UNIT II: REVOLUTION & INDEPENDENCE The Renaissance and Reformation

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1 Name: Per: Case Study Due: / / UNIT II: REVOLUTION & INDEPENDENCE The Renaissance and Reformation KEY QUESTIONS: What are the characteristics of Renaissance humanism? How does Renaissance artwork demonstrate the importance of the individual in society? What impact did Machiavelli have on political thought during the Renaissance? How did religious reform lead to conflict in Europe? What impact did the printing press have on the spread of ideas in Europe? How did the observations of Copernicus, Bruno, and Galileo challenge the authority of the Catholic Church in Europe? Unit II Renaissance and Reformation Case Study Page 1

2 PART 1: THE RENAISSANCE PERSPECTIVE DIRECTIONS: Historians often describe Leonardo Da Vinci ( ) as the best example we have of a true Renaissance man. A Renaissance person is an individual who has interests and skills in a wide range of activities. Da Vinci did it all. He painted the masterpieces Mona Lisa and The Last Supper; he designed buildings; he engineered everything from water pumps to helicopters; he studied geology, optics, and anatomy. He may have been the most multi-talented person ever to have lived. American education today does not produce many Renaissance people and often it does not try. You don t go to college to study the humanities; you go to become an accountant or a computer programmer. You don t go to medical school to be a general practitioner; you go to become a heart surgeon or a dermatologist. Is all of this specialization a good thing? With a partner, take a few minutes to make two lists one arguing in favor of a Renaissance education and one supporting a specialized education. Be ready to discuss your answers. Arguments in favor of a Renaissance education: Arguments in favor of a specialized education: 1. Do you feel that your education has been too specialized or not specialized enough? Explain. Unit II Renaissance and Reformation Case Study Page 2

3 PART 2: RENAISSANCE THOUGHT Excerpts Niccolo Machiavelli s The Prince, published in Niccolo Machiavelli is recognized as a found of modern political science and political ethics. During his time living in Florence under the powerful Medici family, he wrote his most renowned work The Prince. In his work, he provided practical advice to rulers and was not concerned with lofty religious or ethical ideals. Below are three excerpts from his work. Many have pictured republics and principalities which in fact have never been known or seen, because how one lives is so far distant from how one ought to live, that he who neglects what is done for what ought to be done, sooner effects his ruin than his preservation; for a man who wishes to act entirely up to his professions of virtue soon meets with what destroys him among so much that is evil. republics and principalities: political territories, like a nation A controversy has arisen about this: Whether it is better to be loved than feared, or vice versa. My view is that it is desirable to be both loved and feared; but it is difficult to achieve them both and, if one of them has to be lacking, it is much safer to be feared than loved For love is sustained by a bond of gratitude which, because men are excessively self-interested, is broken whenever they see a chance to benefit themselves. But fear is sustained by a dread of punishment that is always effective. It is unnecessary for a prince to have all the good qualities I have enumerated, but it is very necessary to appear to have them. And I shall dare to say this also, that to have them and always to observe them is harmful, and that to appear to have them is useful; to appear merciful, faithful, humane, religious, upright, and to be so, but with a mind so framed that should you require not to be so, you may be able and know how to change to the opposite. enumerated: listed 1. (Close reading) What explanation does Machiavelli give for providing realistic instead of idealized advice? _ 2. (Close reading) Why does Machiavelli believe that love is an unreliable emotion? 3. (Hypothesis) Why do you think that Machiavelli would advise a ruler to appear merciful even if they are not? What benefit is it to the ruler? Unit II Renaissance and Reformation Case Study Page 3

4 PART 3: RENAISSANCE ART Duccio Di Bouninsegna s painting shows the Mother Mary on a throne with a baby Jesus on her lap. Leonardo da Vinci s Mona Lisa is believed to be a portrait of the wife of a wealthy Florentine merchant. The [clearest] evidence of the break with medieval culture comes from the visual arts. [It] was the essence of the Renaissance One begins to know the names of the artists feel stronger emotions in the subjects see well-defined landscapes, natural folds in drapery, and threedimensional figures; and one begins to notice the emphasis on symbolic representation giving way to depictions of recognizable scenes the new artistic styles would echo the broader movements and interests of the new age. Neither the techniques nor the forms of artistic expression were to be the same again. Source: Theodore Rabb, The Last Days of the Renaissance & The March of Modernity, Using hints from the text excerpt, describe at least three ways in which the paintings are different. a. b. c. 2. How to changes in this art show that, during the Renaissance, man s view of himself and his world is changing? Unit II Renaissance and Reformation Case Study Page 4

