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HISTORICAL FRAMEWORK: A HUMANIST TRADITION AND A RETURN TO ANTIQUITY

6 important questions on HISTORICAL FRAMEWORK: A HUMANIST TRADITION AND A RETURN TO ANTIQUITY

What does the concept Renaissance stands for?

The Renaissance must primarily be viewed as a historical movement to revive Greek and Roman antiquity. But is much broader than that.

Soon after the start of the Renaissance the style was no longer limited to imitating classical culture. They tried to improve it. Mathemetics plays a key role in this. Same as the invention of the perspective drawings. Portions and ratio are key elements of the renaissance architecture style.

What was the characteristic of the humanist culture?

The humanist culture was the first that considered a conscious vision of the city as central to an organized society. It was, in fact, the first time since the decline of the classical world, that theory or science about the city was developed, with the rise of this humanist culture.

Humanism -> related to Renaissance

What was different between the middle ages and the renaissance when looking at the concept: 'history'

In the Middle Ages there was no sense of history.
In the Renaissance period a sense of history emerges, of change and development.

Why was the antiquity coming back during the Renaissance?

Middle ages were merely dark ages. They hoped by bringing back elements of the Greek and Roman times also the light of those times will return.

What is a Homo Universals and how is it linked to the Renaissance?

The Renaissance ideal is also seen as the homo universalis, a combination of an artist, scientist, inventor, etc.
So during the Renaissance people were never just architects or urban planners.

What where essential characteristics for the transformation from medieval city to Renaissance city?

-> changes in sociental structure

During the renaissance the city develops from an independent social and economic system to a politically and economically independent entity: the city state, a political entity with kings, lords and aristocratic elites. The economy is no longer limited to being self-sufficient, but is directed towards trading (for example ocean trading).