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“Renaissance” is a French word for “rebirth”.  This rebirth was in renewed respect for artistic and intellectual progress not seen since classical Greece and Rome.  The Merriam-Webster online dictionary describes “Renaissance” as follows:  “the transitional movement in Europe between medieval and modern times beginning in the 14th century in Italy, lasting into the 17th century,” which included “a flowering of the arts and literature” and “the beginnings of modern science.”<ref>http://www.m-w.com</ref>

“Renaissance” is a French word for “rebirth”.  This rebirth was in renewed respect for artistic and intellectual progress not seen since classical Greece and Rome.  The Merriam-Webster online dictionary describes “Renaissance” as follows:  “the transitional movement in Europe between medieval and modern times beginning in the 14th century in Italy, lasting into the 17th century,” which included “a flowering of the arts and literature” and “the beginnings of modern science.”<ref>http://www.m-w.com</ref>

   

   

A poet named Petrach (1304-1374), discussed below, described the early Middle Ages as “Dark Ages” of social decay.  The “rebirth” or “revival” in the Renaissance was the rediscovery of the Roman and Greek cultures, as enhanced by Christianity.  The “new learning” was a new recognition of the ideas discovered and developed in the past in art, science and other fields of inquiry.

A poet named '''Petrach''' (A.D 1304-1374) described the early Middle Ages (A.D. 476-1000) as the “Dark Ages” of social decay.  The “rebirth” or “revival” in the Renaissance was the rediscovery of the Roman and Greek cultures, as enhanced by Christianity.  The “new learning” was a new recognition of the ideas discovered and developed in the past in art, science and other fields of inquiry, and attempts to improve on them.

The earliest beginning of the Renaissance was '''the poet Dante''' Alighieri (1265-1321), discussed below, who is famous for writing ''Dante’s Inferno'' about Hell.  Another beginning date for the Renaissance is the fall of Constantinople to the Turks in 1453, when gunpowder and the cannon became essential parts of warfare.  This military defeat caused Greek (Byzantine) scholars to flee to Rome, bringing their scholarship with them.  They also brought their hostility to the Roman Catholic Church, causing changes to the religious order in Europe.

The earliest beginning of the Renaissance was '''the poet Dante''' Alighieri (A.D. 1265-1321), who is famous for writing ''Dante’s Inferno'' about Hell.  Another beginning date for the Renaissance is the fall of Constantinople to the Turks in 1453, when gunpowder and the cannon became essential parts of warfare.  This military defeat caused Greek (Byzantine) scholars to flee to Rome, bringing their scholarship with them.  They also brought their hostility to the Roman Catholic Church, causing changes to the religious order in Europe.

By the 1400s there were numerous great artists, and also advances in the existing Gothic Art.  '''By the year 1500 the High Renaissance was in full bloom'''.  But a schism in Christianity in Europe was just around the corner. On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther founded Protestantism when he nailed 95 “Theses” or issues to the door of his Wittenberg Church in what is now Germany.  A decade later, in 1529, the English King Henry VIII founded another Christian denomination for an entirely different reason:  he wanted the pope to approve his divorce from Catherine of Aragon, and when the pope refused, the king founded the Church of England and seized all the property of the Catholic Church in England.  Other Protestant faiths also began in the 1500s, and the Catholic Church responded with an internal reformation of its own, often called the counter-reformation.  

By the 1400s there were numerous great artists, and also advances in the existing Gothic Art.  '''By the year 1500 the High Renaissance was in full bloom'''.  But additional internal splits in Christianity were just around the corner. On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther founded Protestantism when he nailed 95 “Theses” or issues to the door of his Wittenberg Church in what is now Germany.  A decade later, in 1529, the English King Henry VIII founded another Christian denomination for an entirely different reason:  he wanted the pope to approve his divorce from Catherine of Aragon, and when the pope refused, the king founded the Church of England and seized all the property of the Catholic Church in England.  Other Protestant faiths also began in the 1500s, and the Catholic Church responded with an ambitious reform effort of its own, often called the "Counter-reformation".  

