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The Italian Renaissance had placed human beings at the centre center of life and had promoted secular values as opposed to instead of religious valuesones. Influenced by the ideas of the ancient past 's ideas, it conceived of a new way of life and provided a new worldview. The Renaissance was a period of great works of art, literature, and philosophy. The Renaissance or of 're-birth' was not just confined to Italy. There was also a Northern Renaissance. This is the term given to the cultural flowering that occurred north of the Alps, in German-speaking countries, the Lowlands, France, and England. The Although influenced by the Italian Renaissance, the Northern Renaissance was a unique event and although influenced by the Italian Renaissance was distinct from it. This article will argue that the origins of the Northern Renaissance were a result of resulted from the spread of printing, Italy's influence of Italy, growing wealth , and the decline of the culture associated with feudalism.

==The Northern Renaissance==[[File: NR 3.jpg|thumbnail|Brueghal’s The Fall of Icarus]]The Northern Renaissance was similar to the Italian Renaissance. It also was interested in the ancient past and believed that it was a guide to the present day. The Northern Renaissance was also very much concerned with humanism and its values.<ref> Giustiniani,Vito. "Homo, Humanus, and the Meanings of Humanism", Journal of the History of Ideas 46 (vol. 2, April – June 1985): 167 – 95</ref> This was the idea that humans with the use of their reason could improve their circumstances and their society. It was more concerned with the individual. The movement believed in the possibility of human freedom and in the perfectibility of man. However, the Northern Europe Renaissance was much more religious in its nature than the Italian Renaissance. Many Northern scholars , such as Erasmus , were very much interested in the reform of the Church and . They denounced superstitions and clerical abuses and corruption, in the name of the true faith.<ref>Giustiniani, p. 187</ref> The great scholar Erasmus, who was born in the modern-day Netherlands, was religious and also very interested in the classical world. [[File: NR 3.jpg|thumbnail|left|275px|Bruegal’s The Fall of Icarus]]However, like many other German and other Northern Humanists, he saw no contradictions between Christianity and ancient cultures and believed that they could be reconciled. The religious character of the Renaissance north of the Alps was due in part to the continuing influence of the Church, unlike in Italy, where the Church was in decline.<ref>Giustiniani, p. 187</ref> The Northern Renaissance was an impressive cultural epoch whose achievements were as great as those in Italy. It produced writers of the stature of Rabelais, Montaigne, Erasmus, and Thomas More.

However, he, like many other German and other Northern Humanists saw no contradictions between Christianity and ancient cultures and believed that they could be reconciled. The religious character of the Renaissance north of the Alps was due in part to the continuing influence of the Church, unlike in Italy, where the Church was in decline.<ref> Giustiniani, p. 187</ref> The Northern Renaissance was an impressive cultural epoch and its achievements were as great as those in Italy. It produced writers of the stature of Rabelais, Montaigne, Erasmus and Thomas More. In the arts, it also was a time that saw the production of many masterpieces by artists such as Durer and Bosch. The Northern Renaissance, humanists, were not just concerned with the study of ancient texts but also the bible. Scholars began to study the bible in a new and critical way. Scholars produced more reliable versions of key biblical texts and produced commentaries on the New and Old Testament. These were very influential , and the Northern Humanists ‘New Learning’ inspired many to question the Church's teachings and authority of the Church and this , which did much to pave the way for the Reformation<ref> Huizinga, Johan. <i>Erasmus and the Age of Reformation, with a Selection from the Letters of Erasmus</i>, in series, Harper Torchbacks, and also in The Cloister Library. (New York: Harper & Row, 1957), p. 13</ref>

====Socio- Economic Background====The fifteenth and sixteenth century was, a period of economic recovery for much of Northern Europe after the wars, plagues, and instability of the 14th century. Trade recovered , and new trade routes were established and many . Many cities became fabulously rich in the Rhineland and the Lowlands.<ref>Chipps Smith, Jeffrey <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0714838675/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0714838675&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=6cf057f5f151d5268e8d6eede46f8871 The Northern Renaissance. ]</i> Phaidon Press, 2004), p. 56</ref> Many cities became very rich, especially those in modern Belgium such as Bruges. This period also saw stability and peace in Northern Europe as the great wars of the 14th century , such as the One Hundred Year War , ended. This and the economic expansion meant that there were more schools and Universities in Northern Europe.<ref> Chipps, p. 5</ref> The growing stability of Europe after the trials of the 14th century meant that there was more contact between Northern and Southern Europe , and ideas were transmitted from the Mediterranean region to the North. The growing wealth of the region was to be very important in the rise and the achievements of the Northern Renaissance.<ref> Huizinga, p. 15</ref>

