The Renaissance Officially Begins

The Renaissance Officially Begins

1453 Constantinople falls to the Turks and we mark the beginning of the Renaissance as the last of the Roman Empire in the East crumbles and the scholars and their books flee to Italy.

1455 In England there will be a delay in the arrival of the Renaissance because the "War of the Roses"* begins when the Duke of York (Richard)* defeats the royal forces at St. Albans and (for the second time) becomes the "Protector."

1456 In other parts of Europe the population is preoccupied with other, more urgent things, like survival. Those aggressive Turks are still pressing against eastern Europe as they overrun Athens. Over in France, a real rake and terrific poet named Francois Villon* is coming out with his Le Petit Testament*.

1465 The printing press is introduced into Italy and all those books from Constantinople as well as from Spain begin to be printed. Printing in the West began in 1453 and took into 1455 1465 The printing press is introduced into Italy and all those books from Constantinople as well as from Spain begin to be printed. Printing in the West began in 1453 and took into 1455

1465 - In France the social farce Maistre Pierre Pathelin* marks the beginning of French comedy. The social farce originates from jurists, scholars, scribes, students, civic associations, wandering scholars, merchants and craftsmen, especially from the law clerks association (Basoches*.) The English won't be up to writing this sophisticated a comedy for another sixty years (see below.)

1467 Pope Paul II establishes the first printing press in Rome to print works in Greek. [remember that each letter has to be cast in metal to make up the supply of letters the printer uses when setting his type. All those letters are for the Latin alphabet. Now the Pope is getting

a set of Greek letters.] In Venice the Aldus Manutius press begins putting out a group of works refered to as the

Aldine classics. 1469 Over in Spain, Ferdinand* (currently King of Sicily) and Isabella* get married. She is

third in line for the throne of Castile and he is second in line to that of Aragon. But things will change soon and they will make a big splash in history. When we talk about Spain, keep in mind that this is not what you would call a well-organized country. Aragon has a pretty good parliamentary tradition and the merchant class is the most influential. Castile, on the other hand, is hardly more than a very loose affiliation of petty kingdoms run by the local nobles. In addition the kingdoms of Castile and Aragon have hated each other for centuries. Most of the next thirty years will be filled with endless civil wars, punctuated with battles against the Moors (Spanish for the Moslems in Spain) in Granada*.

1470 The Portuguese navigators are busy discovering the Gold Coast of West Africa. This will mean gold, money, and, later, slaves. The First printing press is set up at the Sorbonne in Paris.

1471 - The first pastoral* play is done in Italy. The pastoral may have been patterned on the Greek Satyr play, but it is not recognizable as such. The Italian pastoral deals with love.

1471-1518 Between these dates all the known Greek and Roman plays are published. 1473 - The first printing of the works of Terence* helps get classic Roman comedy out into

Europe. 1474 - In France the Medieval theatre is still the main theatrical form. At Rouen, on a stage

180 feet long, they are staging the Mystere de l'Incarnation.* 1474 In England the first book in English is printed by William Caxton*. This printing

business gives a big boost to the process of getting all these different languages straightened out.

In Spanish Castile* King Henry* dies and Isabella* becomes Queen of Castile. There is a fairly sticky war of succession waged against her by a relative (a niece, Juana La Beltraneja) who has the support of Alphonso V* of Portugal (who is an uncle of Juana and wants to In Spanish Castile* King Henry* dies and Isabella* becomes Queen of Castile. There is a fairly sticky war of succession waged against her by a relative (a niece, Juana La Beltraneja) who has the support of Alphonso V* of Portugal (who is an uncle of Juana and wants to

1475 - England has a flourishing religious theatre. The last play of the English Marco Morals* (the big three of the morality plays) Mankind* appears. With a small cast of 5-7 players, it seems to be the property of a band of strolling players who perform it for profit.

1476 - In France, at Tarascon, they take several days to perform the morality play L'homme Juste et L'homme Mondain*.

1478 The Pope grants Ferdinand* and Isabella* permission to introduce an Inquisition* into Castile. This interesting Catholic institution develops as an instrument of the Spanish government and reports to the Crown (who also appoints its officers.) Officially its aim is to uncover relapsed Christians (forcibly converted Jews and Moslems who are reverting to their original religion) but actually it starts out as an instrument of racial persecution. Those who are convicted are paraded in an "auto-da-fe"* (an act of faith) wearing smocklike penitential garments. Those who are "reconciled" to the true faith wear yellow ones with diagonal crosses while those who are remanded to the secular arm to be executed wear black decorated with paintings of demons and hell-fire. After the parade these garments are hung up in the parish church with the name of the individual who wore them attached until they crumble to dust. Even when the garments have turned to dust, sometimes new ones are put up so nobody can forget the shame. The worst part of the Inquisition* is the procedure of anonymous accusation. After a while there are some safeguards, (more evidence required) and people who accuse for personal gain are prosecuted. Later Inquisitions* in Italy and central Europe will be far worse in terms of abuse of the system.

1479 Bringing order to Spain - That messy Castilian war comes to an end and Queen Isabella* is firmly in control. The same

year Ferdinand* accedes to the throne of Aragon. They both set to work trying to curb the powers of their respective nobles and quit all this civil warring. The nobles lose a lot of money, castles and influence but laws get better.