Renaissance: influences of progress Flashcards
How did attitudes in society change in the Renaissance?
The Renaissance was characterised by the questioning of old ideas. Beginning with a few intellectuals, the principle of “ad fontes”, studying closely, became increasingly popular, as well as humanist thought. This was inspired by the questioning of authority, sparked by the Black Death in 1348.
How did the influence of the Catholic Church change in the Renaissance?
As Protestantism emerged, the Catholic Church became more concerned with maintaining its relevance than with controlling public lifestyle. Its influence on medicine declined with its power, paving a pathway for rational thought. Previously “unchallengeable” ideas were then disproved, further eroding the authority of Catholicism.
How did the government’s role in public health develop in the Renaissance?
The governmental attitude remained widely indolent, although local authorities began to make improvements in their own areas. However, the government took quick action during the Great Plague: a turning point in public health.
How did the role of royalty in public health develop in the Renaissance?
The Royal Society, created in 1660, received approval from King James I in 1662. It represented royal support for new ideas.
Its funding of research made technological breakthroughs, like Van Leeuwenhoek’s microscope, possible.
It began publishing the scientific journal “Philosophical Transactions” in 1665, which promoted rational and scientific thought.
How did technology and communications develop in the Renaissance?
1) In 1440, James Gutenberg created the world’s first printing press. By 1500, there were hundreds in Europe.
This invention took book copying out of the hands of the Church, preventing it from blocking out ideas of which it disapproved. Therefore, when new ideas were printed and published on a large scale, the public could see Galen’s mistakes.
2) Vesalius and Harvey were linked to top medical universities such as Padua and Cambridge, meaning that their ideas could be directly developed and used to educate new generations.
