E.H. Gombrich 'A Little History of the World 26. A New Age part 1

Summary

The script explores the Renaissance, a transformative period beginning around 1400 in Italy, particularly in Florence. It marked a shift from medieval values to a newfound appreciation for individual intellect, skill, and knowledge. The rediscovery of ancient Greek and Roman cultures led to a rebirth of art and learning, with figures like Leonardo da Vinci epitomizing the era's spirit of inquiry and innovation. The script also touches on the impact of the printing press and gunpowder, highlighting societal changes that challenged the traditional roles of knights and the spread of knowledge.

Takeaways

• 🌟 The script discusses the dawn of a new age in history, similar to how one might feel upon revisiting their old writings and noticing personal growth.
• 🏰 After 1400, Italian city-states, particularly Florence, experienced a shift in values from medieval priorities to individual intellect, knowledge, and skill.
• 🎨 The Renaissance, or 'rebirth,' began in Italy around 1420, marked by a rediscovery of and fascination with ancient Greek and Roman culture, art, and philosophy.
• 🗝️ The Florentines started to value personal achievements and intellect over traditional roles, seeking to understand and emulate the freedoms and debates of ancient societies.
• 🖌️ Leonardo da Vinci emerged as a quintessential Renaissance figure, embodying the spirit of inquiry, experimentation, and artistic mastery.
• 🔍 Leonardo's curiosity and observational skills led him to conduct dissections and experiments, revealing a deep understanding of anatomy and nature, far ahead of his time.
• 📚 The Medici family's patronage of the arts and learning played a pivotal role in fostering the Renaissance, supporting artists and scholars like Leonardo da Vinci.
• 📖 The invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in 1450 democratized knowledge, making books more accessible and affordable, thus spreading Renaissance ideas widely.
• 💣 The introduction of gunpowder and firearms began to change the nature of warfare, making traditional knightly armor and tactics less effective.
• ⚔️ The script concludes with the Battle of Grandson in 1476, illustrating the declining relevance of knights in warfare and the rise of new military strategies.

Q & A

What significant change occurred in the cities of Italy around 1400, particularly in Florence?

Around 1400, the cities of Italy, especially central Italy and Florence, experienced a shift in values and priorities. People began to value independence, intellect, knowledge, and skill over being a warrior or dedicating one's life to the service of God. This change marked the beginning of a new age where individuals sought to think and judge for themselves, leading to the Renaissance.

Why did the Florentines feel a connection to the ancient cultures of Greece and Rome?

The Florentines felt a connection to ancient Greece and Rome because they admired the freedom, independence, and intellectual curiosity of those cultures. They were inspired by the ancients' ability to debate and discuss everything in nature and the world, which aligned with their own values of using their own eyes and acting accordingly.

What was the impact of the discovery of antiquity on the people of Florence?

The discovery of antiquity led to a rebirth of Greek and Roman culture, known as the Renaissance. It influenced the Florentines to value individuality, intellect, and skill, and to seek out new forms of beauty in art and architecture that were free, independent, and unconstrained.

How did the Renaissance period influence art in Florence?

The Renaissance period led to a new style of art in Florence that was natural, spontaneous, full of color and vitality, and true to life. Artists began to paint what they saw with fresh eyes, and the greatest painters and sculptors of the time were found in Florence, producing works that were a departure from the solemn and spiritual art of the Middle Ages.

Who was Leonardo da Vinci and what was his significance during the Renaissance?

Leonardo da Vinci was a painter, inventor, and polymath who lived from 1450 to 1519. He is significant for his pursuit of a perfect understanding of the subjects he painted and his innovative approach to art and science. He conducted dissections to understand human anatomy and studied nature to explore the possibility of human flight, making him one of the greatest figures of the Renaissance.

What was unique about Leonardo da Vinci's approach to painting and understanding nature?

Leonardo da Vinci's approach was unique because he sought not only to paint beautiful images but also to understand the underlying principles of what he was painting. He conducted dissections and experiments to gain a deeper understanding of anatomy, botany, and mechanics, which he then applied to his art, making his work more realistic and scientifically accurate.

