The Renaissance: A History from Beginning to End
☆ The Renaissance ☆
During the Middle Ages, the nations of Europe forged new identities that moved them away from the lost glory of the Roman Empire into their own ethnicity. The experience of maturation was often clumsy and out of step, an evolutionary process that saw the nation's developing at their own pace as they struggled to replace the protection of Rome with their own home-grown strength. What the nations, once they were ready to be described in that manner, did have was the Roman Catholic Church, which defined itself as the spiritual protector of Christian believers. But the dutiful Christians of the Middle Ages who sought orthodoxy and for the most part obeyed the papal rules underwent a change when the Middle Ages ended. The Renaissance, or rebirth, was a period of time when Europeans began to question what they had been told was sacrosanct. Through art, inventions, science, literature, and theology, the separate nations of the European continent sought answers that the Roman Catholic Church was unwilling, or perhaps unable, to offer.
Inside you will read about...
✓ The Rebirth of Europe
✓ The Italian Renaissance
✓ The French Renaissance
✓ The Spanish Renaissance
✓ The German Renaissance
✓ The Low Countries Renaissance
✓ The English Renaissance
✓ Here Be Dragons: Exploring the Unknown
The Church that had become a powerful political entity was viewed with distrust and skepticism by many Christians; the spread of learning that accompanied the invention of Gutenberg’s printing press meant that bold new ideas were traveling across the boundaries of Europe faster than the Church could silence them. Lascivious, power-brokering popes could not bring a halt to the challenges they encountered when a German priest rebelled against corrupt practices that masqueraded as ecclesiastical authority. As the walls came tumbling down, humanism burst forth, inspiring the art of Michelangelo, the science of Vesalius, the literature of Shakespeare and Cervantes. But with the loss of religious uniformity came terrible conflicts: France suffered the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre; Spain welcomed the Inquisition to purge heresy; the Low Countries were split between Catholic and Protestant. The Renaissance was a triumph of the human spirit and a confirmation of human ability, even as it affirmed the willingness of men and women to die for the right to think freely.
Reviews (243)
A book everyone should read so as not make the mistakes of the past
This short 47-page book tells the story of the renaissance which followed the dark middle ages when people feared the unknown and felt that it was better for people to be uneducated and live happily in the dark The book describes this misguided past before the enlightenment. It relates the conflict between the enlightenment and religion. It tells us what we should know about the past. It should prompt us not to be like those who lived in the dark but, instead to learn as much as we can. We read about the rebirth of Europe and how the renaissance began in Italy, France, Spain, Germany, the low countries, England and elsewhere, and how it was done. We read also about the people involved who made great contributions to civilization and who helped people and society advance. The book is part of a many volume series of history books by Hourly History, so called because a reader can finish the book within an hour. Hourly History is one of the great free items on the internet. The books are written by scholars but are easy to read. Every Friday, if you subscribe as I do, we are sent about four free history books, such as this one. After the free books on Friday, some sell for a nominal price, but others, like this one, remain free.
A Quick Overview of the Renaissance in England, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, & the Low Countries
This book heralds the rebirth of the human spirit in the Middle Ages. In this compact little volume, Hourly History takes a look at the Renaissance in England, Italy, France, Spain, Germany, and the Low Countries (Belgium, the Netherlands, and Holland). After the Holy Roman Empire collapsed, the European nations created independent identities. At the beginning of the Middle Ages, The Catholic Church provided religious uniformity. But the printing press and the Renaissance would shatter the Church's control forever. As people wanted to understand their universe, they tried novel ways to study and understand life. I liked the fact that this book concentrated on the people that made the Renaissance what it was - artists, scholars, scientists, architects, etc. The Renaissance brought about a new study of and appreciation for the classics of Greek and Roman learning. The story of Theresa of Avila was very interesting; I didn't think many people avoided being destroyed by the Inquisition. She managed to pass inspection by the Inquisition twice! The thumbnail sketches of the people highlighted in this story were pithy and interesting. In fewer than 50 pages, this is certainly an overview of a complex period of time. However, I felt the authors used their ink wisely, touching on absorbing facts and personalities.