This is because it allowed the local elites to patronize, artists and scholars. In this era, artists and writers could not live and work without the support of the wealthy. The wealth of the elite in Northern Europe meant that there were more patrons for artists and writers and this , which allowed them to create their masterpieces. The Northern Renaissance origins are associated with the Duke of Burgundy, who were was among the art's greatest patrons of the art in the early years of the Northern Renaissance. The Dukes owned a vast territory stretching from Switzerland to Belgium.<ref> Huizinga, p. 25</ref> They were de-facto independent of the German Holy Emperor and the French King. Successive Dukes were great patrons of the arts and they . They commissioned many great works of art.<ref>Chipps, p. 18</ref> The Burgundian Court played a major role, through their patronage in the development of Renaissance art and values in Northern Europe. Many wealthy merchants at this time, also acted as the patrons of many artists. This was especially the case in the great Flemish cities in modern day Belgium such as Antwerp and Bruges. Wealthy merchants often commissioned works from local artists and this allowed a great school of Flemish painters to flourish. The Church and the monarchies were also important patrons of the art. For example, Francis II of France was a great patron of the arts and he spent lavishly on paintings and various artworks and he even brought the great Leonardo Da Vinci to his court. Without the patronage of the elites the Northern Renaissance would not have produced as many great cultural works.<ref> Chipps, p. 117</ref>

==Influence of Italy==[[File: NR 2The Burgundian Court played a major role in their patronage in developing Renaissance art and values in Northern Europe.jpg|thumbnail|Erasmus- Many wealthy merchants at this time also acted as the greatest scholar patrons of the Northern Renaissance]]In Italy, the city-states were the scene of a remarkable artistic and intellectual flowering since the late Medieval Periodmany artists. The renaissance This was an effort to imitate especially the lost world of ancient Greece and Rome. The Italian, artists, writers and thinkers who all participated case in the Renaissancegreat Flemish cities in modern-day Belgium, sought to create such as Antwerp and Bruges. Wealthy merchants often commissioned works that were the equal of the Greeks and Romansfrom local artists, whom they regarded as the pinnacle which allowed a great school of civilisationFlemish painters to flourish. The ideas Church and the works monarchies were also important patrons of the Italian Renaissance soon became known north art. For example, Francis II of the Alps. It France was only in a great patron of the late fifteenth century that ideas from Italy only slowly made their way north. In the 1490s Charles arts, and he spent lavishly on paintings and various artworks and even brought the VIII of France invaded Italy great Leonardo Da Vinci to claim his court. Without the Crown of elites' patronage, the Kingdom of NaplesNorthern Renaissance would not have produced as many great cultural works.<ref>HoltChipps, Mack Pp. Renaissance and Reformation France: 1500-1648 (The Short Oxford History of France. 2002), 89117</ref>

The invasion and later wars exposed many in ====Influence of Italy====[[File: NR 2.jpg|thumbnail|left|Erasmus- the French nobility, who served as officers in the army to the ideas greatest scholar of the Italian Northern Renaissance and in turn]]In Italy, they transmitted Italian culture to the rest of Europe. Then many students from Northern Europe came to study in Italy at city-states were a remarkable artistic and intellectual flowering scene since the great Universities such as Bolognalate Medieval Period. Here they were exposed The renaissance was an effort to imitate the ideas lost world of the Renaissance and they returned home ancient Greece and helped to spread them in their native landsRome.<ref> HoltThe Italian artists, writers, p. 113</ref> More and more northerners travelled to Italy, many such as Albert Durer, thinkers who all participated in the great German artists, travelled in order Renaissance sought to study create works that were the art equal of the great Italian paintersGreeks and Romans, which greatly influenced his style and was whom they regarded as the inspiration between many pinnacle of his greatest workscivilization. All of these contacts helped to make The ideas and the ideas works of the Italian Renaissance better soon became known north of the Alps. It was only in the late fifteenth century that ideas from Italy only slowly made their way north and they inspired many humanist and artists to take a new approach in their work. They soon had absorbed In the 1490s Charles, the new conception VIII of life that they had witnessed in France invaded Italy and related it to their own societies and timesclaim the Crown of the Kingdom of Naples.<ref>O'Neill, JHolt, edMack P. (1987). The <i>Renaissance in the North and Reformation France: 1500-1648</i> (New York: The Metropolitan Museum Short Oxford History of ArtFrance. 2002), p. 11489</ref>

