Renaissance Thinkers and Humanism: Impact on Europe and Spain
Renaissance Thought: A Shift in Worldview
The Renaissance marked a significant change in worldview compared to the Middle Ages. The ideal was to adapt the teachings of the Greco-Roman classics to new times. From this need arose prose of thought, offering new models distinct from the medieval ones.
Key Thinkers in Europe
The most influential Renaissance thinkers, primarily from Italy, include Niccolo Machiavelli and Baldassare Castiglione.
- Niccolo Machiavelli: He wrote The Prince, a foundational book of political science. It argues that the end justifies the means, and that the power of the state, represented by the prince or ruler, is above the moral and ethical values of individuals.
- Baldassare Castiglione: He offered a model of behavior for the Renaissance nobility in his major work, The Courtier. It spread rapidly throughout Europe and influenced other thinkers. He explained that the good courtier should master not only weapons but also culture and morality.
- Desiderius Erasmus: A Dutchman, Erasmus tried to reconcile classical culture with Christian religious thought. He sought the Church’s spiritual renewal and harmony among Christians, who were engaged in religious wars following the Protestant Reformation.
- Thomas More: An Englishman, More outlined a theory of the perfect state in his Utopia: an ideal model of society that rejects religious intolerance, the unequal distribution of wealth, and violence. One of the topics discussed was the issue of the death penalty.
- Michel de Montaigne: A Frenchman, Montaigne analyzed the society of his time in his Essays, denouncing the contradictions of its institutions, customs, and views, which were dominated by inflexible and irrational rules. The Essays were aimed at helping the reader of his time to know themselves a little better.
Humanist Thought in Spain
Spain was one of the first European countries to embrace the new humanist thought. This had a great influence on many genres, including historical prose, didactic prose, and dialogue.
Historical Prose
Especially important were the historians of the Indies, who chronicled the Spanish arrival in America and expressed a fascination with the new continent.
- Bernal Diaz del Castillo: He was the prototype of the writer-soldier. He described the arrival of the Spanish in Mexico with a simple prose style in The History of the Conquest of New Spain.
- Fray Bartolomé de las Casas: He wrote A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies, in which he accused the Spanish of destroying indigenous peoples and presented an idealized defense of the Indians.
Didactic Prose
Its aim was to propose and teach a new model of Renaissance man based on humanist moral values. A key figure is Fray Antonio de Guevara, who wrote Contempt of Court and Praise of Village, a treatise that defends a life detached from the intrigues of the court.
The Dialogue
This genre originates from Greco-Roman literature, especially the works of the philosopher Plato. It is based on the exposition of ideas through fictional dialogues. The most important Spanish Renaissance dialogue is Dialogue on Language by Juan de Valdes. It is the first treatise written in Spanish that discusses the language. Its main points are:
- Defends Castilian and puts it on par with Latin.
- Proposes a style based on conciseness, simplicity, and naturalness.
- Uses examples like proverbs and teaching resources to convey his ideas.
- Rejects unnecessary neologisms.