Why did Leonardo da Vinci keep many of his discoveries and ideas secret?

Leonardo da Vinci kept many of his discoveries and ideas secret because he understood human nature and feared that people might use his inventions for destructive purposes. He also lived in a time when independent opinions could be dangerous, and some of his ideas contradicted the teachings of the Bible, which could have led to accusations of heresy.

Who were the Medici family and how did they influence the Renaissance?

The Medici family were wealthy wool merchants and bankers in Florence who played a significant role in the Renaissance by supporting and protecting artists and scholars. Lorenzo de Medici, known as 'the Magnificent,' was particularly influential, using his wealth to patronize the arts and shape the cultural landscape of Florence and beyond.

How did the invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg impact the spread of knowledge during the Renaissance?

The invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg revolutionized the spread of knowledge by making books and written works more accessible and affordable. It allowed for the mass production of texts, which facilitated the dissemination of new ideas, scientific discoveries, and literature, contributing to the intellectual and cultural growth of the Renaissance period.

What was the role of gunpowder in the military during the Renaissance, and how did it affect the traditional role of knights?

Gunpowder played a significant role in the military during the Renaissance by introducing cannons and firearms, which changed the nature of warfare. It made traditional knightly armor and tactics less effective, as firearms could penetrate armor from a distance. This led to the decline of the traditional knightly class, as their heavy armor became impractical and their combat methods were outmoded.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 The Dawn of the Renaissance

This paragraph introduces the concept of change over time, drawing a parallel between personal growth and the evolution of the world's history. It highlights the period post-1400 in Italy, particularly in Florence, where a shift in societal values from medieval times was observed. The focus shifted from being a warrior or a craftsman dedicated to God to valuing individuality, intellect, and self-sufficiency. The Florentines began to appreciate different aesthetics, finding the old cathedrals and paintings too rigid and gloomy. They sought inspiration from antiquity, leading to the Renaissance, a rebirth of Greek and Roman culture. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of independence, ability, intellect, knowledge, and skill, and how these values marked the beginning of a new age.

05:01

🎨 Leonardo da Vinci: The Renaissance Man

The second paragraph delves into the life and work of Leonardo da Vinci, a quintessential figure of the Renaissance. It describes his insatiable curiosity and pursuit of knowledge, not just in painting but also in anatomy, botany, and engineering. His desire to understand the human body and the natural world led him to conduct dissections and make detailed observations, which were revolutionary for his time. The paragraph also touches on his innovative ideas, such as the possibility of human flight, and his experimental approach to learning, which was ahead of his contemporaries. However, due to the potential misuse of his discoveries and the prevailing religious beliefs, da Vinci chose to keep many of his ideas private. The influence of the Medici family, particularly Lorenzo de Medici, in fostering artistic and intellectual growth during this period is also mentioned.

10:04

🏰 The Spread of Renaissance and Technological Advancements

The final paragraph discusses the spread of Renaissance ideas beyond Florence, influencing art and architecture across Europe. It mentions the role of the Medici family, especially when its members became Popes, in bringing great artists to Rome. The paragraph also explores the impact of two significant inventions: the printing press, which made books more accessible and contributed to the dissemination of knowledge, and gunpowder, which changed warfare and led to the decline of knights in armor. The narrative concludes with an account of the Swiss victory over the Burgundian knights in 1476, symbolizing the end of an era and the rise of new military tactics and technologies.

Keywords

💡Renaissance

The Renaissance was a period of cultural, artistic, intellectual, and economic revival that began in Italy in the 14th century and spread throughout Europe over the following centuries. It marked a new age characterized by a renewed interest in the classical art, literature, and philosophy of ancient Greece and Rome. In the script, the Renaissance is depicted as a time when people 'felt they were witnessing a rebirth of the ancient long gone era of Greek and Roman culture' and 'felt born again through the discovery of these ancient works.'