==Influence of Printing==The ideas of Italy would have been confined to a small elite in Northern Europe but for the invention of printing. The basic elements of printing had been known in China for centuries and papermaking had been introduced to Europe in the 13th century. However, in the 1440s there was a decisive step forward in the development of printing. In Mainz, Germany, Johann Gutenberg and other printers invented movable type by cutting up old printing blocks to form individual letters<ref> Holt, p. 115<dh-ad/ref>. It seems that the invention of Gutenberg and other printers was based on the wine presses in this wine growing region. Soon Gutenberg was able to mass produce books and documents on an unprecedented scale. Gutenberg used movable type to produce the first printed version of the Bible in 1454. The printing press was a sensation at the time and it changed European society. Prior to this books were rare and not freely available as most were produced by hand by professional copyists, who were usually monks and who prioritized devotional literature.

Suddenly books which were once a rarity became widely available, especially to affluent traders The invasion and professionals later wars exposed many in urban centres. Soon all the major European countries had printing presses and they were producing biblesFrench nobility, devotional works and also, significantly works by the classical authors such who served as Virgil <ref>Burke, Peter. The Italian Renaissance: Culture and Society officers in Italy (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1999), 6</ref>. The new books on classical authors exposed more people the army to the Italian Renaissance ideas of the past and especially the classical period. The intellectual life of Northern Europe was greatly stimulated by these works and In turn, they did much transmitted Italian culture to inspire intellectuals to revive the wisdom and knowledge rest of the ancient pastEurope. The printing press also did much Then many students from Northern Europe came to spread the ideas of key Northern Renaissance thinkers study in Italy at great Universities such as Thomas MoreBologna. ==Political and Social Changes==Northern Europe was undergoing a period of great cultural change. The old feudal nobility was under pressure and their influence on Here they were exposed to the culture of the time was in decline. The era’s rising prosperity saw a new class of urban merchantsRenaissance ideas, who had little regard for the old feudal nobility and its values. The old culture that was based on feudalism, promoted ideas of chivalry they returned home and deference was helped spread them in decline and people were more open to new ideastheir native lands.<ref> BurkeHolt, p. 115113</ref> The humanists’ ideas were received enthusiastically by More and more northerners traveled to Italy, many such as Albert Durer, the new urban elite of merchants and lawyers. They were drawn great German artists, traveled to study the values art of the great Italian humanistspainters, which stressed reason greatly influenced his style and denied was the primacy inspiration between many of his greatest works. All of received wisdom these contacts helped to make the Italian Renaissance ideas better known in the societynorth and inspired many humanists and artists to take a new approach in their work. They also formed soon had absorbed the audience for the books produced by the Northern Humanists such as Erasmus. Another factor in the changing culture new conception of the time was the rise of national monarchies life that they had witnessed in France Italy and related it to their own societies and Englandtimes.<ref> BurkeO'Neill, J, ed. (1987). <i>The Renaissance in the North</i> (New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art), 134p. 114</ref>.

In many northern kingdoms, the monarchies were centralising power and the feudal nobility was being weakened and they were being reduced from the status ====Influence of semi-independent rulers Printing====Italy's ideas would have been confined to dependents a small elite in Northern Europe but for the invention of the monarchprinting. The rise of basic printing elements had been known in China for centuries, and papermaking had been introduced to Europe in the national monarchies meant that increasingly that cultural life was focused on the court13th century. The monarchs of England and France However, in particularthe 1440s, were very receptive to there was a decisive step forward in the ideas development of the Renaissanceprinting. They arguably used the ideas of the Renaissance In Mainz, Germany, Johann Gutenberg and other printers invented movable type by cutting up old printing blocks to justify and legitimize their increasing role in society and their growing powersform individual letters.<ref>Janson, H.W.; Anthony F. Janson. History of Art (5th, rev. ed.). New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc. 1997)Holt, p. 113115</ref> They exploited It seems that Gutenberg and other printers' invention was based on the wine presses in this wine-growing region. Soon Gutenberg was able to mass-produce books and documents on an unprecedented scale. Gutenberg used movable type to produce the cultural productions first printed version of the Renaissance Bible in order to publicize their special position in society1454. For example, Francis II The printing press was a lavish patron of sensation at the arts in order to symbolically demonstrate his privileged status in French time, and it changed European society, especially with regard to the nobility. TypicallyBefore, the nobles imitated the king these books were rare and this led to a growing interest in the new styles of art that not freely available as most were being produced during the Northern Renaissance. This did much to spread the values of the Renaissance throughout Franceby hand by professional copyists, England who were usually monks and beyondprioritized devotional literature.

