From the fourteenth to sixteenth centuries, Europe saw an influx of new ideas and ideologies as well as immense shifts in power as a result of religious movements. This time period marks the end of the Medieval period and the beginning of the Renaissance with the decline of feudalism, increased wealth through the Crusades and recovery from the Black Death, and the rise of increasingly secular ideas. These factors gave way to the emergence of the fifteenth-century Renaissance which, concentrated in Florence, created ways of life not dominated by religion while reviving antiquity in philosophy, literature, and art. Following the Renaissance was the 16th-century religious movement known as the Reformation. This movement challenged the authority of the Catholic Church while establishing new religions, weakening the dominance of the Holy Roman Empire, and allowing the state to become more powerful than the Church. One of the most influential religions created during this time was Calvinism, which, centered in Geneva, became the most dominant Protestant religion that contributed heavily to the widespread success of the Reformation. In the centers of both the Reformation and the Renaissance were the cities of Geneva and Florence, respectively. Here, these movements succeeded and were able to leave a lasting impact on Europe as well as the rest of the world. Renaissance Florence and Reformation Geneva contrast heavily in the types of government and religions that dominated society; however, they were also very similar in that they both challenged the authority of the Church while transforming both the role of monarchs and critical aspects of society concerning education and motivations of daily life.
In Renaissance Florence, the government comprised despotic rulers of the city-states of Italy while in Reformation Geneva, John Calvin created a theocracy based on Calvinism. In both cities, monarchs saw increased political power as a result of the weakening of the Church. In Italy, merchant cities that existed as a gateway between the Eastern and Western Europe saw a revival of trade and commerce, and therefore increased wealth, as a result of recovery from the Bubonic Plague. These wealthy trading cities became powerful city-states with self-contained principalities that were monitored by despots who ultimately controlled Italy. The Medici family became one of the most powerful and influential families in Italy, with Cosimo de’ Medici becoming allies with other powerful families in Florence. As a result of French invasions, Florence was severely weakened, and humanistic as well as widespread secular ideas in Italy weakened the power of the Church. Towns also began to ally themselves with powerful kings, allowing the formation of sovereign states. These factors led to the emergence of “new” monarchs, or monarchs who could now act as more than a figurehead by being active in politics, building massive armies, and gaining power and wealth similar to that of the lords and clergy of the Medieval period. In the second half of the sixteenth century, Calvinism replaced Lutheranism as the dominant Protestant religion in Europe. Calvinism established itself in Geneva in 1536 after Geneva officially adopted Protestantism and John Calvin drew up articles for the governance of the new church as well as a catechism to guide the lives of the individuals. In 1540, Geneva elected officials that favored John Calvin and they organized the Genevan Church. Under John Calvin’s law, Geneva’s government grew into a theocracy based on Calvinism and its principles of predestination and good works. Calvin believed church and city should combine to enforce virtuous Christian behavior, so only the people who abided by Calvinist laws should be allowed to reside there. The opposition to the Church in Europe by Protestants allowed monarchs to become extremely powerful, wealthy, and influential. At the same time, the Catholic Church saw a significant decrease in its authority over society.
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During the Renaissance in Florence, the humanistic systems of thought as well as secular ideas flourished while causing individuals to question the authority of the Church; similarly, in Reformation Geneva, Calvinism became the most dominant Protestant religion that strictly opposed the authority and practices of the corrupt Catholic Church while preaching predestination and good works. During the Renaissance, Italy was ruled by the influential Catholic Medici family in Florence. There, they commissioned art with religious symbols that were meant to beautify Florence; however, at the same time, the Renaissance highlighted aspects of individualism, humanism, and generally more secular ideas. Humanism emphasized a balance between secular and religious life but was often more secular and lay-dominated. Petrarch, the “father of humanism,” considered religion and classical literature to be of the same importance and studied ancient Roman texts, which influenced later humanists. Humanism encouraged common people to question Church authority and put faith in reason rather than blindly following Church leaders. These ideas dominated society in Florence, and they even affected later Protestant leaders, including Martin Luther. Humanism encouraged people to question Church authority and therefore led Martin Luther to create the 95 Theses in which he publicly condemned indulgences as well as the Pope's authority to grant them. He also preached that salvation could be achieved by faith alone instead of by charitable acts, and these ideas later formed the basis of the Protestant religion, Lutheranism. Luther’s ideas had a widespread effect on society, politics, and later religious figures, such as John Calvin. John Calvin was a French Protestant influenced by humanistic ideals as well as the earlier humanists Erasmus and Martin Luther. During the Protestant Reformation in Geneva, Calvinism replaced Lutheranism as the dominant Protestant religion in Europe. Established by John Calvin, Calvinism emphasized divine predestination as well as the individual’s responsibility to maintain society according to the will of God. Geneva, therefore, became home to exiles from France, England, and Scotland who would all become devout Calvinists. Calvinism also preached that God reveals if one has been chosen for salvation by a conversion experience, and the “elect” are church members who have had this experience and became model citizens, or “visible saints.” Calvinistic ways of life dominated Geneva, and citizens were expected to live strict, holy lives according to the ideas produced by the Bible.
