New Learning During the Renaissance of Italy

Of all important recoveries of the past, made during the Italian Renaissance, nothing stood out more than the rebirth of Greek studies, including the works of Plato, in fifteenth century Florence. There were many reasons for bringing about Greek studies. An important foundation was laid in 1397 when Florence invited Constantinople to allow Greek learning. In 1439, the ecumenical Council of Ferrara-Florence having convinced to negotiate the reunion of the eastern and western churches, opened the door for many Greek learners and manuscripts to enter the west. After the fall of Constantinople to the Turks in 1453, Greek scholars fled to Florence for safety and a stable government. This was the background against which the Florentine Platonic Academy evolved under the influence of Cosimode’ Medici and under the protection and eyes of Marsilio Ficino and Pico Della Mirandola. During the Renaissance, having an intellectual mind was what made a person. Educated people were taught, Italian, humanism, Greek, Latin, etc which was a great honor back then. Today, being bilingual in America is rare! The minds of the Renaissance were interested in basically every aspect of ancient wisdom, however, they were especially interested to the Platonic tradition and to those Church fathers who tried to synthesize Platonic philosophy with Christian teaching.

The Florentine Academy was not an informal school but an informal gathering of intellectual Florentine humanists devoted to the revival of the works of Pluto and the Neo-Platonist. Plotinus, Procius, Porphyry, and Dionysius the Arcopagite. Ficino edited and published the complete works of Plato. The study of Platonism led students to realize the perplexity and beauty of human nature. Although the Italians during the Renaissance studied and were interested with ancient Greece and Rome, they were not obsessed about it and had their own separate studies. The people did not base their view on Greece, but considered it influential to study. In today’s world, the Renaissance man would only be similar to some men and women. The ideal Renaissance man was a master of the arts was a master of art and literature, a scholar and inventor, as well as physically graceful and talented in all the social arts a perfectionist. The perfect example of a Renaissance man was Leonardo di Vinci, who was a painter, sculptor, inventor, and who was also interested in medicine, anatomy, and physical science. However, there were some Renaissance men that were rowdy, uncivilized and uneducated.. In today’s world, if you were educated and civilized, you probably would be a humanist.