But before we reach those events, let's first review the origin and development of the English language.  English does not come from Sanskrit or Hebrew or Greek or Latin. The Roman empire never conquered Germany, and English developed from Germanic people who settled in England.

But before we reach those events, let's first review the origin and development of the English language.  English does not come from Sanskrit or Hebrew or Greek or Latin. The Roman empire never conquered Germany, and English developed from Germanic people who settled in England.

== The History of the English Language ==

== The History of the English Language ==

The development of the English language is divided into three periods:  Old English (also called "Anglo-Saxon"), Middle English, and Modern English (which we speak today).  Germanic tribes settled in England about when the Roman empire fell, around A.D. 450.  Old English<ref>An attempt to translate some Modern English words into Old English exists at http://home.comcast.net/~modean52/new_to_old_english_t.htm .</ref> developed and was used until shortly after the Norman conquest of 1066, when Latin began to cause improvements in Old English and it upgraded to medieval Middle English.  Modern English is considered to have begun shortly after the end of the Middle Ages in 1500.  

The development of the English language is divided into three periods:  Old English (also called "Anglo-Saxon"), Middle English, and Modern English (which we speak today).  Germanic tribes settled in England around the time when the Roman empire fell, around A.D. 450.  Old English<ref>An attempt to translate some Modern English words into Old English exists at http://home.comcast.net/~modean52/new_to_old_english_t.htm .</ref> developed and was used until shortly after the Norman conquest of 1066, when Latin began to cause improvements in Old English, and it upgraded to medieval Middle English.  Modern English is considered to have begun shortly after the end of the Middle Ages in 1500.  

A good dictionary will provide the date of origin for a word, and old dates are "13c" or A.D. 1200.  For example, the date of first use of the word "chase", meaning "the hunting of wild animals," is listed by Merriam-Webster dictionary as "13c".  More modern words, such as "homeschool" (1980), have more recent dates of first use.

A good dictionary will provide the date of origin for a word, and old dates are "13c" or A.D. 1200.  For example, the date of first use of the word "chase", meaning "the hunting of wild animals," is listed by Merriam-Webster dictionary as "13c".  More modern words, such as "homeschool" (1980), have more recent dates of first use.  In general, the study of the origin of a word is known as "etymology".  

One can spend hours enjoyably learning about the history of human thought simply by looking at when words were first created for important concepts.  For example, by looking up the word "tyranny" in the dictionary we see that it was developed in the 14th century (1300s), which was about the time that feudalism was being replaced by centralized nation-states in England and France.  The study of the origin of a word is known as "etymology".  

One can spend hours enjoyably learning about the history of human thought simply by looking at when words were first created for important concepts.  For example, by looking up the word "tyranny" in the dictionary we see that it was developed in the 14th century (A.D. 1300s), which was about the time that feudalism was being replaced by centralized nation-states in England and France.  

===Old and Middle English===

===Old and Middle English===

:Again he [Pope Gregory] asked what might be the name of the people from which they came. It was answered to him that they were named Anglos [as in Anglo-Saxon]. Then he said, "Rightly are they called Anglos because they have the beauty of angels, and it is fitting that such as they should be angels' companions in heaven."  

:Again he [Pope Gregory] asked what might be the name of the people from which they came. It was answered to him that they were named Anglos [as in Anglo-Saxon]. Then he said, "Rightly are they called Anglos because they have the beauty of angels, and it is fitting that such as they should be angels' companions in heaven."  

Middle English was an improvement due to the importation of Latin from Europe into England, at least among scholars.  John Wycliffe used Middle English when he worked on the first new translation of the Bible in nearly 1000 years.

Middle English was an improvement due to the importation of Latin from Europe into England, at least among scholars.  John Wycliffe used Middle English when he produced the first English translation of the Bible in the late 1300s, which was the first new translation of the Bible in nearly 1000 years (since the translation of the Bible into Latin in AD 400, known as the Vulgate).