💡Humanism

Humanism is an intellectual and cultural movement that emphasizes the value and agency of human beings, individually and collectively, and often prefers critical thinking and evidence over dogma or superstition. During the Renaissance, humanism played a significant role in shaping the period's focus on the potential for human achievement and the importance of education and the study of classical texts. The script mentions humanism through the concept of 'thinking and judging for yourself' and 'acting on your own authority.'

💡Florence

Florence was a city-state in Italy and an epicenter of the Renaissance. It was known for its thriving banking industry, wool trade, and as a hub for artists, architects, thinkers, and politicians. The script describes Florence as 'the cities of central Italy and in Florence in particular' where the Renaissance began, and it was a place 'where people no longer asked for about your rank your profession your religion or what country you came from, they said tell us what you can do.'

💡Antiquity

Antiquity refers to the ancient world, particularly ancient Greece and Rome, and the period before the Middle Ages. The Renaissance's rediscovery of antiquity led to a revival of classical art, architecture, and learning. The script illustrates this with the Florentines' fascination with 'the people of those times' and their 'freely and openly debated and discussed everything in nature in the world.'

💡Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci was a polymath of the Renaissance, known for his paintings, drawings, and studies in various fields, including anatomy, engineering, and botany. He is often seen as the quintessential Renaissance man. The script describes him as 'the son of a farm servant girl' who 'wanted to know how a person looked when they cried, when they laughed and also what the inside of a human body was like.' His curiosity and innovation exemplify the spirit of the Renaissance.

💡Medici Family

The Medici were a powerful and influential family in Florence, known for their banking and political roles, as well as their patronage of the arts. They played a significant role in fostering the cultural developments of the Renaissance. The script mentions the Medici family, particularly Lorenzo de Medici, known as 'the magnificent,' who 'made such wonderful use of his great wealth and gave support and protection to so many artists and scholars.'

💡Printing Press

The printing press was a revolutionary invention by Johannes Gutenberg in the 15th century that allowed for the mass production of books, leading to a more literate and informed society. The script refers to this invention as 'one no less extraordinary than the invention of letters by the Phoenicians' and notes its impact on the spread of knowledge and ideas during the Renaissance.

💡Gunpowder

Gunpowder, known for its use in firearms and artillery, changed the nature of warfare during the Renaissance. Its introduction led to the decline of the traditional knight in armor due to the effectiveness of gunpowder weapons at a distance. The script discusses gunpowder's impact on warfare, noting that 'bows and arrows were still much faster, and more effective' but that 'guns and cannons were already in evidence during the Hundred Years War and after 1400 and their use became widespread.'

💡Knights

Knights were the mounted warriors of the Middle Ages, known for their chivalry and heavy armor. However, with the advent of gunpowder and the changing nature of warfare, knights became less effective and their traditional roles diminished. The script describes how knights 'had to abandon their chainmail in favor of increasingly heavy and solid armor' and how they were eventually outmaneuvered by foot soldiers, as seen in the story of Charles the Bold.

💡Switzerland

Switzerland is mentioned in the script as an example of a region that maintained its freedom against the attempts of conquest by knights, specifically referencing the defeat of Charles the Bold. This event symbolizes the changing power dynamics in Europe and the declining influence of the traditional knightly class. The script states that 'Switzerland remained free, and the Knights had their day.'

Highlights

People often become aware of change by reflecting on their past, similar to how history evolves without heralds announcing new ages.

Around 1400, Italian cities, especially Florence, experienced a shift in values from knighthood to individual intellect and skill.

Florence's prosperity led to a focus on personal achievement and a break from the religious focus of the Middle Ages.

The Renaissance began in Florence as people rediscovered the beauty and wisdom of ancient Greece and Rome.

The Renaissance was characterized by a rebirth of Greek and Roman culture and a pursuit of knowledge and beauty.

Leonardo da Vinci exemplified the Renaissance spirit with his insatiable curiosity and groundbreaking studies in anatomy and flight.

Da Vinci's innovative approach to art and science involved direct observation and experimentation, setting him apart from his contemporaries.

Lorenzo de Medici, known as the Magnificent, was a patron of the arts and influenced the cultural development of Florence.

The Medici family's support of artists and scholars helped spread the Renaissance throughout Italy and beyond.