5 PART 4: MARTIN LUTHER S RELIGIOUS REFORMATION Document A: The Introduction to the 95 Theses As a young man, Martin Luther became increasingly bothered by the practice of granting sinners indulgences to buy their way out of punishment for their sins. In 1517, Luther decided to write up his criticisms of indulgences and to send them to the Archbishop of Mainz. Luther s criticisms, known as The 95 Theses Against Indulgences, eventually made their way to the Pope, who responded by attacking Luther and eventually excommunicating him from the Catholic Church. The passage below is an excerpt from the letter Luther sent to the Archbishop of Mainz with the 95 Theses. The grace of God be with you in all its fullness and power! Spare me, Most Reverend Father in Christ and Most Illustrious Prince, that I, the dregs of humanity, have so much boldness that I have dared to think of [writing] a letter to someone of your Sublimity. Papal indulgences for the building of St. Peter's are circulating under your most distinguished name. I do not bring accusation against the outcries of the preachers, which I have not heard, so much as I grieve over the wholly false impressions which the people have conceived from [the indulgences]. The unhappy souls believe that if they have purchased letters of indulgence they are sure of their salvation. illustrious: respected and admired dregs: a worthless part of something sublimity: something of pure beauty or grandeur distinguished: successful and well-respected Source: Martin Luther s letter to the Archbishop of Mainz, (Sourcing) When was this document written? What was Luther s purpose in writing it? 2. (Close reading) How would you describe Luther s tone in this document? 3. (Close reading) According to this document, why did Luther challenge the Catholic Church? Unit II Renaissance and Reformation Case Study Page 5

6 Document B: Against Catholicism As Luther gained popularity, some of his followers began to write down things that Luther said in private. These notes were known as Luther s Table Talk and were collected and published in the 1560s. The following is presumed to be from Luther s Table Talk in The main reason I fell out with the pope was this: the pope boasted that he was the head of the Church, and condemned all that would not be under his power and authority. He said, although Christ is the head of the Church, there must be a physical head of the Church upon earth. With this I could have been content, if he had taught the gospel pure and clear, and not introduced human inventions and lies. Further, he took power, rule, and authority over the Christian Church, and over the Holy Scriptures, the Word of God. No man can explain the Scriptures. The pope did and he made himself lord over the Church, proclaiming [the Church] at the same time a powerful mother, and empress over the Scriptures. This could not be tolerated. Those who, against God's Word, boast of the Church's authority, are mere idiots. The pope gives more power to the Church, which is begotten and born, than to the Word [the Bible], which has conceived, and born the Church. Source: From Luther s Table Talk, (Sourcing) When was this document written? What its purpose? 2. (Close reading) How would you describe Luther s tone in this document? 3. (Close reading) According to this document, why did Luther challenge the Catholic Church? 4. (Hypothesis) After reading the two documents, and discussing each of the questions create a hypothesis regarding the question: Why did Martin Luther s account of his break with the Church change between 1517 and 1535? Is one account more reliable than the other? Unit II Renaissance and Reformation Case Study Page 6

7 PART 5: GALILEO S CONFLICT WITH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH Heliocentrism and the Catholic Church Timeline 1543: Nicolas Copernicus published a book supporting the heliocentric theory. 1545: Pope Paul III called the Council of Trent to stop the spread of Protestantism and to revive the Catholic Church. It said only the Church could interpret the Bible, and it set up the Inquisition to combat heresy. 1564: Galileo Galilei was born. 1600: The Inquisition tried Giordano Bruno and burned him at the stake for heresy. He supported the heliocentric theory. Nicolas Copernicus 1609: Galileo invented a telescope that convinced him of the heliocentric model. 1615: The Catholic Church told Galileo to stop sharing his theory in public. 1615: Paolo Antonio Foscarini published a book defending Copernicus and arguing the heliocentric model did not go against the Bible. 1616: The Catholic Church added Copernicus s work (and others supporting the heliocentric model) to its list of banned books. 1632: Galileo published Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems. 1633: The Inquisition charged Galileo with heresy and tried him in Rome. Giordano Bruno 1642: Galileo died. 1661: Isaac Newton began teaching Galileo and Copernicus s ideas in England. 1758: The Catholic Church ended the ban on books teaching the heliocentric model. 1939: Pope Pius XII called Galileo a hero of research. 1979: Pope John Paul II ordered an investigation into the Church s treatment of Galileo. Galileo Galilei Unit II Renaissance and Reformation Case Study Page 7

