Reasons why the Renaissance occurred later in northern Europe?

Question

Why Italy? Why not Germany or England?

Answer 1

First of all, many scholars these days do not cite a single beginning and location of 'THE' renaissance. Instead, they tend to see a number of different renaissance movements occurring in a number of different places, some as early as the 1200's, some starting in England, and so on. Though I'm sure most would agree that the Italian renaissance was one of the bigger and more influential ones.

As far as why Italy, there are actually several good reasons why such a movement might start there:

Part of the concepts embodied in the various renaissance movements involved embracing the ancient heritage of scholarly and artistic works left by the Romans and the Greeks and building upon them anew. And where better to find a lot of ancient works of this kind than Florence? Italians were undoubtedly saturated with examples of ancient art and schooled on examples of ancient literature, even during what some would call the dark ages. This would make exploring these works to a greater extent almost natural there!

A second major influence on the start of the Italian renaissance was the war in Turkey. Unlike much of Europe, Turkey and the east never stopped revering the ancient masters, and as the war began to turn bad (such as the fall of Constantinople in 1453), scholars there looked for safer places to go. One such place, just a boat ride away, was Italy.

So you have not only Italians surrounded by ancient works, but actual trained scholars showing up that can appreciate and explain them all. Sounds like fertile breeding ground for new interpretation of and inspiration by old ideas to me!

It certainly didn't hurt that much of the 'old school' had been wiped out by the Black Plague a century earlier (and since the Church was ineffective against germs, they lost a lot of standing then, too) and that an economic boom in Florence gave people more leisure and opportunity to contemplate such things either!

Answer 2

Italy because thats where the "thinkers" were. People in Italy began to look at the world around them first.

When the Crusades came back from the Holy Land, Jerusalem, the soldeirs brought with them spices, silk, and many other treasured items. When merchants saw how much people would pay for these new found items they decieded to go back to Jerusalem and get more of these goods. Many merchants became rich doing this. One merchant, his brother, and son decided to go farther than Jerusalem. Everyone thought they were crazy to do this but they went anyways. They discovered a land called China. They made freinds with the ruler called "The Great Kauhn" and were treated very well there. The Great Kauhn asked the son, whose name was Marco Polo, to go further into the unknown of his kingdom. There Marco had tons of adventures that were later recorded in The Travels of Marco Polo. When the family returned to their home, Italy they were treated like they were insane. Since everyone thought they were dead it was a shock. Marco Polo's father died saying Marco should never give in and say that the people were right. That they had made up China, that there really was no such land. Sooner along the line people began to see that they were telling the truth after other voyages were maid across Asia. This was the early part of the Renisance period.

Another reason why it began in Italy was that visionaries such as Leanordo DaVinchi lived in Italy. Did you know that DaVinchi had disigned the helicopter, tank, and airplane way way way before they were even a thought? Well he did. He also wrote everything in his jurnal backwards? He wrote it so that you could only read it by useing a mirror.

Answer 3

Perhaps the colder weather in northern Europe slowed things down. What with working harder to stay warm, the people in northern Europe had less leisure time, comfort, and time for thought and artistic, non-practical activities. It is hard to be creative when you are cold. I think of "sunny Italy"; I sure don't think of "sunny Germany" or "sunny England".
I lived in Germany for 18 months. It was drab, cloudy, and depressing. When the sun would sometimes come out, we would jump up and down and shout, "Look, there's the Sun, the Sun!" There were jokes about six year old German children seeing the Sun for the first time and asking their Mothers what that was.

It is sure easier to be creative in sunny Italy. ---Jim

Answer 4

mutually as some components of the international have been residing in darker cases there have been others commencing to return out of the darkish. it is only like our contemporary recession: in accordance with the place one lives and what the often happening mover of the financial equipment the restoration would be quickly or sluggish. to ascertain an exact date whilst the Medieval era ended and the Renaissance began is hence contingent upon one's critiques and biases. you are able to ask additionally, for an exact date of the business Revolution, with a similar effect. Medieval activities hence can ensue alongside of Renaissance activities and nevertheless be traditionally contextual.

Answer 5

most movements start one place and then gradually
expand to other places. travel and communication
at that time were not anything like they are now, where
something can be transmitted almost instantly to
the rest of the world. it took many years and in some
cases centuries for things to get around.

Answer 6

Bongos got boring after awhile.

Answer 7

because the british arent very original.

Answer 8

Had to start some place. ;-)