Introduction
Answering the question about the importance of the Renaissance and the Reformation for the shaping of the European society, it is important to consider the background of these epochs. The Renaissance was the rebellion against the church-dominated life in the early Medieval Europe, which was reflected in the artistic masterpieces. The Reformation was the direct struggle with the church whose overall influence people could not stand anymore. Accordingly, the Renaissance and the Reformation were similar processes in the aspect that they freed the human beings from the religious dogmas and shaped the modern European society (Stearns, Gosch, & Grieshaber, 2005 ).
Discussion
“The cultural rebirth or Renaissance did not take place in a vacuum. Prior to the twelfth century, almost all learning in Europe was under the control of the church, and medieval art and the literature reflected the church’s influence” (Brummett, Edgar, Hackett, Jewsbury & Molony, p. 399). In these lines, the whole essence of the Renaissance, as well of the Reformation, lies. Starting from the early 14th century in Italy, the Renaissance developed due to the work of such geniuses as Dante, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and others. Further on, the Renaissance spread to other parts of Europe and the so-called Northern Renaissance developed in the Netherlands, Spain, Scandinavian countries and Germany. Humanism, presented in works by Montaigne (1533 – 1592) and other prominent scholars, was the main idea of the Renaissance.
Accordingly, humanism was put by Martin Luther into the basis of the Reformation started in 1517: “…Luther denied the infallibility of the Pope and church councils, declared the Scriptures to be the sole legitimate doctrinal authority, and proclaimed that salvation could be gained only by faith” (Brummett, Edgar, Hackett, Jewsbury & Molony,, p. 418) Later, in 1536 – 1538, Henry VIII of England implemented the Reformation in his country, this time for the practical purposes – he needed his marriage annulled and Catholicism did not allow that. So, the Anglican Church headed by Henry was introduced as the major one in England (Brummett, Edgar, Hackett, Jewsbury & Molony, p. 420). Thus, the German Reformation and its consequences in other European countries led to the decrease of the Catholic Church authority and influence, and put it on the edge of collapse. Only the activities of Pope Paul III (1534 – 1549) rescued the church and established the modern state of things when the state and the church are separated and do not rule each other (Brummett, Edgar, Hackett, Jewsbury & Molony, p. 427).
Conclusion
So, it is obvious that the Renaissance and the Reformation are the processes of the same nature. Their uniform direction towards granting freedoms and rights to human beings is what leads this paper to such a conclusion. Masterpieces by such artists as Jan van Eyck (c.1395 – 1441), Albrecht Durer (1471 – 1528), Miguel de Servantes (1547 – 1616) and many others glorified the human being and its freedoms as the basic values of the society. The humanist works by Montaigne, Sir Thomas More and Ulrich von Hutten confirmed the irreversible change that both the Renaissance and the Reformation brought to the European society (Brummett, Edgar, Hackett, Jewsbury & Molony, p. 409). From a theological one it turned into a democratic phenomenon which praises human freedoms and rights (Stearns, Gosch, & Grieshaber, 2005 ).
Works Cited
Brummett, Palmira J., Robert R. Edgar, Neil J. Hackett, George F. Jewsbury, Barbara S. Molony. Civilization: Past & Present, Volume II: From 1300. Longman, 2006
Stearns, Peter N., Stephen S. Gosch, Erwin P. Grieshaber. Documents in World History: The Modern Centuries, Volume 2 (From 1500 to the Present). Longman, 2005.