2. Definition
 Literal meaning: rebirth
 Marked by surge of creative
energy
 Seen in all areas of culture
 Began in Italy in 14th century
and spread north
 Delayed in England due to
political upheaval
 Took hold during the reign
of Henry VII

3. Changes from Medieval to
Renaissance
 Change in view of religion
 Medieval times: focused on religion and afterlife
 Renaissance: more interest in life on earth
 More focus on individual and human potential
 Difference in view of ambition
 “Renaissance man”
 What is?
 Difference between “Renaissance man” and medieval ideal
man

4. Renaissance Religion
 Henry VIII
 Creation of the Church
of England
 Why?
 Protestant church
 Thirst for male heir
created infamous
reputation
 Six wives, 3 heirs
 Only one male

5. Henry’s Six Wives
 Catherine of Aragon  Anne of Cleves
 Divorced  Divorced/Annulled
 Mother of Mary I
 Anne Boleyn  Katherine Howard
 Beheaded  Beheaded
 Mother of Elizabeth I  Treason
 Jane Seymour
 Died  Katherine Parr
 Mother of Edward VI  Survived

6. Catherine of Anne Boleyn Jane Seymour
Aragon
Anne of Cleves Katherine Howard Katherine Parr

7. Renaissance Religion
(cont’d)
 Edward VI
 Only male heir to
Henry VIII
 Succeeded at 9, but
died at 15
 Group of radical
Protestants used
Edward as power
 Became known as
Puritans

8. Renaissance Religion
(cont’d)
 Mary I
 Daughter of Catherine
of Aragon and Henry
VIII
 Known as “Bloody
Mary”
 Superstitious game?
 Brought back Roman
Catholicism
 Intense persecution of
Protestant
 Burnt over 280
Protestants at the
stake

9. Renaissance Religion
(cont’d)
 Elizabeth I
 Daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn
 Considered the most able ruler England has had
 Brought back Protestantism, though kept some aspects of
Catholicism
 Known as the “Virgin Queen”
 Never married
 Controversy of nickname
 Cultivated many aspects of culture, allowing for growth in
idea of Renaissance
 Dancing, art, theater

10. Elizabeth I

11. Renaissance Culture
 Delight in arts, literature, beauty of nature, human
impulses, exploration and mastery over world
 Think of the Renaissance greats:
 Shakespeare
 Galileo
 Columbus
 Great advances in technology
 Compass, telescope, printing press