The invention of the printing press by Gutenberg in 1450 revolutionized the dissemination of knowledge and literature.

Gunpowder, initially used for fireworks in China, transformed warfare in Europe with the introduction of cannons and guns.

The use of gunpowder led to the decline of knights in battle due to the ineffectiveness of their armor against firearms.

The Swiss victory over Charles the Bold demonstrated the obsolescence of knightly warfare in the face of infantry and firearms.

The Renaissance marked a significant shift from medieval traditions, emphasizing human potential and secular achievements.

The period saw a renewed interest in Latin and Greek literature, influencing art, architecture, and learning.

The spread of Renaissance ideas was aided by the migration of artists and scholars, as well as the patronage of wealthy families like the Medici.

Transcripts

a little history of the world chapter 26

a new age have you ever come across an

old school exercise book or something

else you once wrote and leafing through

it been amazed how much you have changed

in such a short time amazed by your

mistakes but also by the good things you

had written yet at the time you hadn't

noticed that you were changing well the

history of the world is just the same

how nice it would be if suddenly heralds

were to ride through the streets crying

attention please a new age is beginning

but things aren't like that people

change their opinions even with it

without even noticing and then all of a

sudden they become aware of it as you do

when you look at your old schoolbooks

then they announce with pride we are in

a new age and they often had people used

to be so stupid something of the sort

happened after 1400 in the cities of

Italy especially in the large and

prosperous Italy the cities of central

Italy and in Florence in particular they

had guild there too and had built a

great Cathedral but Florence had none of

the noble knights that were to be found

in France in Germany for a long time

Florentine burgers had ignored the

commands of their German emperors and by

now they were as free and independent as

the citizens of ancient Athens and as

the years went by these free and

prosperous burger shopkeepers and

craftsmen had come to care about

eternity entirely different things from

those that had mattered to the knights

and craftsmen of the Middle Ages to be a

warrior a craftsman and dedicate one's

life to the service and glory of God was

no longer every man's aim what mattered

was to be someone in your own right to

have a head on your shoulders and know

how to use it to think and judge for

yourself to act on your own authority

without the need to consult others and

rather than resorting to old books to

find out how things were done in the

past to use your own eyes and act

accordingly that's what it really came

down to using your eyes and acting

accordingly independence ability

intellect knowledge and skill were what

counted people no longer asked for

about your rank your profession your

religion or what country you came from

they said tell us what you can do and

suddenly in about 14 20 the Florentines

noticed that they were no longer the

people they had been in the Middle Ages

they had different concerns they found

different things beautiful to them the

old cathedrals and paintings seemed

gloomy and rigid the old traditions are

some and in their search for something

more to their liking something free

independent and unconstrained they

discovered antiquity and I mean

literally discovered it mattered little

to them that the people of those times

have been heathens what astonished them

was that those people could was what

those people could do how they had

freely and openly debated and discussed

with arguments and counter-arguments

everything in nature in the world how

everything interested them these people

were to serve as their models a great

search for books written in Latin began

people strove to write in Latin that was

as clear and as precise as that of

ancient Romans they also learnt Greek

and so discovered the wonderful works of

the Athenians in the time of Pericles

soon people were more interested in the

mystic leaves and Alexander in Caesar in

it in Augusta and then in Charlemagne or

Barbarossa it was as if the entire

period since antiquity had been nothing

but a dream as if the free city of

Florence was about to become an Athens

or a Rome people suddenly felt they were

witnessing a rebirth of the ancient long

gone era of Greek and Roman culture they

themselves felt born again through the

discovery of these ancient works and

this is why this period of history came

to be known in Italy as we're in a

cemento or as we know it from the French

the Renaissance the rebirth everything

that had happened between they blamed on

the barbarian Germanic tribes who

destroyed the Empire the Florentines

were determined to do all they could to

revive the spirit of antiquity they were

enthusiasts for everything Roman for the

superb statues and the magnificent and

imposing buildings whose ruins lay over

all

Italy previously dismissed as heathen

ruins these had been shunned and feared

now people suddenly rediscovered their

