Comparison of the Role of Scientific Revolution and Renaissance in shaping Modern Europe

Historical arguments of Herbert Butterfield and Jacob Burkhardt

Essay Response #1

Herbert Butterfield, a British historian argues in his book, The Origins of Modern Science, that the supposed Scientific Revolution of the 16th and 17th centuries surpasses all other developments of the modern, since the rise of Christianity,including the Renaissance and Reformation periods. However, Jacob Burkhardt, a Swiss historian argues in his book, Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy that it was the Renaissance which became the birthplace of the secular modern world. In light of the above historical arguments, are you inclined to agree with Butterfield or Burkhardt, upon examining the various social, intellectual, and political developments studied throughout this course? You must refer to the following in your answer: Leonardo Da Vinci, Francesca Petrarch’s, Ascent to Mont Ventoux, Niccolo Machiavelli, William Shakespeare, Martin Luther and the Indulgence controversies, 95 Theses, The Catholic Counter-Reformation, Aristotle, Oresme, Galileo Galilei, Copernican Revolution, the Geocentric vs Heliocentric model, Ptolemy, Kepler,and Isaac Newton. In your view, did the Renaissance in any way help to fuel the spirit of the Scientific Revolution?

Essay Response # 2

Martin Luther argued during the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century:“To doubt the existence of what one already knows.” Luther’s direct questioning of the Church contributed to the development of a modern identity, growth in secular ideas, and liberal values. In light of Luther's argument and despite the growth of modern ideas during the Protestant Reformation, are you inclined to agree or disagree with the idea that the Western Christian Church continued to exert its power and influence from the Black Death, Dante Alighieri, The Renaissance Popes, The Great Schism, the Catholic Counter Reformation, the European Witch Hunts,Thirty Years War, growth of monarchies in England and France, to the Scientific Revolution of the 17th century? In your view, had the religious authority of the Western Christian Church greatly declined by the time the 17th century arrived? Provide reasons for your answer.

Essay Response #3

Discuss any four of the following historical figures to examine the contribution of their works in shaping the intellectual (ideas), artististic, and cultural ideas of early modern Europe: Niccolo Machiavelli’s, “The Prince”, William Shakespeare’s, Love sonnets, Leonardo Da Vinci’s art and drawings, Giovanni Bocaccio’s, Decameron, the Black Death, Decameron, Dante Alighieri’s Inferno (Divine Comedy), Francesco Petrarch’s Love sonnets, and The Ascent to Mont Ventoux, and Henrich Kramer, Hammer of Witches, Malleus Maleficarum. In your view, are these intellectuals and their ideas still relevant today? You must directly reference extracts and passages directly from the primary sources