750-word paper

Bader Alsulami: 1

Bader Alsulami

Daniel Julich

CIV 2

9 May, 2020

Ancient History

1. Define Humanism, and then write a paper that explains how The Prince represents a

humanist approach to the art of governing, in contrast to the idea of government based on

divine authority and Catholic dogma.

Humanism can be defined as a system of education and mode of inquiry that originated from

northern Italy in the 13th and 14 centuries. It later spread to continental Europe. It was a cultural

movement during renaissance that focused on the ancient roman and Greek thoughts turning

away from medieval scholasticism. It was also referred to as Renaissance humanism (Gilbert,

450). This philosophy was heavily anchored on ‘humanistas’ concepts that were written and

advocated for by Marcus Cicero, a Roman scholar and statesman. Humanism focused on having

a people that are able to engage in issue of public concern as well as moral excellence and

developing discipline based on reason.

According to the book, humans could make meaningful choices in their lives and thus

determine their destiny. Machiavelli explains that human dignity was more attributed to the

exercise for freedom. The philosophies in the book entailed embracing ideas of freedom,

excellence and dignity (Gilbert, 450). Machiavelli gives the analogy of a prince who comes to

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power through powerful figures and support. The power can easily be snatched as the prince

lacks the virtues of how to maintain the power and to command loyalty.

Chapter 9 explains how one may become a prince through selection. Such a person requires

political astuteness. If elected by the ‘people’, he is likely to rule for long as his regime is built

on justice and fairness (Gilbert, 450). Machiavelli is also quick to show how just leaders in

history were able to rule successfully without employing the catholic dogma (Gilbert, 450). He

explains how each of them had role model, a great leader whom they admired and hope to be

like. By following their virtues, they too became successful. Examples are given Alexander

looking up to Achilles and Caesar looking up to Alexandria.

According to the book, the end justifies the means. Kings sometimes have to set aside their

ethical concerns of honesty, justice and kindness for the greater good of a stable state where

everyone thrives. This contrasts with the medieval dogmas of the Catholic Church where

kingship was believed to be divine (Gilbert, 450). According to the dogma, a king was believed

to be a promoter of human virtue with innate authority over human beings. They were to act

according to the laws and offer justice at very situations. Machiavelli contrasts the beliefs citing

the welfare of the people had to come first and at times order had to be preserved through tough

decisions that were ethically questionable.

2. Write a comparison/contrast paper that explains how the more religious art of the

southern, Catholic areas of Western Europe differs from the more secular work of the

artists in the Protestant areas north of the Alps

The Protestant Reformation started off in 1517 when Martin Luther published the ’95

Theses” to purify the church and use the Bible as the only source of spiritual authority. This was

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mainly propagated through use of the printing press and paintings. Protestantism portrayed

protested the harsh rules initiated by the Roman Catholic Church. After a series of wars and

years of religious contentions, the northern and central Europe became more aligned to

Protestantism and the South remained inclined to Catholicism.

In the painting of the Garden of Gethsemane, religious vision is greatly emphasized. An

angle appears to Jesus from the clouds while He appears to be praying. This is a symbol for

divine intervention. The same is indicated in the ‘Ecstasy of St. Theresa’ where an angel appears

in front of Theresa. However, it is different in Protestantism which symbolizes a personalized

attention with God by living a simple and modest life in accordance with Christianity. This can

be seen in the ‘Milkmaid portrait’ which portrays the painting of a young woman modestly

dressed going about her domestic chores.

Catholic paintings are also inclined to religious visions. They have a wide skill in

architectural design and painting conveying the intended message symbolically. Teresa eyes are

closed and her body suspended in her clothes. She appears to be undergoing a sensational

experience described in her vision as God’s love. In Protestantism, God’s love is likely to be

experienced from fellow human beings’ actions. The prodigal son warm acceptance by his father

is a show of God’s manifestation in man through forgiveness. The son is shoeless, has a shaved

head and in tatters indicating the level of suffering he has been through. It can be compared by

his father’s servant, standing beside him who are dressed in rich robes. However, the father is

seen accepting his son wholeheartedly embracing him by the shoulders. The situation is a calm

one without admonition despite the son’s mistakes. This symbolically shows how God loves His

people with unending love (Van Eck, 73).

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The art in the South is more engaging with a lot of work and symbolic features. This can be

seen from how the angel in the ‘Ecstasy of St. Teresa’ holds the arrow gracefully with the other

hand on the shoulder of Teresa. Teresa has her eyes closed completely and her face shining as if

being blinded with light from the heavens. However, the art from the north is less engaging and a

bit dull. (Van, 75). It shows little engagement and tries communicating about a simple life. She

has a simple kitchen with a small table, some milk and a simple basket with bread. The colors are

also a bit dull and with no engagement of divine features.

Protestant painters communicate that God’s love and grace can be seen form human actions

and the daily proceedings of life such as conducting home chores (Haeger, 135). These was a

transition from the complex divine interventions involving angles, heavenly interventions and

religious visions portrayed in the Catholic paintings. This clearly shows the transition that

occurred during the transformation era.

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Works cited.

Haeger, Barbara. "Cornelis Anthonisz's Representation of the Parabie of the Prodigal Son: A

Protestant Interpretation of the Biblical Text." Netherlands Yearbook for History of

Art/Nederlands Kunsthistorisch Jaarboek Online 37.1 (2017): 133-150.

Van Eck, Xander. "The artist's religion: paintings commissioned for clandestine Catholic

churches in the northern Netherlands, 1600-1800." Simiolus: Netherlands Quarterly for

the History of Art 27.1/2 (2016): 70-94.

Gilbert, Felix. "The humanist concept of the prince and the Prince of Machiavelli." The Journal

of Modern History 11.4 (1939): 449-483.