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While the exact date is debatable, there's no question that Gutenberg really set things off in the English Renaissance—get it? get it?—with his typesetting.
Love or fear? When you need power, either will do. But fear tends to work its magic faster. At least, that's what's suggested in this famous Renaissance work.
Exploration. New lands. A perfect society. (Sort of.) All of the makings of a great read, and an objectively great piece of literature from the "Age of Exploration."
What happens when you mix a little humanism into your Catholicism? You get Lutheranism. That's what happens, Shmoopers.
Earth, not so central. Now, the sun, that's where it's at. That's the planetary body around which we orbit.
Doesn't sound like such a revolutionary idea to you? Well, you weren't born in 15th-century England.
Be the leader of the most powerful naval force in the known world? Yes, don't mind if I do. Queen Elizabeth even refused to marry so that she could keep on keepin' on as king. Nice.
Aw, twinsies. Okay, not really. But these two were born in the same year, and when Marlowe's reign as premier Elizabethan tragedian came to an end (as a result of his untimely death), Shakespeare was happy to take the torch. You can see Marlowe's influence in a lot of the more renowned playwright's early work.
High finance and the high seas: we hope our ship's coming in. Don't forget that the English Renaissance was also all about the rise of the merchant class.
The Theatre was the first successful permanent theatre—duh—in England. Kind of a big deal.
You explore that planet, sir. Help us come to terms with the fact that the world is not, in fact, flat. Minds blown.
Our little playwright's all grown up now, acting in and penning his own plays. He'd only go on to become literally the most famous writer of all time. Not bad.
This was kind of a bloody battle; both sides lost a lot of lives. But it did a lot to tip the scales of international power toward the English. (You know, we want to be balanced in our reporting and all. Teehee.)
This play lauding the good Queen was a real hit. Especially at the court of Queen Elizabeth herself—who wouldn't want to watch a play about how awesome you are?
Finally, our—their?—own place. Lucky for you, you can still go check it out today.
That's all, folks. Jk, there's still a little bit left to the Renaissance. Just a little, though.
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