Discussion+Question

Our Question: Was the Reniassance a period of broadening attitudes towards minorities such as: Jews, Women, and Africians/Blacks?

Depending on the part of Europe, the Renaissance held a period of broadening attitude towards minorities. In Western Europe (Florence, Italy being amoung the worst) the idea of women having a place in society where they were not just housewives was unknown. Women at the time received little to no education and where often treated as trophies that should be kept away from town. Women were expected to appear and act "pleasing to men", this often meant not having an opinion or being appreciated like someone of worth. Religious beliefs at the time suggested that women were the cause of the original sin and man's fall and since "Eve" was created from "Adam's" rib she was inferior to him. But there were women who gained attention during the time of the Renaissance such as Fra Angelico who was an Italian painter and Laura Cereta who is known for being the first feminist. African Americans were another minority which felt change during the Reniassance. They were yet another minority which attitude changed, but those thoughts hinged greatly on the geography. In nations such as Spain, some African Americans were given positions of power, and some became scholars, authors, and philosophers. Despite this, many other areas in Europe felt that the African Americans were little more than a status symbol, that ownership of one was a sign of wealth and power. Some of the earliest notions of slavery began in Europe, which is why it is thought that the Reniassance was not so much a period of broadening attitudes towards the African Americans.

Another minority, the Jews, also felt the sting of the Reniassance during this time. A change in religious views also led to a great change in attitudes towards the jewish people. Protestant Reformation began to change attitudes towards Jews in parts of Western Europe. Driven out of nations such as Spain and England, they were forced to seek refuge in Eastern European nations. It was in these eastern nations, such as Poland and many Slovik countries,that Jews began to gain power and influence. The expelling of the Jews from many of the Western Countries, though, lead people to think that this was not entirely a time of broadening attitude towards many of the minorities in Europe.