to improve religion. This desire to improve religion was also a key constituent of the Protestant Reformation.
The reason the Christian Humanists felt such a desire to improve religion and bring it back to the base teachings of the Bible is the corruption of the Church during the Renaissance. While tons of positive values came from the Renaissance, so did the negative value of materialism taken to an extreme. The Popes started becoming obsessed with money, and they would take the money they had and spend it excessively on the building of elaborate cathedrals. The clergy were very corrupt at this time as well, as priests would take more than one position at a time. This act of pluralism led to absenteeism where the clergy members would rarely be available to talk to. Finally, the church started selling indulgences to their members. An indulgence was a way church members could pay the clergy to rid them of their sins. The corruption of the church was brought on by Renaissance values, and these values led to the Protestant Reformation.
Today there is much talk about a need for a reformation in the Catholic Church. This is because, like during the Renaissance, times are changing and so are values. It is no longer "totally unacceptable" to be a homosexual as that idea is complete outdated. It is also an outdated idea that women should be absolutely not use birth control. The environment in which we live is constantly changing, and new values are always being added to our society. The changes accounted for by the Renaissance created a new environment, and the religious world was forced to change because of it.