Transformed Ideas About the Individuals Role in Society

During the middle ages, science and culture progressed slowly. Experts in specific fields were valued because few people had a formal education. Society was deeply religious and sought to please God; the maker of any work would humbly remain anonymous. In the late medieval times and early Renaissance, human life and culture were being reborn after devastation from the black plague. The word renaissance comes from the Latin word rinascere, meaning to be reborn. In this age of rebirth, humanists began to think secularly. Humanists believed a person could enjoy living life without offending God. They delighted in the achievements and understanding of human nature that was evident in the classics. The individual's goal in the Renaissance was to seek knowledge, glorify oneself, and most importantly, learn through the classics.

One of the most prominent changes of the Renaissance was the celebration of the individual. Individualism was essentially a way of thinking that focused on developing all the capabilities and talents of a person, emphasizing one's brilliance and uniqueness. Men in Italy began specializing in multiple disciplines in society, and it would be common to find one person who was an expert in multiple fields. Individualism was perfect for people living in the Renaissance. They loved the ability to expand their minds and delight in their achievements. Renaissance individuals found individualism to be refreshing: they just couldn't get enough after years of Catholic repression. A gifted person would gain fame and status for himself upon notable achievements in this world, instead of giving all glory to God.

In addition, one who took pride in individualism was known as a "Renaissance man." A Renaissance man is essentially a multi-talented person. In his book The Courtier, Castiglione, a diplomat, talked about how a man should be able to succeed in anything he was interested in. The typical "Courtier" would be able to write, sing, create art, dance, play music, ride a horse, fight with a sword, or wrestle, along with being charming, witty, educated in many subjects, and able to exercise self-control.

Furthermore, although women's role in society did not change much during the Renaissance, Castiglione also wrote about the perfect court lady. She was to be well educated and able to play music, paint, and dance. Physical attributes such as beauty, delicacy, and modesty were also required of them. Women were objects of art or pawns for marriage alliances. Rarely, a woman with an important husband such as Isabella d'Este, the Marchesa of Mantua, would play a political role when her husband was away. For the most part, things stayed the same. Wealthy women could choose two paths to take. They could marry into another wealthy family or they could join a convent. Since the expense of a dowry was great, large families might only marry off one or two daughters. Once married, rich women would work at home, have children and be responsible for them. Middle class women would work in town at shops. They were often out and about on the streets, unlike the upper class woman who remained at home. The lower class women worked the fields or lived as servants in the city. The poorest would resort to prostitution or become a servant at a convent for the nuns. This is very similar to how women lived during the Middle Ages.

Second of all, the humanist view of the world added a focus on human achievements and glory, in addition to God. Pico Mirandola,