When you first heard about the Renaissance in Northern Europe and the Italian Renaissance, you probably thought them to be very similar. This is only partially true in that the two Renaissances were inspired by the same ideas. While each had a profound impact on Europe, they had key differences that made them unique. Some factors that made them different included art, literature and authors, and the people’s way of thinking. The works of writers and artists like Erasmus, van Eyck, More, and Shakespeare displayed these themes.
Both the Italian and Northern Renaissance began with a time of prosperity where people were wealthy enough to be able to support such an event. The same factors were involved in the Renaissances, but Italy and the North
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These beliefs were collectively known as humanism. Italian Renaissance philosophers believed more in improving the intellect one’s ethics, while Northern Renaissance focused on religion in daily life and self-improvement. The literatures of both Italy and Northern Europe showed that an individual’s duty was to take part in their community and maintain a union with God. Italian humanist literature was focused on concepts of Christianity, while Northern Renaissance literature was about finding cooperation and reason instead of power and fame.
Important themes of the Renaissance were expressed and depicted in the literature and art of the time period. These works were created by famous and significant figures such as Erasmus, van Eyck, More, and Shakespeare. The latter is known for his dynamic characters whose demonstrations of human nature often ended in tragedy. These exploits gave people an example of how they could improve themselves and their lives, so they wouldn’t share the fates of the characters in the stories. The works of Desiderius Erasmus were very religious and humanist in nature, which perfectly display the beliefs of the