HUMANISM originated in Italy in the 15

th
century.
Intellectual movement that changed the mentality of the age
through a new concept of education.


1. The roots of humanism
V. HUMANISM: A NEW MENTALITY
Humanism was based on two principles

-HUMAN BEINGS ARE THE CENTER OF THE WORLD (anthropocentrism) not
God anymore (medieval theocentrism).
Men had to cultivate their faculties: reason, freedom, success, independence
and pleasure of art (women were excluded)

-CLASSICAL ANTIQUITY WAS TAKEN AS A MODEL TO FOLLOW: returned to
Greek and Roman culture:
Classic text are translated, studied and imitated (bases of many
scientific innovations)
All art was inspired by Greece and Rome
Philological and philosophical humanism: first Italian humanists
started translating and analyzing classical texts from Plato,
Aristotle or Virgil. These works inspired their own
philosophical and literary works.

2. Influential humanist movements
Francesco Petrarca Niccolo Machiavelli Leonardo Bruni
Religious humanism: Some humanists in north Europe tried to
assimilate their admiration for classical antiquity with
Christian religion.

Erasmus of Rotterdam Thomas More
Scientific humanism: Observation of reality and independent
reasoning were two of the main principles.
This and the spread of scientific classical texts inspired new
scientific theories, that continued in the following centuries







COPERNICUS (1473-1543)




In the 16
th
century, the Polish monk,
mathematician, and astronomer Copernicus
challenged the geocentric theory.
HELIOCENTRIC THEORY: held the sun to be
the center of the solar system.
His ideas were attacked by religious
authorities; Luther called him the fool who
wants to turn the whole art of astronomy
upside down.


3. The spread of humanist ideas
THE SPREAD OF HUMANIST IDEAS IN THE 15
TH
AND 16
TH
CENTURIES
WAS DUE TO ACADEMIES AND SCHOOLS, AND ALSO THANKS TO
PRINTING PRESS.
SCHOOLS AND ACADEMIES

Founded by humanists in
various countries.
Integrated the curriculum of
the Studia humanitatis:
classical literature, History,
Rhetoric, Natural
Philosophy, Arithmetic,
Modern Languages.
PRINTING PRESS

Invented by Gutenberg in 1448
It played a fundamental role in the
dissemination of these new ideas.
Books multiplied in number and
became cheaper (greater access to
culture).
This access to culture caused a
revolution in education and the
spread of humanist ideas