Humanism and the Renaissance + Protestant Reformation = Scientific Revolution

Kelly McCabe

CCM Summer Session III

Professor Pilant

Term Paper

CCM Summer Session III 2012

Early Modern European History

Term Paper

The later Middle Ages is characterized as a time of great transition and advancement, especially pertaining to areas of politics, economics, art and intellect. A new trend towards the pursuit of new knowledge and ideas first emerged in fifteenth century Renaissance Italy. This new area of intellect marks the emergence of humanism, which essentially came to be the defining characteristic leading up to the Scientific Revolution in the eighteenth …show more content…

Among several attempts throughout history, “the Protestant Reformation is the only attempt that was successfully institutionalized” (Bellah, 369).[xii] So much work thus far had been the foundational truth: “scholastic philosophers and theologians spent long years acquiring the skills of dialectical argumentation and familiarity with the opinions of the past authorities, both ancient and medieval” (Nauert, 433).[xiii] It would take great influence to override these criticisms, but Erasmus laid the foundation for Martin Luther. “Erasmus’ pains were those of a delicate body and a sensitive and intellectual mind, amid surrounds which were uncongenial and indeed fatal to any humane culture” (Bishop, 135).[xiv] Whereas this was so, “Luther’s misery arose from the pains and travail of his moral nature in his endeavor to find peace with God” (Bishop, 135).[xv] For, it was “out of these throes of conscience a great religious movement was to be born” (Bishop, 135).[xvi] It was the combination of the significant influence witnessed having been imparted by Erasmus and Martin Luther that finally instigated the long time coming Protestant Reformation.

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