文艺复兴运动与启蒙运动的异同

Two ideological liberation movements in European history

Renaissance The Enlightenment

Movement

Differen--ces

Period14th-17th century17th-18th century

Birthplace Italy France

Historical

Background

Italy’s rising urban

economy;People were

controlled by the Roman

church

authorities;Feudalism

developed and

strengthened.

Capitalistic economy

developed further;Feudal

autocracy was

strengthened by

monarchies;Modern

science advanced rapidly.

Intellectual

Origin

Ancient Greek and

Roman culture

John Locke and Isaac

Newton Ways European humanists

thinkers and scholars had

the aid of ancient Greek

and Roman culture.

The philosophes

challenged the authority of

Churches and feudalists

openly.

Emphasis Arts Ideology,politics Representatives Dante,Petrarch,

Leonardo da Vinci

Montesquieu,Voltaire,

Rousseau Property The first bourgeois

ideological liberation

movement

The second bourgeois

ideological liberation

movement Essence To reflect economic and

political interests of the

rising bourgeoisie

To reflect economic and

political interests of the

developing and

strengthening bourgeoisie Development From Italy the movement From France to the rest of

went to embrace the rest

of Europe Europe and North

America

Influence Renaissance helped

people get rid of

conservation in feudalist

Europe,shake the

authority of the Roman

Church and contribute to

the development of

natural science.

The Enlightenment Movement hit absolutism in secular domination and push the bourgeois revolution in worldwide.

Core Humanism Rationalism

Similariti

-es

Force Rising bourgeoisie Strengthening bourgeoisie Economic

Foundation

Capitalism

The target of

attacks

Church and Feudalism

1.Two movements both emphasized human’s value,shook the Roman

Catholic Church and Feudalism in Europe.

2.They were both pushed by bourgeoisie and they both helped

capitalism go further.

3.They both contributed to the development of modern science.

4.They both helped to make people come to a new awareness which

was to help shape what Europe is today.

5.The Enlightenment Movement was continuation of Renaissance and

developed Renaissance.

6.Both of them reflected economic and political interests of

bourgeoisie.

Renaissance occurred in 14th century in Italy ended in 17th century,then came the Enlightenment Movement in France.For there were several centuries during the two movements,it seemed that no connection was between them.But actually,17th century was exactly a transition period between them.The occurrences of the two

movements were results of the development of capitalism.From the middle period of 14th century to 16th centry,the rising capitalistic relations of production developed further.So just because of it,serf system firstly collapsed in Italy,Italy preceding other European countries became the cradle of Renaissance[i].Naturally,the rising bourgeoisie mainly forced the movement.Intellectual classes among middle class found that the Roman Church and feudality hindered the development of the society when Renaissance gradually spread in European.So they firstly launched the wave towards the Roman Church and feudal society.In return,Renaissance promoted capitalism and the development of natural science,helped people get rid of conservation in feudalist Europe,shake the authority of the Roman Church.

Due to Renaissance,capitalism developed rapidly during the period 14th to 17th century.And bourgeoisie strengthened day by day.Achievements in economic field conversely made preparations for the Enlightenment Movement which ranging from 17th century to 18th century.So just like Renaissance,the Enlightenment Movement was forced by bourgeoisie.What two intellectual movements struggled for was to push capitalism forward.For the same purpose,which was overthrowing feudalism and getting rid of the absolute control of the Papal authority in Rome,the two movements both attached importance to human’s value.They were both the bourgeois ideological liberation movements.Humanist was the main force in these two movements.In addition,in these two periods out-standing scientists sprang up in large numbers.So in some way modern science was promoted.Both of the two movements Both of them reflected economic and political interests of bourgeoisie and helped shape what Europe is today.

Even if the Enlightenment Movement was continuation of Renaissance and developed Renaissance,there are some differences between Renaissance and the Enlightenment Movement.

Firstly,in ways, European humanists thinkers and scholars had the aid of ancient Greek and Roman culture to shake the Roman Church and Feudalism indirectly.How to say the way was indirect?These intellectuals claimed that they wanted to come back to ancient Greek and Roman just because they started to aware that people

needed democracy and republic.As a result,they launched the movement to suggest their need.However,at that time the intellectuals did not dare to challenge the authority of the Roman Church undisguisedly.On the contrary,in 18th century ,in France people accepted a new kind of scientific materialism.And in addition, what duty science performed was fostering people who defended and consolidated spirit of the Enlightenment,so scientists would certainly make use of their ability to attack the region which violated the kind of spirit[ii].So accordingly,the Roman Church was also attacked people who specialized in politics and and philosophy openly.Criticizing region became one of two basic contents in the Enlightenment Movement.

Secondly,in emphasis,the two movements stressed different things and they succeeded in different fields.Renaissance made striking achievements in arts and literature.During this period,there flourished a large number of great figures,including Dante,Petrarch and Leonardo da Vinci.These people created many masterpieces.Among these works ,the most famous were Divine Comedy,Last Supper and Mona pared to Renaissance,the Enlightenment Movement mainly developed in ideology,philosophy and politics.We can get it from the major force of Enlightenment,the French philosophes,especially three of them,Montesquieu,Voltaire and Rousseau.All these people popularized and propagated new ideas for the general reading public.They put forward many important ideas which later became several bourgeois revolutions’ guiding thoughts.

Thirdly,in core,although both of the two movements stressed human’s value,their cores were distinct.The Enlightenment Movement’s guiding thought was rationalism,which penetrated and embodied the humanism in Renaissance. At the initial stage of Renaissance,humanists were self-abased when facing splendid classic culture[iii].People just freed them in a narrow way.Humanism at that period just thought that human was superior to anything in nature.In short,humanism in Renaissance was that man was the measure of everything.Rationalism was otherwise.Owe to rapid development of modern science,it fostered belief in natural law and universal order and established confidence in human reason.Like what the French philosophe s put forward,natural rights.Every man was born with equality.They

promoted not only liberating people physically but also mentally.So the Enlightenment Movement completed Renaissance’s humanism.The most prominent figures in art and literature of this period,they thought that reason and judgment were the mos admirable faculties.In their work,therefore,the most desirable qualities were harmony,proportion,balance and restraint.So the Enlightenment Movement is sometimes called the Age of Reason.

Fourthly,in influence,the two movements’means were different.The two movements both shaped what Europe is today,But the Enlightenment Movement was more meaningful especially for its wide range.Renaissance influenced Europe for several centuries,the Enlightenment Movement took effect worldwide.As it was the first bourgeois ideological liberation movement,Renaissance was certainly not consummate.So the latter improved it.The most striking influence the Enlightenment Movement brought was affecting many important bourgeois revolutions worldwide,such as the Revolution of 1911,in our country,which ended our country’s feudalism.Many events including the American War of Independence of 1776 and the French Revolution in 1789 were affected by the Enlightenment.

[i]姜天明、廉惠斌伟大与进步的变革——欧洲文艺复兴运动（J）2001年[ii]卫韦十八世纪法国的启蒙运动（J）2003年

[iii]周巩固人的解放----文艺复兴与启蒙运动（J）2009年