The aesthetics of the mountain : Latin as a progressive force in the late-Renaissance and Early Modern period
Neo-Latin was a progressive force in Renaissance and Early Modern Europe. As such, its literature played a significant role in shaping the ideas of the modern world. This study will attempt to corroborate these assertions by taking the example of the aesthetic attitude change towards the mountain that took place in the Renaissance and Early Modern Period. This attitude shift saw the mountain change from a fearful, ugly or simply aesthetically uninteresting place, to one of beauty and splendor over the course of around 300 years. Previous studies have argued that this change took place in the vernacular literature of the early and mid 18th century. This thesis will contend that it took place earlier and in Latin. The aesthetic attitude shift towards the mountain can be shown to have had its catalysts in two broad spheres: firstly the development of an idea of 'landscape', and secondly in its increasing scientific and theological investigation. These two broad spheres can then be divided into a further two topics each: the 'landscape idea' emerged on the one hand from growing geographicalâparticularly chorographicalâinterest in Germanic countries at the beginning of the 16th century, and on the other hand
Barton, William Michael
The aesthetics of the mountain : Latin as a progressive force in the late-Renaissance and Early Modern period. Neo-Latin was a progressive force in Renaissance and Early Modern Europe. As such, its literature played a significant role in shaping the ideas of the modern world. This study will attempt to corroborate these assertions by taking the example of the aesthetic attitude change towards the mountain that took place in the Renaissance and Early Modern Period. This attitude shift saw the mountain change from a fearful, ugly or simply aesthetically uninteresting place, to one of beauty and splendor over the course of around 300 years. Previous studies have argued that this change took place in the vernacular literature of the early and mid 18th century. This thesis will contend that it took place earlier and in Latin. The aesthetic attitude shift towards the mountain can be shown to have had its catalysts in two broad spheres: firstly the development of an idea of 'landscape', and secondly in its increasing scientific and theological investigation. These two broad spheres can then be divided into a further two topics each: the 'landscape idea' emerged on the one hand from growing geographicalâparticularly chorographicalâinterest in Germanic countries at the beginning of the 16th century, and on the other hand
aesthetic mountain latin progressive force late_renaissance early_modern_period neo latin progressive force renaissance early_modern_europe literature play_significant role_shape idea modern_world study_attempt corroborate assertion take_example aesthetic attitude change towards mountain take_place renaissance early_modern_period attitude shift saw mountain change simply aesthetically place beauty course previous_study argue change_take_place vernacular literature contend take_place earlier latin aesthetic attitude shift_towards mountain show catalyst two_broad sphere firstly development idea landscape secondly increase scientific theological investigation two_broad sphere divide_two topic landscape idea emerge one_hand grow geographical particularly interest germanic country begin hand