Renaissance Movers & Shakers
Five People Who Made a Difference in Renaissance Europe
Nicolaus Copernicus, Leonardo Da Vinci, Johannes Gutenburg, Niccolo Machiavelli and Martin Luther were five people who changed the European Renaissance.
The European Renaissance is full of people who changed the world, leaving their mark in history. Due to time and word limits, they can’t all be listed in this article. So here are five of figures from all over Europe who helped shape the Renaissance and the world beyond.
Johannes Gutenberg- Made books cheap long before Barnes & Noble Came Along
A German goldsmith by the name of Johannes Gutenberg (1399-1468) was the first European to adapt the Chinese printing press for western languages, with the use of movable type. Gutenberg produced the first printed book, a standard version of the bible used in the Christian Church. It became known as the Gutenberg Bible. Thanks to Gutenberg, cheap books and pamphlets were available to the masses. Soon more and more people were reading in the privacy of their own homes. A shift in subject matter also encouraged reading for pleasure. Early books were written mainly about religious or academic subjects. By the 1500s, a person could visit a book fair and peruse books written about a variety of topics, including Medieval romance, medicinal treaties, prayer books and exciting recounts of explorers and adventurers.
Martin Luther- Turned Conventional Religion on its Head
With one swipe of the pen, Martin Luther, a German Monk, began the Protestant Reformation in Europe, forever changing Christianity and European politics. Luther inspired many figures, including monarchs, to break from papal authority in Rome and establish their own churches. He inspired other reformers like John Knox of Scotland and John Calvin of Geneva. And Martin Luther is credited by many as introducing the Christmas tree to Germany. That is pretty hard to top!
Niccolo Machiavelli- Said Its Always Better to be Feared than Loved
Niccolo Machiavelli is considered the inventor of modern politics. His theory that it is better to be feared than loved, earned him an unscrupulous reputation. Today the term “Machiavellian” is used to describe some rulers who use deceit to impose their will. According to Machiavelli, a ruler should conduct himself in the following manner, in order to gain renown from his people he should maintain a regal bearing, do great deeds, encourage excellence, foster peaceful progress and respect local organizations.
Nicolaus Copernicus- Knew That Earth Wasn’t The Center of the Universe
By questioning accepted scientific thought, Nicolaus Copernicus helped lay the foundation for the coming Scientific Revolution of the 18th Century. Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543) spent the better part of his life studying astronomy, and believed that Aristotle and Ptolemy’s view of an earth centered universe to be incorrect. Copernicus turned to a new idea, emerging from Renaissance Italy, which claimed that the sun was the center of the universe.
Leonardo Da Vinci- More Than Just a Code
Leonardo Da Vinci may be most famous for the Mona Lisa. However, Da Vinci was more than just a painter. Among his papers left behind after his death include sketches and blueprints for a battleship, printing press, parachute, flying machines, bridge canal and a spring-driven car. Leonardo helped bring the Italian Renaissance to France (and then onto the rest of Northern Europe) when he accepted an invitation by King François I to live at his court.
