The Origin Nature and Effects of the Renaissance
The Renaissance was characterized by changes in various aspects of society including politics, social life, the arts and innovation. The nature of the renaissance was such that it aimed to bring humanistic values to the life of society. This period was quite distinct in that it marked the end of the middle ages and withdrew from the practices of the times to return to the classical values and its learning. There was a restoration in arts and literature for instance (Chastel 34). The Renaissance is thought to have arisen because of the decline in value systems in society and developments. There was perceived stagnation which human beings living within the limits set by society and particularly religion (Chastel 35).
However, there existed yearnings to return man to his capacities and to create relevant values that would lead to fully expressions of humanity. Virtue seemed to have lost its place in society and there was often little distinction between what was done for the good of society and man. Consequently, the thinkers began to inquire to the real meaning of virtue and the role it should complete in society. According to Chastel for example Machiavelli began to inquire the role of utilizing virtue in politics or using force (183). Societies needed to be ordered around humanistic and universal values and thus make progress. Religion by itself had failed to transform society.
The culture of the Greek was crucial to society. It was regarded as the way in which any persons could acquire humanitas. Consequently, other cultures were disregarded and individuals in the middle age regarded as primarily barbaric (Chasel 84). The Greek culture was regarded as superior and the mark of how well the individuals were cultured. The Renaissance was thus geared towards returning to this culture which was thought to have capacity to be universal and to uplift society from the decline it had experienced during the middle ages. Around the 14th century and 16th century the Renaissance began. From Italy it would flow to other European countries.
The different cities had been under attack by barbaric existence bringing many aspects of the life there to ruin. The idea for the Renaissance beginning in Rome thus became the restoration of the Romanitas (Chasel 164). Rome had previously been a great city which prior to the Renaissance had been deprived of its great stature. The Romans were highly educated and had been well learned in the Greek culture. They therefore supported the drive towards Renaissance and the advancement of these values where they ventured. People like Leonardo Bruni were utilized to make these drives within Italy in an effort to recapture the Roman civilization (Chasel 164).
The Muslim synthesis also played a great role in the Renaissance. For a long time the Muslims had been trying to exist within the dictates of the time and the spread of the Greek culture for example. However, through their synthesis they merged the Western and Eastern knowledge and to bring it together (Spielvogel xxxvi). This contributed to the Renaissance which was borrowing from those civilizations. The openness of the Muslim scholars and thinkers introduced a look at society beyond the glorious times which had passed. For this reason the Renaissance would not be restricted to a recapturing of the earlier classical times but newer and better ways.
They moved to new areas interacting with new people and spreading the values, particularly the religious ones, to these lands. The Renaissance is thought to be a unique time because its effects catapulted the world into new systems which persist today and which lay foundations for new though unlike the earlier golden eras which came without transforming society permanently.
The Europeans were motivated to explore the New World primarily owing to the Renaissance. However, they desired to conduct trade with other societies and to spread their religion. The Europeans conquered many lands and dealt with many native people. Some of the first to deal with were the Asians from whom they desired spices. The relationship between the Europeans and the natives in these lands were strained. This is because the Europeans would try to change these societies and instill their values. The Europeans felt that the natives were barbaric and had to be changed. The European thus introduced things like education to the natives in the hope that they too would be part of the human advancement that the Europeans sought. This created considerable conflict.
The European would also attempt to radically colonize the lands so that the natives were at a disadvantage. However, the cultured did not all approach the process of conquering in the same way. Some of the cultures were less forceful in the changing the natives. They used such methods as assimilation to bring their culture to the new World. The Spanish for example had been forceful in ensuring cooperation with the natives they met in their voyages. For example an Aztec resistance had resulted in a great massacre (Spielvogel 420). However, in other areas the Spanish sought to have better relationship with the natives. Queen Isabella for example instituted the Encomienda. Through this the Spanish could utilize the natives but in return they would make payments and offer other terms of protection.
The Europeans mostly acted the way they did because they considered the natives as less worthy then them. They did not try understanding their cultures or patiently share their own. There was also considerable competition with different countries exploring that the first conquerors sought to utilize the resources of the new lands quite fast. it led to the rampant and extreme manipulation of new peoples met to secure dominance. The lands conquered were also less powerful and could not fight off the Europeans. It made it easier for the natives for example to be made slaves (Spielvogel 424). There were many abuses reported some of which were chronicled in the exchange of communications between the explorers and the leaders in Europe.
An example of the abuses was written by Bartlome de Las Casas in his famous personal experiences written in Tears of the Indians. In it he expressed the cruelty which the Spanish had inflicted on the Indians in the conquer of Cuba (Spielvogel 422). The Atlantic slave trade also led to the destruction of lives in the areas slaves were taken from and the abuse of the slaves where they were shipped (Spielvogel 424). The communities were left desolate when the able were taken away. The new lands were also mined for minerals which were illegally taken. Natives consent was not considered necessary nor were they beneficiaries of any kind.
The Europeans legitimized the treatment with the attitude they had against the natives as inferior and that only the Europeans could lay claim to the lands or resources (Spielvogel 424). However, the maltreatment could have been avoided if the Europeans had considered the long path they themselves had taken to arrive at their own civilization. Though the natives seemed so barbaric, they were human beings and unworthy of mistreatment.
Conclusion
The Renaissance was an important period. It changed the world and consequently the trends which started have affected world history and societies. Although some effects of the Renaissance can be taken as positive there are also other aspects of it like imperialism which were highly devastating to the New World.
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Works Cited
Chasel, Andre. The Renaissance: Essays in Interpretation. New York: Methuen Inc,
1982. Print.
Spielvogel, Jackson J. Western Civilization: Since 1500. Belmont, CA: Thomson
Wadsworth, 2009. Print.
