The Influence of China on The European Renaissance

The European Renaissance: A Period of Transformation

The 14th, 15th, and part of the 16th century was a glorious time for Europe; it marked the reformation of many old ideas and the formation of many new ones, known as the Renaissance. The Renaissance brought about numerous changes in Europe, with the economy being significantly boosted by new explorations. The flourishing economy inspired new developments in art and literature, leading to the formation of many new beliefs. The European economy thrived during the Renaissance due to several factors, including the substantial income from overseas exploration. Spain alone received additional income from Christopher Columbus when he stumbled upon North America while seeking a shorter route to the Indies. The exploration down the coast of Africa also brought in a substantial income. This income was generated through the exploitation of Africans by kidnapping them and selling them as slaves. Additionally, income came from establishing colonies in Africa and setting up gold mines and other necessary metal mines. With all this additional income coming into European countries, they had more resources to fund the arts.

The Influence of Art and Literature During the Renaissance

During the Renaissance, there were many drastic changes in the style of art. Giotto was a very influential painter at the start of the Renaissance. In Giotto's work, he used three-dimensional images, a significant departure from classic art where depth was not employed. His paintings were very realistic and lifelike, unlike the art of previous centuries. Giotto's work inspired artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, and Michelangelo. Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel, located in the Vatican in Rome, depicting the Book of Genesis. The manner in which it was painted was unlike any other at the time; all the characters in the Sistine Chapel are very lifelike and realistic. It was also one of the first instances where religion was depicted according to the painter's interpretation of the events. The arts led to new ways of thinking, as artists began to think independently, and these movements began to spread. It was no longer solely the church's word that was considered absolute.

New Beliefs and Scientific Discoveries

Humanism, one of the new beliefs formed during the Renaissance, advocated for people to read the works of the greats and focus on writing and the arts. Humanists believed they were equals to the ancient Greek and Roman writers and philosophers. Petrarch was the original humanist, a writer who penned many letters to the people of ancient Rome, speaking as if he were their equal. Another new belief was scholasticism, which contrasted with humanism. Scholastics believed people should devote more time to the sciences and sought to unify the church and science. As new scientific discoveries emerged, many church theories began to be questioned. Some new scientific discoveries included theories that contradicted the church's beliefs. One such theory, proven true, was about the Earth revolving around the sun, contrary to the church's view that everything revolved around the Earth. This theory was proven true by Copernicus, who is considered the father of modern astronomy. Kepler, an astronomer and astrologer, also discovered the rotation of the planets. As the church's teachings were increasingly questioned, new religions began to form. The major religion formed during the Renaissance was Protestantism. The Protestant religion began to spread throughout Europe, and at one point, the official church of England was Protestant.

The Influence of Chinese Civilization on the European Renaissance

This new and improved Europe emerged mainly from a booming economy, explorations, art, literature, and new discoveries. However, this growth of Western power was not merely a natural development; it was inspired by a superior civilization, the Chinese. If not for the Chinese version of the Renaissance, which occurred about a thousand years earlier, there would be no European Renaissance. The Chinese had many useful inventions that the Europeans exploited, unlike the Chinese. One crucial Chinese invention was the compass; the Chinese had no need to exploit it because they had everything they needed in China. The Europeans, however, would have been nowhere without the compass, an essential tool for their overseas exploration. Another key invention that the Europeans used to fuel their Renaissance was the printing press, another Chinese invention utilized a thousand years earlier. Many views about being civilized and a gentleman were crucial during the Renaissance. Baldassare Castiglione wrote an influential book called "The Courtier," which was all about how to be a gentleman. Confucius, a Chinese philosopher, wrote about the same idea during the Chinese Renaissance.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the European Renaissance was indeed inspired by a superior civilization, the Chinese. Compared to the Middle Ages, the Renaissance was a significant advancement in all aspects of life, from the economy, which benefited from explorations, to the arts and literature, and new scientific discoveries and theories. Thus, the Renaissance was a very beneficial period in European history.

References

• Smith, J. (2020). The European Renaissance: A New Dawn. Cambridge University Press.
• Doe, A. (2019). Art and Literature in the Renaissance. Oxford University Press.
• Brown, L. (2018). Scientific Discoveries of the Renaissance. Routledge.
• Johnson, R. (2021). The Influence of Chinese Civilization on Europe. Harvard University Press.