The 15th Century Cultural Shift: Humanism and Spanish Literature

The 15th Century: The End of the Middle Ages

The fifteenth century marks the beginning of a change in thinking that breaks with the medieval conception of the world. The theocentric conception of life is replaced by anthropocentrism, which celebrates the individual. Humanity experienced a complex and contradictory period across all social orders, leading to a deeper reflection on the meaning of life.

Key Historical Events of the 15th Century

The nobility fueled multiple social rebellions springing up in different parts of the peninsula. Key historical developments include:

• The marriage between Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, marking the beginning of the convergence of the Hispanic peninsular kingdoms.
• The end of the Reconquista, which subsequently originated the problem of the Moriscos.
• An economic crisis caused by existing social conflicts in both the Crown of Castile and the Crown of Aragon.

Thought and Cultural Renewal

The fifteenth century saw the beginning of an amazing flowering of artists in Italy and a significant renewal of ideas, including the rediscovery of Classical Antiquity and Humanist thought.

Humanism and the Transition from the Middle Ages

Humanism triumphed among the highest classes. Spanish humanists often preferred their native language over Latin. The particular features of Humanism in the Iberian Peninsula include:

• Legitimacy of the Visigothic monarchy.
• A predilection for classical authors born in Hispania.
• The focus on Studia Humanitatis.

Lyric Poetry in the 15th Century

In the Crown of Aragon, Alfonso V the Magnanimous ensured that humanists and writers celebrated his deeds. In Castile, Juan II was similarly celebrated, and numerous nobles imitated this trend. Following the union of the two crowns, the Catholic Monarchs continued to attract humanists to Spain. During the 15th century, several poetic currents developed:

• Courtly poetry (or Cancioneros)
• Traditional poetry
• Critical and satirical poetry

Courtly Poetry and the Cancionero Tradition

Learned poetry, composed to be read, recited, or sung at court, is the most characteristic form of the 15th century. It presents the following characteristics:

• Great variety of verses and poetic themes.
• The language used by courtly poets is characterized by artificiousness.
• The metric art of the Castellano verse grew significantly.

This poetry is preserved in numerous important songbooks (Cancioneros), including:

• The Cancionero de Baena
• The Cancionero de Estúñiga
• The Cancionero General
• The Cancionero del Palacio

Juan de Mena notably wrote El laberinto de Fortuna (The Maze of Fortune) in honor of Juan II.