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===The Northern Renaissance===

===The Northern Renaissance===

The heart of the Renaissance was in Italy, but there were also great artists and thinkers in northern Europe who built on the achievements of those in Italy.  Their achievements are known as the “Northern Renaissance.”

The heart of the Renaissance was in Italy, but there were also great artists and thinkers in northern Europe (primarily the Netherlands and Germany) who built on the achievements of those in Italy.  Their achievements are known as the “Northern Renaissance.”

The leading thinker of the Northern Renaissance was Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536) in the Netherlands.  He wanted more spirituality in the Catholic Church and urged a greater emphasis on the teachings of Jesus.  He published a Greek edition of the New Testament, and was the first scholar to become famous through use of the printing press, developed in the Northern Renaissance.  But while he wrote satires about the Church that led others to criticize it, Erasmus condemned Luther and strenuously opposed the Reformation.

The leading thinker of the Northern Renaissance was Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536) in the Netherlands.  He wanted more spirituality in the Catholic Church and urged a greater emphasis on the teachings of Jesus.  He published a Greek edition of the New Testament, and was the first scholar to become famous through use of the printing press, developed in Germany in 1447 during the Northern Renaissance.  Erasmus also wrote satires about the Church that led others to criticize it, but Erasmus condemned Luther and strenuously opposed the Reformation.

Albrecht Durer (1471-1528) was the leading artist in Germany, copying the style of the High Renaissance that combined grace and extreme elegance, a style known as “Mannerism”.  Durer created famous woodcuts and copper engravings.

Albrecht Durer (1471-1528) was the leading artist in Germany, copying the style of the High Renaissance that combined grace and extreme elegance, a style known as “Mannerism”.  Durer created famous woodcuts and copper engravings.

The greatest painter in all of Northern Europe was the Dutch artist Rembrandt (1606-1669), who drew many great portraits known for their depiction of light and shadow.  The increased number of portraits by Rembrandt and others demonstrated the new emphasis on individualism in the Renaissance.  Other great painters included Jan Van Eyck (1400s) and Pieter Bruegel (mid-1500s), both of Flanders.

The greatest painter in all of Northern Europe was the Dutch (Netherlands) artist Rembrandt (1606-1669), who drew many great portraits known for their depiction of light and shadow.  The increased number of portraits by Rembrandt and others demonstrated the new emphasis on individualism in the Renaissance.  Other great painters included Jan Van Eyck (1400s) and Pieter Bruegel (mid-1500s), both of Flanders (a region from parts of the Netherlands, Belgium and France today).

In England, William Shakespeare (1564-1616) became the greatest playwright in the history of the world, and Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) was a leading English statesman, writer and philosopher, who rose to become Lord Chancellor (1618) until he was impeached in 1621 for accepting bribes.

In England, William Shakespeare (1564-1616) became the greatest playwright in the history of the world, and Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) was a leading English statesman, writer and philosopher, who rose to become Lord Chancellor (1618) until he was impeached in 1621 for accepting bribes.