Example Of Essay On Europe Transformed; Reform And State Building

Question 1. The main intellectual impact of Italian and Northern Renaissances is in proclamation and development of humanism in every aspect of human life. In this context, works of F. Petrarch contributed to the proclamation of human being as rational and all-sufficient creature, endowed with free will. This concept became the basis of the modern philosophy of human existence. Northern Renaissance contributed to the field by activity of Desiderius Erasmus who had concentrated on human cognition and development of educated generation. Concerning art, Italian Renaissance contributed to the development of accuracy in human and divine symbol’s depicting them in motion, shown in works of Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo and Rafael. Northern Renaissance had contributed to the naturalization of painting themes and concentration on human being rather than divinities (Hieronymus Bosch and Hendrik Goltzius).
Question 2. In the period between 1300s and 1500s, the influence of the Catholic Church had declined mainly due to its inability to resolve the existing problems of its congregation. This means that the Black Plague of 138-1350 had taken lives of about 58% of the European population. The inability of Church to assist people and the horror of the phenomenon itself suggest that belief in God and heavenly piece was not comforting people any more. Another reason for the lack of faith in the Medieval Church was its split, known as Western/Papal Schism of 1376-1417. Those events prepared the soil for further advancement of humanism and initial secularization.
Question 3. The main difference between English and French situations in the mentioned periods is based on the influence of the ruler and internal stability inside the country. The main reason why French monarchy was not overthrown in times of Louis XIV was that his actions were not as radical as those of Charles I in 1642 (attempt to dismiss the Parliament). Although France had the same problem with Protestants and religious clash as Britain, in the case of France, external enemy was still more tangible. On the other hand, the British Crown was conducting fights inside the country; particularly this refers to the war with Scotland Charles I had planned. Thus, the difference between societies and policies of two countries has much more influence on their development than actual geographic position and closeness to each other.