8 Document A: Galileo s Letter Galileo wrote the following letter to Duchess Christina of Tuscany in In this letter, he defends himself against the charges of heresy. Some years ago I discovered in the heavens many things that had not been seen before our own age. The novelty of these things stirred up several professors against me. They hurled various charges and published numerous writings filled with vain arguments, and they made the grave mistake of sprinkling these with passages taken from places in the Bible, which they failed to understand properly. The reason given for attacking the opinion that the earth moves and the sun stands still is that in many places in the Bible one may read that the sun moves and the earth stands still. Since the Bible cannot err, it follows that anyone who claims that the sun is motionless and the earth movable takes an erroneous and heretical position. With regard to this argument, I think in the first place that it is very pious to say and prudent to affirm that the holy Bible can never speak untruth whenever its true meaning is understood. But I believe nobody will deny that the Bible is often very complex, and may say things which are quite different from what its bare words signify. I do not believe that the same God who has given senses, reason and intellect has intended us to not to use them. He would not require us to deny sense and reason in physical matters of direct experience. Can an opinion be heretical and yet have no concern with the salvation of souls? novelty: original or unusual vain: conceited err: to be wrong erroneous: wrong Source: Galileo Galilei, Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina of Tuscany, pious: devoutly religious prudent: wise signify: mean 1. (Sourcing) When was this document written? 2. (Contextualization) Look at your timeline. Why might Galileo write a letter defending himself at this time? 3. (Close Reading) According to Galileo, why do some people think his teachings are heretical? 4. (Close Reading) How does Galileo defend himself against these charges? 5. (Context) Using the information on your timeline, do you think the Catholic Church would accept Galileo s defense? Why or why not? Unit II Renaissance and Reformation Case Study Page 8

9 Document B: Cardinal Bellarmine Cardinal Robert Bellarmine was in charge of dealing with difficult issues connected to the Church s power and beliefs during the Galileo controversy. He wrote the following letter to Paolo Antonio Foscarini in response to Foscarini s book defending Galileo. Historians don t believe Bellarmine ever saw Galileo s 1615 letter (Document A). As you know, the Council [of Trent] prohibits interpreting the Scriptures contrary to the common agreement of the holy Fathers. And if you would read not only the Fathers but also the commentaries of modern writers on Genesis, Psalms, Ecclesiastes and Joshua, you would find that all agree in explaining that the sun is in the heavens and moves swiftly around the earth, and that the earth is far from the heavens and stands immobile in the center of the universe.... It would be just as heretical to deny that Abraham had two sons and Jacob twelve, as it would be to deny the virgin birth of Christ, for both are declared by the Holy Ghost through the mouths of the prophets and apostles.... I say that if there were a true demonstration that the sun was in the center of the universe and the earth in the third sphere, and that the sun did not travel around the earth but the earth circled the sun, then it would be necessary to proceed with great caution in explaining the passages of Scripture which seemed contrary, and we would rather have to say that we did not understand the Scripture than to say that something was false which has been demonstrated. But I do not believe that there is any such demonstration; none has been shown to me.... [One] clearly experiences that the earth stands still and that his eye is not deceived when it judges that the moon and stars move. contrary: against or the opposite of something Genesis, Psalms, Ecclesiastes and Joshua: sections of the Bible prophets: someone who speaks for God Source: Cardinal Robert Bellarmine, Letter on Galileo s Theories, apostles: religious messengers scripture: text from the Bible 1. (Close Reading) Explain two reasons Cardinal Bellarmine gave for believing the geocentric theory. a. b. 2. (Close Reading) How did Cardinal Bellarmine respond to the following arguments from Galileo? a. The Bible passages about the sun standing still should not have been interpreted literally. b. The model of the universe (heliocentric or geocentric) is not a matter of salvation. 3. (Context) Why do you think the Catholic Church was so committed to defending the literal meaning of the Bible passages? Unit II Renaissance and Reformation Case Study Page 9

