The Renaissance opened the minds to the idea of individual identity (even paintings started representing Jesus, Mary and saints like real people with a personality.)
The era of explorations chartered ocean routes toward other worlds.
Gutenberg opened the floodgates of information.
Is it really surprising that a revolution (an intellectual revolution) would be the result of these forces combined together?
COMMENT AND REPLY to a classmate that posted a comment after yours: "What is the single aspect or detail that really filled a hole in your knowledge about this historical period?"
(Suggestion: keep the comments short. You want to grab attention with something original and sharp, not with a long dissertation.)
The era of explorations chartered ocean routes toward other worlds.
Gutenberg opened the floodgates of information.
Is it really surprising that a revolution (an intellectual revolution) would be the result of these forces combined together?
COMMENT AND REPLY to a classmate that posted a comment after yours: "What is the single aspect or detail that really filled a hole in your knowledge about this historical period?"
(Suggestion: keep the comments short. You want to grab attention with something original and sharp, not with a long dissertation.)
I did not know that Martin Luther was a monk and devoted member of the Catholic Church before he posted his 95 Theses. Because I have been taught that all people in Europe at this time were devoutly religious, I assumed that Luther was just a particularly outspoken individual. Knowing his personal history as a true student of the Church allows me to better understand the reasons for his discontent and validate his complaints.
ReplyDeleteI, too, was under the assumption (from the way I was educated) that during this time period, mostly everyone in Europe was religious. Given this new context, though, I can now understand his rationale and although I disagree with much of his approach, I have at least now can't make a conjecture about him - as would be unfair in dissecting any particular figure.
DeleteIt is not surprising at all that a revolution would come about from individual liberties and expression being given freedom. Humans have always had a way of rebelling against forces - like entropy itself. Anyway, I find it interesting that during the Counter-Reformation, protestants found and criticized the education of papal authorities as "distracting". What is even more eye-opening is the fact that while Protestant beliefs were devoted solely to religion as logic, nationalism played apart. Pretty ironic, then that they would condemn education of counter-protesters if their entire basis wasn't completely consistent on religion after all.
ReplyDeleteIt is not surprising that an intellectual revolution would come from this new way to spread information. I think that this not only helped spread information, but helped literacy as well. There is a bound to be an intellectual revolution. I didn't know anything about the 95 theses and Martin Luther. I too, like Nicolas, thought that people were very devout and afraid to talk against the church. While most people were afraid, Martin Luther really used the Gutenberg press to his advantage.
ReplyDeleteOne aspect that grasped my attention was how the printing press actually worked. I have learned my whole life that Gutenberg invented the printing press and learned of the tremendous effect it had on the world thereafter, but I was never taught how it worked or functioned at the time to print. The documentary demonstrated that for me, and I was pleased to learn something that I had always wondered about but never knew.
ReplyDeleteYes, the documentary was really interesting. I too didn't know exactly how the printing press functioned, so it was cool to see that.
DeleteAs always, my favorite part was Gutenberg. Every time I read about Gutenberg, I smile. It makes me happy to know that the birth of the printing press had such an amazing impact on people and education. I don't think it's surprising that a revolution would be the result of this outcome.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that prior to the Renaissance people did not consider people as individuals with personalities individually. I believe that since art and culture was further expanding, this opened up to people having more of an identity, which abled people to consider the identity of people as well. The Renaissance was truly a revolution for the minds of people so this does not come as a shock to me in the least bit. The Renaissance truly helped people open up their own minds, and open more up to the minds of others.
ReplyDeleteI don't find it surprising that an intellectual revolution started with the combination of these three events. The entire reason the church kept people uneducated during the dark ages was so that they could keep control over them. Knowledge is power and it was inevitable that the tables would turn once the public had access to information through the printing press.
ReplyDeleteThat is very true. People were suppressed to a specific set of rules and ideas. They all thought the same and never really explored any information other than what the church provided them with. As communications emerged, people were able to educate themselves and accept and provide other ideas, not only what they were expressed to by the church.
DeleteI’m not surprised that the spread of intellectual functions caused a revolution. For example, the printing press, was a form of communication for people. Individuals began to learn and information began to spread. Throughout time, we see that art, communication and progression, helped societies grow and become intellectual and during this time. People were afraid to speak their minds, or try and challenge the church. This revolution helped people grow and be educated. People began opening their minds to other sources, and as we saw in the film, Martin Luther was able to grab people’s attention and steer people’s minds and ideas into many different ways.
ReplyDeleteI agree! The revolution not only helped people become more knowledgeable, it encouraged people look at and understand different perspectives and viewpoints rather than sticking to the same information provided by the church.
DeleteYou're very right. The printing press changed the course of history forever!
DeleteIt's not surprising that these occurrences would lead to a revolution. These instances unraveled knowledge which would only encourage people to start an intellectual revolution. Much like Emma, I was completely unaware that Martin Luther was a dedicated member of the Catholic Church. I believe by being one, it made his arguments and his 95 theses more credible.
ReplyDeleteI don't see this intellectual revolution as a surprise however I do believe that people of the time were not expecting it. Individualism during the Renaissance was a revolution in its own. Expecting it to be something even greater within that time would have been incomprehensible in my opinion. The only reason I'm not surprised by the revolution is because I can watch from the outside as a spectator of history and see the course of the past to be logical.
ReplyDelete