A misleading waste of your money
So the lesson I take from this purchase is to carefully go through the reviews before making a purchase. This is a thin book, almost a pamphlet. The pages aren't numbered, but I'm guessing it comes to about forty pages at best. The Italian Renaissance takes up a total of seven pages and somehow fails even to mention Leonardo Da Vinci, which should give you an idea of how terrible this book really is on substance. Text is large on the page, and the clunky writing hits a middle school level, maybe sixth grade, taken charitably. There are no interior illustrations, though I didn't expect any. Neither does the author offer citations. The explication is uncritical and seems directed at reinforcing a simple theme of the Renaissance representing a "rebirth of the human spirit." To give you an idea of the shallow treatment in this book, the Spanish Inquisition is merely mentioned as "notorious" and that it "would affect Spain's history." You'll learn more about the Renaissance if you watch a single episode of "The Borgias" or "Medici: Masters of Florence" (which by the way is actually pretty good). This book is that terrible. If I could have given this no stars, I would have. For the money, this is a rip-off everyone would do well to avoid. Try Lisa Jardine's book Worldly Goods instead, just as one suggestion. You can spend the same amount of money for a hardback book if you like, or used for much cheaper. You can find it here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0385476841/ref=as_at?creativeASIN=0385476841&linkCode=w61&imprToken=S08dwH4AZbx.23x8zxi2sw&slotNum=3&tag=fivebooks001-20#customerReviews
Brief, a little light, but Effective
While I can't give this expose' 5 stars, it does a pretty good job of giving the reader a brief overview of the period. My only thought would be to expand on this type of expose' to go a little more in depth. Many of the historical figures from this time period I know of pretty well, but someone not better versed on the people of the period may have a harder time. If I were to write this piece I might even reference or insert a link to people written about in Hourly's other expose's. Adding 5 - 10 pages to an expose' such as this would not bother me in the least.
You'll learn more from PBS videos
This is nothing more than a color laser printout in 18pt type of a 6th grade essay. 46(?) pages of digested material found on a Rick Steve's tour video. This is not a book.
…AND WORTH EVERY PENNY OF IT.
“The Renaissance was a triumph of the human spirit and a confirmation of human ability, even as it affirmed the willingness of men and women to die for the right to think freely.” (Kindle Locations 25-26) The Renaissance: A History From Beginning to End, by Henry Freeman; one of the ‘Hourly History Series’ is a very brief, pretty thorough, introduction to the European Renaissance. It is perhaps one of the first books I’ve read that writing the review might just take longer than the reading did (about an hour). It was also a free book from Kindle… thus my lead-in/headline. Recommendation: Despite its necessary lack of depth, I still plan to read other offerings from this series—so, yes, I do recommend it to you and to your teens. “…unlocking doors was a character trait of the Renaissance that neither the hope of heaven nor the fear of hell could shackle.” (Kindle Locations 430-431). “Here be dragons.” (Kindle Location 423). Hourly History. Kindle Edition. 465 Kindle Locations.
Interesting / but (somehow) lacks 'passion'
While the authors of 'Hourly History' books are not disclosed: the depth of research can be appreciated, but (somehow) the author/s fail to evoke a feeling for the time - or an appreciation by the reader of the era with much passion. The irrational effects religion had (and continue to have) on the populace of the known world at the time is evident. We now think of the rapid evolution of computers and science (from the first manned flight to landing on the moon in just 66 years) but the changes during the 'renaissance' must have been equally memorable...? Still - it encapsulates short biographies of many characters that influenced the era.
A fairly good introduction
I would have given it five stars. It certainly merited that on many sections. However, when I came to religion and kingship, it fell short, resorting to generalizations about these subjects that we are all used to. So nothing new there. But where it did excel was on the other subjects: the arts, literature, social hierarchies, exploration and colonization. Rather than focusing on the popular kings and queens, it focused on the innovative thinkers; scholars, architects, artists, mathematicians, etc; that brought a classical rebirth to Europe, and encouraged a rebellious spirit in these new men that set the basis for the modern world.
I have never written a review for any purchase on ...
I have never written a review for any purchase on Amazon, and as for books, I am well over 105 purchases; but this book demands comment. It is awful. Written in the disjointed style of a middle school student, this product has no business being offered to anyone for cash.
De la opresión a la libertad: El Renacimiento.
Me gustó lo bien condensada y narrada que se encuentra una historia tan preciosa de la humanidad. De la opresión y el oscurantismo a un mundo repensando desde las cenizas que dejara la peste negra. Un nuevo sentido de vida, un renacer, no solo para un país, sino para todo un continente. El florecimiento de las artes en sus diferentes manifestaciones, ciencia y teología. Giros de 180 en el pensamiento predominante de la época, gracias a la valentía de quienes se atrevieron a cuestionar el status Quo. Todo bellamente narrado. Eso es el renacimiento. Sin dudarlo, te lo recomiendo!
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