beauty and the Florentines once it once

more began to build with columns but

people didn't just seek out old things

they looked at nature again this time

with the fresh and unprejudiced eyes of

athenians 2,000 years before them and

when they did so they discovered a new

beauty in the world in the sky and trees

in human beings flowers and animals they

painted these things as they saw them

the solemn grandeur and spirituality of

the illusion of the illustrations of

sacred texts and monks books and

cathedral windows now gave way to a

style that was natural and spontaneous

full of color and vitality yet accurate

and true to life as they intended using

your eyes and acting accordingly also

made for the best art which might

explain why the greatest painters and

sculptors were to be found in Florence

that that's at this time nor did these

painters merely sit down before their

paintings like good craftsmen and

represent what they saw they wanted to

understand what it was that they were

painting in Florence there was one

artist in particular for whom painting

good paintings was not enough no matter

how beautiful they might be and his were

far and away the finest she wanted to

have a perfect understanding of all the

things of all the things he painted and

how they related to each other this

painters name was Leonardo da Vinci he

lived from 1450 to to 1519 and was the

son of a farm servant girl she wanted to

know how a person looked when they cried

when they laughed and also what the

inside of a human body was like the

muscles the bones and sinews so he asked

hospitals to give him the bodies of

people who had died which he then to

secta dan explored this was something

quite unheard of at the time and he did

not stop there he also looked at plants

and animals in a new way and puzzled

over what makes birds able to fly this

led him to think about whether people

too might one day not be able to fly he

was the first person to carry out an

accurate and precise investigation of

the possibility of constructing an

artificial bird or flying machine and he

was convinced that one day it would be

done

he was interested in everything in

nature nor did he limit himself to

writing to the writings of Aristotle in

the Arab thinkers he always wanted to

know if what he read was really true so

above all he used his eyes and with

those eyes he saw more than anyone had

ever seen before because he was always

asking himself questions about what he

observed whenever he wanted to know

about something for example why whipper

why whirlpools happen or why a hot hot

air rises he did an experiment he had

little time for the learned writings of

his contemporaries and was the first

person to investigate the secrets of

nature by means of experiments he made

sketches and noted down his observations

on scraps of paper and in a vast

accumulation of notebooks leafing

through his jottings today when his

constantly amazed that a single human

being could investigate and analyze so

many different things things about which

nothing was known at the time and few

cared to know about yet a few of his

contemporaries had any inkling of the

many discoveries that this famous

painter was making or endued his novel

ideas he was left-handed and wrote in

minuscule mirror writing a reverse

script which is far from easy to read

this was probably intentional for those

days for in those days it was not always

safe to hold independent opinions among

his notes we find the sentence the Sun

does not move no more than that but

enough to tell us that Leonardo knew

that the earth goes around the Sun and

that the Sun does not circle the earth

each day as had been believed for

thousands of years perhaps Leonardo

limited himself to this one sentence

because he knew it didn't say so in the

Bible and then many people believe that

what the Bible had to say about nature

must never be contradicted even though

the ideas that contained were those of

Jews who had lived 2,000 years ago when

the Bible was first written down but it

wasn't only the fear of being thought a

heretic that led Leonardo to keep all

his wonderful discoveries to himself

he understood human nature all too well

and knew that people would only use them

to kill each other

elsewhere there is a note in Leonardo's

handwriting which reads I know how one

can stay underwater and survive a long

time without

food but I will not publish this or

reveal it to anyone four men are wicked

and would use it to kill even at the

bottom of the sea they would make holes

in the holes of ships and sink them with

all the people in them

sadly the inventors who came after him

were not all great men like Leonardo da

Vinci and people have long known what he

was unwilling to show them in Leonardo's

time there lived in Florence a family

that was exceptionally rich and powerful

they were wool merchants and bankers and

their name was Medici like Pericles in

ancient Athens it was they who through

their advice and influence dictated the

course of the history of Florence

throughout virtually the whole period

between 1400 and 1500 foremost among

them was Lorenzo de Medici known as the