Although the Renaissance and the Reformation had many different effects on society throughout the fourteenth through sixteenth centuries, they shared many similarities in their social effects on the cities in which they were concentrated. For example, both movements caused an increase in the social consciousness of European citizens. As a result of humanism in the Renaissance period, people began to become more confident in their abilities as human beings, place their trust in reason more than the Church, and fully recognize the abuses of the Church, even though humanism was not strictly secular. The increasingly humanistic aspects of a society dominated daily life in Florence, as seen in art and literature. This contributed heavily to the beginning of the Reformation, which used humanistic and individualistic ideas in their opposition to the corrupt Catholic Church and its practices. In Geneva, Calvinism, aided by humanistic ideas, dominated daily life as well. Calvinists led a strict and holy life by doing good works and proving their faith in God. Activities such as drinking, dancing, usury, and gambling were prohibited in Geneva. Calvinists also emphasized the importance of doing hard work and, therefore, being economically successful. This was a sign that God was pleased with his people and came to be known as the “protestant work ethic.” To be sure that Genevan citizens were leading a good, Calvinist life, a consistory, or a judiciary of lay elders, could impose harsh penalties on those who did not follow the law. Humanism also affected Geneva and Florence socially by highlighting the importance of schooling. In Renaissance Europe, good schooling was an extremely important part of the formation of a well-rounded person. The goal of humanist studies was to acquire ancient knowledge and encourage others to acquire it as well so that a well-rounded society could be formed. Knowledge of Greek studies, especially Plato, was extremely valuable, and under Cosimo de’ Medici, the Florentine Platonic Academy was created. The Florentine Academy was a gathering of influential humanists who sought to revive the works of Plato and the Neoplatonists. Humanists believed that Scholastic Education was worthless because it lacked civic humanism, or could not form active leaders in civic affairs through individual virtue and public service. This sense of scholarship would continue throughout history and lead to an increased sense of importance concerning schooling. Similarly, a cultural achievement of the Reformation was its implementation of reforms in schooling. Although the Protestants shared a common opposition to Scholasticism and a belief in wisdom and action, their views on church doctrine and human nature separated them from Renaissance humanists. In Geneva, John Calvin and his successor, Theodore Beza, founded the Genevan Academy, which was created to train Calvinist ministers. The curriculum replaced Scholastic teachings by reading primary sources directly, canon law was removed, and candidates for theological degrees defended the new doctrine on the basis of their own Biblical studies. This Protestant support of humanistic culture and learning was extremely important in educational reforms, and elements of this new educational system would exist throughout history.
Both Renaissance Florence and Reformation Geneva shared many similarities in that they transformed social aspects of society while giving more power to monarchs, yet were different in that they had contrasting types of governments and religions. During the Renaissance in Florence, humanistic ideas encouraged the formation of increasingly secular ideas, while during the Reformation in Geneva, Calvinism was the dominant religion that controlled daily life. Also, while Geneva had a theocracy established by John Calvin, Florence had heredity despots who controlled Italy. Both cities challenged the authority of the Church while drastically transforming society. For example, both movements changed the motivations of people as well as their daily life in Geneva and Florence, but in different ways. These movements also created new importance for education while reforming the curriculum in many schools. In conclusion, the Reformation and the Renaissance had drastic effects on life in Geneva and Florence, as they did on the rest of the world, and the resulting qualities of both cities can still be seen today.
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