9
9. The early modern age. Humanism and the Renaissance
177
SCIENTIFIC ADVANCES AND THE SPREAD OF NEW IDEAS
There was a great advance in
technology
and
scientific
knowledge
in general.
In the 16th century, the astronomer
Copernicus
proposed a
revolutionary theory: the
heliocentric hypothesis
. This said that the
Earth revolved around the Sun and not vice versa, as was commonly
believed at this time.
He also made discoveries about the human body thanks to the
anatomical
studies
of the physician
Andreas Vesalius
and other
humanists.
These new ideas spread rapidly due to two factors:
❚
The
invention
of the movable-type
printing press
by
Gutenberg
:
this invention enabled a large number of books to be printed. After
working on his idea for many years, the first book was printed on his
invention in 1455, which was a bible. From this moment, new ideas
reached more people through books.
❚
The creation of
cultural institutions
: following the example of
the Ancient Greeks and Romans, science and arts
academies
were
founded. The most important ones were in Florence, Rome and
Naples. The new humanist philosophy was also spread from many
universities
such as those in Rome, Bologna and Padua.
2. The type is arranged in a box, forming sentences and paragraphs from
an original manuscript.
3. The type is covered in ink, a piece of paper is put in place and it is
compressed with a press. In this way numerous copies can be made.
Copernicus’ system, with the Sun in the centre. 16th century
print by the astronomer Thomas Digges
Understand
18.
Listen and say true or false. Correct the false
sentences in your notebook.
Analyse
19.
Read the web page
Printing, paper and books.
Write a
brief summary. Include an evaluation of the importance
of the invention of the printing press.
20.
Read this text by Pico della Mairandola. Why can we
say he was a humanist writer?
Man is the centre of everything that occurs. At the
beginning of creation, when the world was completed,
man appeared and God said to him: ‘I haven’t given
you a fixed place, task or plan; that way you can create
any business you like and live in the place that you
choose […] You are only one who can determine who
you are.’