magnificent because he made such

wonderful use of his great wealth and

gave support and protection to so many

artists and scholars whenever he came

across a gifted young man he instantly

took him into his household and had him

give and had him educated my description

of the customs of Lorenzo's household

gives you an idea of how people thought

at the time there was no seating order

at the table instead the eldest and most

respected sitting at the top of the

table above the rest

instead of the eldest and most respected

sitting at the top of the table above

the rest it was the first to arrive who

sat with Lorenzo de Medici

even if he were no more than a young

painters apprentice and even an

ambassador if he came last took his

place at the foot of the table this

entirely new delight in the world in

talented people and beautiful things and

ruins and books of the Greeks and Romans

soon spread out from Florence in all

directions for people are always quick

to learn about new discoveries great

artists were summoned to the Pope's

Court which was by now once more in Rome

to build palaces and churches in the new

style and to adorn them with paintings

and statues this was especially the case

when rich prelates from the Medici

family became Pope they then brought

Italy's greatest artists to Rome where

they created their most important works

to be sure this totally new way of

looking at things did not always sit

comfortably

with the old piety popes of this period

were not so much priests and guardians

of the souls of Christendom as

magnificent Prince's intent on the

conquest of the whole of Italy who

meanwhile lavished colossal sums of

money on glorious works of art for their

capital city this sense of rebirth of

pagan antiquity gradually spread to the

cities of Germany France and England

there too people began to take an

interest in the new ideas and forms and

to read the new latin books this had

become much easier and cheaper since

1450 for in that year a German made a

great invention one no less

extraordinary than the invention of

letters by the Phoenicians this was the

art of printing it had long been known

in China and for some decades in Europe

that you could rub black ink on carved

wood and then press it on paper but

Gutenberg's invention was different

instead of printing from whole blocks of

wood he made single letters out of metal

which could be lined up and held in a

frame and then printed from as many

times as one and then printed from as

many times as one wished when the

desired number of copies of a page had

been made the frame could be undone in

the letters used again in a different

order it was simple and it was cheap and

of course much simpler and much cheaper

than when people spent long years

laborious ly copying books by hand as

Roman and Greek slaves and the monks had

as Roman and Greek slaves and the monks

had had to do soon a whole host of

printers and sprung up in Germany Italy

and elsewhere and printed books Bibles

and other writings were eagerly brought

in read not just in Europe cities but in

the countryside as well however another

invention of the time was to have an

even greater impact on the world

this was gunpowder once again the

Chinese had probably known about it for

a long time but they mostly used it to

make fireworks it was in Europe from

1300 onward that people began to use it

in cannons for shooting at fortresses

and Men and before long soldiers were

carrying massive cumbersome guns in

their hands

bows and arrows were still much faster

and more effective a good English Bowman

could release a hundred and eighty

arrows in 15 minutes which was roughly

the time it took a soldier to load his

Thunder box set a slow match to the

charge and fire at once

despite this guns and cannons were

already in evidence during the Hundred

Years War and after 1400 and their use

became widespread but such weapons were

not for Knights there was nothing

chivalrous about firing a bullet into a

man's body from a distance as you know

what Knights did was gallop toward one

another and try to knock each other out

of the saddle now to protect themselves

against the bullets they had to abandon

their chainmail in favor of increasingly

heavy and solid armor dressed in this

from top to toe they looked like iron

men and must have been a fearsome sight

but the armor was unbearably hot and

impractical and the Knights could hardly

move for this reason no matter how

bravely they fought they were no longer

so intimidating in 1476 a famous warlike

knight and a prince of the Duchy of

Burgundy known as Charles the bold on

account of his fearsomeness what kind of

his fearlessness led an army of knights

in armor to conquer Switzerland but they

got there but when they got there the

free peasants and burners of Merton

surprised them and fighting on foot

simply knocked all the knights off their

horses and clubbed him to death then

they made off with all the magnificent

and valuable tents and rugs that the

Knights had brought with them on their

campaign of conquest you can see these

today and burn the capital of

Switzerland Switzerland remained free

and the Knights had their day and there

we will pause