==Conclusion==The Northern Renaissance was deeply influenced by the Italian RenaissanceSuddenly books that were once a rarity became widely available, but it was not merely an imitation of itespecially to affluent traders and professionals in urban centers. The Renaissance north of Soon all the Alps was much more religious than the largely secular major European countries had printing presses, and pagan Renaissance in the south they were producing bibles, devotional works, and it arguably laid the intellectual foundations of the Reformation. The Northern Renaissance was inspired significant works by the ideas that flourished in the city-states classical authors such as Florence and VeniceVirgil.<ref>HuinzingaBurke,Peter.56<i>The Italian Renaissance: Culture and Society in Italy</i> (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1999), 6</ref> The Northern Renaissance could not have developed without new books on classical authors exposed more people to the growing peace and prosperity ideas of the region past and especially after the difficult 14th centuryclassical period. This allowed members of the elite These works greatly stimulated Northern Europe's intellectual life and did much to inspire intellectuals to become revive the patrons of writers wisdom and artists. Then there was the invention knowledge of the ancient past. The printing press, that made the works of the writers from the past known to many more people and this also did much to propagate the values and beliefs of the spread key Northern Renaissance. Changes in society, thinkers such as the decline in feudalism meant that there was a growing willingness to accept new ideas and beliefs. The rising urban elites and national monarchies in England and France were very willing to adopt the ideals of the RenaissanceThomas More.

==References==Political and Social Changes====Northern Europe was undergoing a period of great cultural change. The old feudal nobility was under pressure, and their influence on the culture's culture was in decline. The era’s rising prosperity saw a new class of urban merchants, who had little regard for the old feudal nobility and values. The old culture based on feudalism promoted ideas of chivalry and deference were in decline, and people were more open to new ideas.<ref> Burke, p. 115<references/ref>  The humanists’ ideas were received enthusiastically by the new urban elite of merchants and lawyers. They were drawn to the Italian humanists' values, which stressed reason and denied the primacy of received wisdom in the society. They also formed the audience for the books produced by the Northern Humanists such as Erasmus. Another factor in the changing culture was the rise of national monarchies in France and England.<ref>Burke, 134</ref>  In many northern kingdoms, the monarchies were centralizing power, and the feudal nobility was being weakened. They were being reduced from the status of semi-independent rulers to dependents of the monarch. The rise of the national monarchies meant that increasingly that cultural life was focused on the court. The monarchs of England and France, in particular, were very receptive to the ideas of the Renaissance. They arguably used the Renaissance ideas to justify and legitimize their increasing role in society and their growing powers.<ref>Janson, H.W.; Anthony F. Janson. <i>History of Art</i> (5th, rev. ed.). New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc. 1997), p. 113</ref>  They exploited the cultural productions of the Renaissance to publicize their special position in society. For example, Francis II was a lavish patron of the arts to symbolically demonstrate his privileged status in French society, especially concerning the nobility. Typically, the nobles imitated the king, which led to a growing interest in the new styles of art produced during the Northern Renaissance. This did much to spread the values of the Renaissance throughout France, England, and beyond. ====Conclusion====The Italian Renaissance deeply influenced the Northern Renaissance, but it was not merely an imitation of it. The Renaissance north of the Alps was much more religious than the largely secular and pagan Renaissance in the south, and it arguably laid the intellectual foundations of the Reformation. The Northern Renaissance was inspired by the ideas that flourished in the city-states such as Florence and Venice.<ref>Huinzinga,.56</ref>  The Northern Renaissance could not have developed without the region's growing peace and prosperity, especially after the difficult 14th century. This allowed members of the elite to become the patrons of writers and artists. Then there was the invention of the printing press, which made the works of the writers from the past known to many more people, and this did much to propagate the values and beliefs of the Northern Renaissance. Changes in society, such as the decline in feudalism, meant a growing willingness to accept new ideas and beliefs. The rising urban elites and national monarchies in England and France were very willing to adopt the Renaissance's ideals.

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