Monday, November 25, 2019

Renaissance

In this period, which we call the Renaissance (the rebirth of interests in the arts), with its church-dominated intellectual and cultural life was transformed into a society increasingly dominated by politics, with an urban, commercial economy and lay support of education, the arts, and music. Most Renaissance theorists came to the conclusion that the main task of men in power was to maintain security and peace. Machiavelli stated that the creative force of the ruler was the key to preserving his own position and the well beings of his subjects. This was an idea agreeable with contemporary politics. Machiavelli also continued with that the ruler must be "as cunning as a fox and as ferocious as a lion" in his dealings with his subjects. Henry VII of England used his power to check the strength of the aristocracy and empower the monarch. Henry VII used his royal council for all of his matters. The council prepared laws for parliamentary ratification. The royal council dealt with real or potential aristocratic threats via a judicial offshoot, such as the court of Star Chamber. Besides the sovereignty which men held over politics, they [men] also held a strong domination over women. Men considered women as their "equity". In Castiglione's The Courtier, the wo! man was to make herself pleasing to the man. Only men could partake in the public environment. Women belonged at home. J. Lucas-Dubreton described a model household during the Renaissance as one where the first thing that the man does after their marriage is showing his wife where grain, wine, and wood are stored and where valuables are kept. He does not disclose to her any information concerning his finances. After this is completed, he prays to God that she will be a good wife who will please him. He also prays that they will have many male children. The man prays that he will have a good political standing, and that his wife will be a good housekeeper.

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