John Wycliffe was nearly 200 years ahead of "his time," meaning he was that far ahead of the Reformation that came later.  For that reason he is called the "Morning star of the Reformation."<ref name="Wycliffe">http://www.greatsite.com/timeline-english-bible-history/john-wycliffe.html</ref>  A brilliant scholar, Wycliffe developed his own views of Christianity and attracted a following of itinerant preachers known as the "Lollards".  Wycliffe simplified aspects of Christianity for peasants who otherwise had difficulties understanding it, such as developing a doctrine of the Lord's Supper in only twelve short sentences, and having his itinerant preachers teach that everywhere.  The chancellor of the University of Oxford pronounced some of Wycliffe's theories as heretical.  Wycliffe eventually criticized scholasticism, monasteries, and the papacy, and became increasingly disliked by the English royal hierarchy.

John Wycliffe was nearly 200 years "ahead of his time," meaning he was that far ahead of the Reformation that came later.  For that reason he is called the "Morning star of the Reformation."<ref name="Wycliffe">http://www.greatsite.com/timeline-english-bible-history/john-wycliffe.html</ref>  A brilliant scholar, Wycliffe developed his own views of Christianity and attracted a following of itinerant preachers known as the "Lollards".  Wycliffe simplified aspects of Christianity for peasants who otherwise had difficulties understanding it, such as developing a doctrine of the Lord's Supper in only twelve short sentences, and having his itinerant preachers teach that everywhere.  The chancellor of the University of Oxford pronounced some of Wycliffe's theories as heretical.  Wycliffe eventually criticized scholasticism, monasteries, and the papacy, and became increasingly disliked by the English royal hierarchy.

At the time the Church prohibited new translations of the Bible, in order to maintain control and combat heresies.  Wycliffe died peacefully in 1384, without having been excommunicated by the Church or executed by the King.  He was blamed in England, however, for supposedly causing revolt by the peasants (such as the Peasants' Revolt of 1381).  Later a Council of the Church declared some of Wycliffe's theories to have been heretical.

At the time the Catholic Church prohibited new translations of the Bible, in order to maintain control and combat heresies.  But Wycliffe died peacefully in 1384, without having been excommunicated by the Church or executed by the King.  He was blamed in England, however, for supposedly causing revolt by the peasants (such as the Peasants' Revolt of 1381).  Later a Council of the Church declared some of Wycliffe's theories to have been heretical.

Here is the Parable of the Prodigal Son from Wycliffe's English translation of the Bible in 1389 (compare it to your own at Luke 15:11-21):<ref>http://pages.towson.edu/duncan/LukeMEPDE.htm</ref>

Here is the Parable of the Prodigal Son from Wycliffe's Middle English translation of the Bible in 1389 (compare it to your own at Luke 15:11-21):<ref>http://pages.towson.edu/duncan/LukeMEPDE.htm</ref>

:11 Forsothe he seith, Sum man hadde tweye sones;

:11 Forsothe he seith, Sum man hadde tweye sones;

:21 And the sone seyde to him, Fadir, I haue synned a3ens heuene, and bifore thee ; and now I am not worthi to be clepid thi sone.  

:21 And the sone seyde to him, Fadir, I haue synned a3ens heuene, and bifore thee ; and now I am not worthi to be clepid thi sone.  

Shakespeare, the greatest playwright in world history, wrote in English around 1600.  He used modern English, but the language has changed much in 400 years since then.  His language was easily understood then, but some parts are difficult to understand today.  The term "copyright" did not exist yet, and Shakespeare never published any of his plays in writing because he had no legal protection against someone copying his work; all his works were written and preserved after he died.  Here is the beginning of Mark Antony's famous speech in Shakespeare's play named ''Julius Caesar'':<ref>http://www.william-shakespeare.info/act3-script-text-julius-caesar.htm</ref>

Shakespeare, the greatest playwright in world history, wrote in English around 1600.  He used modern English, but the language has changed much in 400 years since then.  His language was easily understood in his day, but some parts are difficult to understand today.  The term "copyright" did not exist yet, and Shakespeare never published any of his plays in writing because he had no legal protection against someone copying his work; all his works were written and preserved after he died.  Here is the beginning of Mark Antony's famous speech in Shakespeare's play named ''Julius Caesar'':<ref>http://www.william-shakespeare.info/act3-script-text-julius-caesar.htm</ref>

:Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;

:Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;