Education

Education

The Renaissance means rebirth. In the Renaissance different subjects were rediscovered like art, literature and music. Another subject is education. In the Renaissance the Universities, Libraries, Schools, and the new subjects progressed greatly.

There was not much education before the Renaissance. In Medieval times and in the first part of the Renaissance the schools were located in the churches (Mason 22). They did not have text books so they used slate boards (Education). Boys were usually the only ones that received an education unless the girls were daughters of the aristocracy or another high class (Education). The daughters of the high classes were mostly taught at home by scholars (Education). Girls of the middle and lower classes did not go to school but were taught about everyday skills in life like sewing spinning, cooking, and how to manage a household at home (Education).

Education became more common for everyone in the Renaissance and also became more important. New universities were being built all over Europe. Only a small portion of children in the renaissance were eligible to participate in school (Mason 23). They were usually in the upper or middle class. They could plan a career in government administration, medicine, and law. These children could probably have tutors if they were wealthy enough (Mason 22). Some of the very special boys of this class attended a grammar school. Other boys of lower classes had to be taught by becoming an apprentice as a merchant, blacksmith, or in a trade guild. Girls in the classes below the class of aristocracy did not usually receive an education, but as the Renaissance progressed that started to change (Mason 22). A man named Juan Luis Vives started to set up and create schools for the children who were not wealthy or poor (Mason 23).

The libraries began to grow and come out in different places during the renaissance. In medieval times almost all the libraries belonged to the churches (Mason 23). As the renaissance progressed through its time the people of the high status started to collect books (Mason 22). They later then donated them. Their donations helped create the libraries. The Bodleian library at Oxford University was created by the donations of books from the high status people (Mason 22). The Vatican libraries eventually became one of the greatest libraries in the world. It was founded by Pope Nicolas in the year 1450 (Mason 23).

In the renaissance new subjects were discovered and were beginning taught. The subjects traditionally taught before and a little into the renaissance were theology, philosophy, grammar, arithmetic, logic, music, astronomy, geometry, rhetoric (Mason 23). The background theme to these subjects was Christianity (Mason 23). More subjects started coming into view and got bigger and more important such as law, medicine, classic literature, geography and map making (Mason 23).

Universities were more important in the renaissance. The first universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Bologna, and Paris University was created or built in medieval times (Mason 23). These were role models or examples for the new universities. In the year 1500 more than 70 universities had been made (Mason 23).

Universities, libraries, new subjects, and schools have helped the Education progress. This has helped the people greatly. With more knowledge someone can get a better job. A better job gives that person more money and more money gives them a higher standard of living. The education is very important.

Link to page about Oxford University [] Link to picture of Oxford University.

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Works Cited Mason, Antony. //Renaissance Times//. Florence: McRae, 2005. Print.

"Education." //Renaissance Handbook//. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Mar 2012. .