The Renaissance was a time of unprecedented change. It was a time of “rebirth” of European society and a time of great accomplishments. In many ways, it was a period of immense progress and productivity. But it had its downsides.
So, was the Renaissance good or bad?
On one hand, the Renaissance was incredibly beneficial to the Western world as it was responsible for many of the advancements we take advantage of today. This period was marked by huge leaps forward in science and technology, as well as in the arts and humanities. It was also a period of exploration, with new discoveries being made around the world, leading to a greater understanding of the world around us.
But the Renaissance was not without its dark side. Exploration brought with it misery for people living in lands reached through exploration. It brought imperialism, commercial exploitation, and the scourge of slavery. The Reformation, while hailed by many, led to an increase in religious extremism and intolerance as well as the wars of religion.
500 years later, it’s time to take a balanced look and this remarkable and pivotal time in human history.
Was the Renaissance Good or Bad? (Both!)
The Renaissance was both good and bad. In this article, we will review both the pros and cons of this period.
5 Reasons the Renaissance was good
Here are 5 reasons why the Renaissance was good:
- It revived Humanism and laid the foundations for secularism and democracy
- It was an environment for the creation of amazing works of art
- It brought about the Printing Revolution
- It was incredible advances in Science, Astronomy, Anatomy and Medicine
- It launched the Age of Exploration and created a revolution in trade and commerce.
5 Reasons the Renaissance was bad
Here are 5 reasons why the Renaissance was bad:
- It resulted in the commercial exploitation of people in distant lands
- It created a sense of European superiority
- It led to the age of Imperialism and Colonization
- It led to the slavery trade
- It was marked by religious conflict and extremism
Now let’s take an in-depth look at the Pros and Cons of the Renaissance and understand why it was both good and bad.
The Pros of the Renaissance (Why it was Good)
Here’s an in-depth look at the 5 Pros of the Renaissance:
#1. It revived Humanism and laid the foundations for secularism and democracy
The defining philosophy of the Renaissance was humanism. Humanism holds that humans are remarkable and should aspire to accomplish great things using their natural talents and creativity.
Renaissance humanism believed in the revival of Classical antiquity and classical learning. Individualism was promoted as was freedom of thought. The rejection of religious dogma and blind faith would eventually lead to Secularism and the birth of democracy.
#2. It was an environment for the creation of amazing works of art
The most obvious benefit of the Renaissance was a cultural one. The impact of the Renaissance on art and the sheer level of artistic mastery achieved during this period was unparalleled in history.
Some of the greatest works of art ever made like the St. Peter’s basilica, the Sistine Chapel, The Last Supper and Michelangelo’s “David”, were all created during the Renaissance.
The Renaissance was also a time of great literature with writers like Shakespeare creating works that we still enjoy today. It was also a time of the (re)birth of new genres like satire, ridicule and romanticism.
#3. It brought about the Printing Revolution
One of the iconic innovations of the Renaissance was the invention, in 1440, of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg. This was a revolutionary technological advance that sped up the spread of ideas and knowledge.
For the first time in history, books could be printed in mass quantities and distributed to the public. This was an enormous boon for literacy rates in Europe, which was key to the Reformation.
Intellectuals benefited from this aspect of the Renaissance as now their ideas could be spread further and faster than ever before.
#4. It was incredible advances in Science, Astronomy, Anatomy and Medicine
The Renaissance was a time of great advances in science, mathematics and medicine. Astronomers like Copernicus and Galileo revolutionized our understanding of the cosmos. Anatomists such as Vesalius and Harvey made incredible advances in our understanding of the human body.
With a spirit of inquiry and thinking, these incredible advanced during the Renaissance led to the Scientific Revolution.
#5. It launched the Age of Exploration and created a revolution in trade and commerce
The Renaissance was the launch pad of the Age of Exploration. European explorers traveled to distant lands and opened up new worlds of trade and commerce.
This created a wealth boom amongst merchants and led to a trade and commercial revolution. Many of these merchants, like the Medicis, would become incredibly wealthy and powerful and political leaders in their own right.
The Age of Exploration was beneficial for Europe as it was able to acquire new sources of wealth and resources. This was a vital precursor to the Industrial Revolution and was key to Europe’s emergence as the dominant global power by the 19th century.
The Cons of the Renaissance (Why it was Bad)
Here’s an in-depth look at the 5 Cons of the Renaissance:
#1. It resulted in the commercial exploitation of people in distant lands
The flip side of the Age of Exploration was that it was used as an excuse to exploit the people and resources of distant lands. This was particularly true in Africa, Asia and Latin America where native populations were enslaved and resources plundered.
European explorers also introduced diseases like smallpox and malaria to these lands, which decimated their populations. This was the dark side of the Age of Exploration and was one of the biggest cons of the Renaissance.
#2. It created a sense of European superiority
The immense accomplishments of the Renaissance led to a sense of superiority amongst Europeans, which was used to justify their exploitation of other peoples and lands.
This was particularly true in the context of colonialism where Europeans saw themselves as a superior race.
European superiority directly led to Imperialism and colonization. This was a dark downstream effect that was facilitated by the advances made during the Renaissance.
#3. It led to the age of Imperialism and Colonization
Ostensibly having come to trade, Europeans gradually began to expand their influence in distant lands. This was the age of Imperialism and colonization where Europeans established trading outposts and then proceeded to conquer and subjugate native populations.
Even religion was exported. The Catholic Church set up missions in far-flung lands and attempted to convert native populations. This was part of Europe’s drive to impose its own culture, values and beliefs across the world.
#4. It led to the slavery trade
By far the most hideous outcome of the Age of Exploration was the Atlantic Slave Trade. Europeans forcibly captured Africans and shipped them to Europe and the Americas as slaves. Economic gain was the primary motivation for this trade, but it was a terrible blight on humanity.
The Atlantic Slave Trade was one of the greatest and most shameful legacies of the Renaissance. It was a brutal reminder of the power of Capitalism and greed as well as the European sense of superiority over other races.
#5. It was marked by religious conflict and extremism
One of the greatest impacts of the Renaissance on the Catholic Church was the Protestant Reformation. While many protestants, mainly in northern Europe, saw this as a good development, the schism in the Church, inevitably led to centuries of religious conflict and extremism.
The Wars of Religion included the 30 Years’ War, which was a devastating conflict that was marked by brutality and cruelty. In Spain, the pendulum swung too far in the other direction with the Inquisition, a period marked by extreme religious persecution.
The Bottom Line
In conclusion, was the Renaissance good or bad? As you can see, it was both. While the Renaissance was a period of great progress and achievement, it was also marked by exploitation, colonialism and religious extremism. It was a time of great progress as well as terrible abuses. And this should not be forgotten.