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Ⅰ.The Renaissance: A Rebirth of Leaning "Renaissance" , French for "rebirth“ or “revival”, perfectly describes the intellectual and economic changes that occurred in Europe between 14-17 centuries At one time many historians held that the Renaissance signified a sharp break with the preceding medieval period. More recently some scholars have argued it was an evolutionary change from the Middle Ages
歌、音乐、绘画、雕塑、建筑等）
In France it was literature. In England it was philosophy and drama. The starting place of the Renaissance is almost universally ascribed to（把…归于）Central Italy, especially the city of Florence. Italy— cradle of the Renaissance.
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Ⅱ. Distinctive Features began with the rediscovery of the GrecoRoman civilization Emphasized reason, a questioning attitude, experimentation, and free inquiry (rationalism) Glorified the individual and approved worldly pleasures, and focused attention upon secular matters (humanism)
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A cultural and intellectual movement of the Renaissance that emphasized secular concerns as a result of the rediscovery and study of the literature, art, and civilization of ancient Greece and Rome. At the heart of the Renaissance philosophy was the assertion（坚持，断言）of the greatness of man. Intellectuals of humanist believed in the promotion of wealth, pleasure and a frank admiration for the beauty of human body. Man’s interest was shifted from Christianity to Humanity, from religion to philosophy, from heaven to earth, from beauty of God to the beauty of the human body in all its joys and pains, senses and feelings.
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Renaissance Art
The distinct features of the Renaissance Art 1. Art broke away from the domination of the church. 2. Themes of painting changed from purely celestial（天上 的，神圣的） realm to an appreciation of nature & man. 3. Studies of the ruins of Roman and Greek temples were carried out and the principles of ancient civilization were practiced. 4. Artists introduced in their works scientific theories of anatomy（解剖学）and perspective（透视法）.
The Renaissance Culture
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Early Modern English
The renaissance was the revival of the ancient culture of Greek and Latin. Scholar translated literature from Latin and Greek into English ,so over 10000 Latin and Greek words (A.C. Baugh and T. Cable ,1946:221) entered the English language ,which contributed to the vocabulary of Modern English.
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II Historical Background
Timeline
1474 William Caxton printed the first book in English 1485 Founding of Tudor Dynasty 1532-34 Henry VIII divorced, declared himself as supreme head of the Church of England
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Start of Renaissance
Renaissance happened gradually at different places at different times. The movement occurred in different countries with different emphasis. The impact with Italy was mostly in fine arts. （艺术—指诗
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Featured great achievements in literature, art, and science, and the art stressed symmetry and grace Started in Italy, especially Florence, and in the 15th century spread to France, the German states, Holland, Spain, and England
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Historical background:
The breaking up of feudal relations and the establishing of the foundations of capitalism; The enclosure; the war of the Roses; the strengthening of the absolute monarchy; the rise of the bourgeoisie; the defeat of the Spanish Armada. New social and economic conditions brought about great changes in the development of science and art. So with the strengthening of new bourgeois national state, this period is marked by a flourishing of national culture known as the Renaissance.
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What does “Renaissance” mean?
Generally it refers to the period between the 14th and mid 17th century. The term Renaissance, is adopted from the French equivalent of the Italian word “Rinascimento”. Literally: “rebirth”.
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II Historical Background
1558 Death of Mary, accession of Elizabeth I
1576 The first playhouse built in London 1588 Defeat of the Spanish Armada, apex of England 1603 Death of Elizabeth I, accession of James I
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Giovanni Boccaccio （卜伽丘） (1313-1375) an Italian author and poet, the author of the great work Decameron （《十日谈》） The Decameron: full of praises of true love and wisdom and satire on the hypocrisy of the priest and the aristocrat. With this book, the courtly themes of medieval literature began to give way to the voice and mores of early modern society.