10 Judgment of Galileo Imagine you are a member of the Inquisition at Galileo s trial. You have Document A, Document B, and the Heliocentrism and the Catholic Church Timeline as evidence. Decide your answer to the question: Was Galileo really a heretic? Explain your response below. Galileo (was/was not) a heretic because... Reason 1: Quote from a document to support your reason: Reason 2: Quote from a document to support your reason: Unit II Renaissance and Reformation Case Study Page 10

11 Document C: Condemnation of Galileo In 1632, Galileo, who had been teaching and writing about the idea that the Earth moved around the sun, was summoned to Rome to stand trial. After questioning the relevant witnesses, the judges issued the following condemnation of Galileo. You, Galileo of Florence, were denounced in 1615, by this Holy Office, for holding as true a false doctrine taught by many, namely, that the sun is immovable in the center of the world, and that the earth moves... also, for explaining the Scriptures according to your own meaning. Therefore... by the desire of his Holiness and the Most Eminent Lords, Cardinals of this supreme and universal Inquisition, the two propositions of the stability of the sun, and the motion of the earth, were qualified as follows: 1. The proposition that the sun is in the center of the world and immovable from its place is absurd, philosophically false, and formally heretical; because it is expressly contrary to Holy Scriptures. 2. The proposition that the earth is not the center of the world, nor immovable, but that it moves is also absurd, philosophically false, and, theologically considered, at least erroneous in faith. Therefore, in the most holy name of our Lord Jesus Christ and of His Most Glorious Mother Mary, We pronounce, judge, and declare, that you Galileo... have made yourself suspected by this Holy Office of heresy, that is, of having believed and held the doctrine (which is false and contrary to the Holy and Divine Scriptures) that the sun is the center of the world, and that it does not move from east to west, and that the earth does move, and is not the center of the world; also, that an opinion can be held and supported as probable, after it has been declared contrary to the Holy Scripture. condemnation: a statement of very strong criticism denounce: to declare something is wrong or evil doctrine: a set of beliefs scripture: text from the Bible eminent: distinguished, high in station proposition: a statement expressing a judgment or opinion Source: The Crime of Galileo: Indictment and Abjuration of (Contextualization) Given what you know about the time period, how do you think the Catholic Church ruled in Galileo s case? Why? 2. (Close reading) By the end of the trial, what was the Catholic Church s position on the heliocentric theory? 3. (Close Reading) What two reasons did the Church give for declaring Galileo was a heretic? a. b. Unit II Renaissance and Reformation Case Study Page 11

12 Document D: New York Times Article In 1979, Pope John Paul II ordered an investigation of the Catholic Church s treatment of Galileo. The following article from 1992 summarizes the conclusions of the investigation. Vatican Science Panel Told By Pope: Galileo Was Right Moving formally to right a wrong, Pope John Paul II acknowledged in a speech today that the Roman Catholic Church had erred in condemning Galileo 359 years ago for asserting that the Earth revolves around the Sun. The address by the Pope before the Pontifical Academy of Sciences closed a 13-year investigation into the Church's condemnation of Galileo in 1633, one of history's most notorious conflicts between faith and science. Galileo was forced to recant his scientific findings to avoid being burned at the stake and spent the remaining eight years of his life under house arrest. John Paul said the theologians who condemned Galileo did not recognize the formal distinction between the Bible and its interpretation. "This led them move a question which in fact pertained to scientific investigation into the realm of the doctrine of the faith. Though the Pope acknowledged that the Church had done Galileo a wrong, he said the 17th-century theologians were working with the knowledge available to them at the time Source: Vatican Science Panel Told by Pope: Galileo Was Right, New York Times, November 1, err: to make a mistake condemn: express complete disapproval recant: to say that one no longer holds a belief theologians: individuals who study religion doctrine: a set of beliefs doctrine: a set of beliefs 1. (Close Reading) Why did Pope John Paul say the Church s treatment of Galileo was wrong? 2. (Contextualization) Why was it easier for the Church to side with Galileo in 1992 than in 1633? Unit II Renaissance and Reformation Case Study Page 12