AP TEST REVIEWUnit One

Renaissance and New Monarchs

Ca. 1300-1527

“New” Monarchs: ca.1460-1520

A. Consolidated , or centralized, power and created the foundation for Europe’s first modern nation-states in France, England and Spain.

1. This evolution had begun in the Late Middle Ages with the decline of feudalism (thanks to the Black Death).

Meanwhile, monarchies had grown weaker in eastern Europe during the Middle Ages.

2. However, New Monarchies never achieved absolute power; absolutism did not emerge effectively until the 17th century (e.g. Louis XIV in France).

3. New Monarchies also were not nation-states (in the modern sense) since populations did not necessarily feel that they belonged to a “nation”

a. Identity tended to be much more local or regional. b. The modern notion of nationalism did not emerge until the late 18th and early

19th centuries.

Characteristics Reduced the power of the nobility through

taxation, confiscation of lands, and the hiring of mercenary armies or the creation of standing armies

Reduced the political power of the clergy Created more efficient bureaucracies Increased the political influence of the bourgeoisie Increased the national debt by taking out loans

from merchant-bankers

100 Years’ War (1337 - 1453)

Caused by conflicts between England and France over Flanders and over French succession.

Began when English King Edward III claimed the French throne and the French nobility refused to recognize his claim.

Results of the 100 Years War

French sovereignty Strong French bureaucracy under Louis XI

with high taxes, a strong army, and crown support of the merchant class.

A rise in the power of the English parliament and English disillusionment with their monarchy

The war of the Roses

France – Rise of the Valois Louis XI “Spider King” (1461-83)

Defeated Charles the Bold and annexed Burgundy Created a large royal army Dealt ruthlessly with nobles Increased taxes Actively encouraged economic growth

Francis I (1515-1547) Concordat of Bologna Taille – direct head tax on all land and property Estates-General became politically irrelevant

England – Rise of the Tudor

The War of the Roses (1455-1485) Yorks (White) vs. Lancasters (Red) Won by Henry VII Created the Tudor monarchy which lasted until the

death of Elizabeth in 1603.

Henry VII (1489-1509) Curtailment of the power of the nobility--the

establishment of the court of the star chamber. Parliament continued to wield a great deal of

power, especially over the PURSE!

The Modern Spanish Nation

1469: Marriage of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castille/Leon unites the regions into “Spain.”

1478: Inquisition began 1492: Columbus sent to the new world--

beginning of Spanish conquests. 1492: RECONQUISTA - The Moors were

driven out of Spain (last stronghold was in Grenada).

Achievements of Ferdinand and Isabella

Limited the power of the Cortes (leg. Assembly) and weakened the power of the nobility by supporting the merchants (hermandades).

Funded exploration, bringing great wealth from the New World

Monarchs appointed church officials and controlled religious policy.

Tried to establish religious unity in hopes of also fostering political unity.

Spanish Inquisition Designed to suppress the corruption of the

Spanish clergy and root out “heretics.” Heretics were any non-Catholics, especially Moslems and Jews (aka conversos).

Led by Cisneros and Torquemada Used any means necessary to subdue

dissent Spread the inquisition to conquered

territories, such as the Spanish Netherlands

Effects of the Inquisition

Expelled tens of thousands of Muslim and Jewish scholars and skilled traders and manufacturers.

Many of those expelled during the inquisition fled to Italy and were catalysts for developments in the Italian renaissance.

Their loss severely hurt Spanish development due to the decline of the Spanish middle-class.

The Decentralized States

Holy Roman Empire Italy

Both would not realize centralization or unification until the late 19th century!!!!

Holy Roman Empire Consisted of about 300 semi-autonomous

German states Center of Habsburg power was in Austria, and

the Habsburg heir was routinely elected HRE since the late 1400s

Decentralization No levying of taxes No raising of standing armies No ability to curtail local nobility

Height of Habsburg Power

Maximilian I (1493-1519) Sparked the dynastic Habsburg-Valois War

through his marriage to Mary of Burgundy

Charles V (1519-1556) Most Powerful ruler in 16th century Europe Archrival was Francis I during the H-V wars

• Sacked Rome in 1527 Controlled Spanish Empire and Austrian

Habsburg Lands

Italy: The City-State System

Northern Cities developed due to international trade Ruled by signori (despots) or oligarchies (merchant

aristocracies) Constant warring between states--done by mercenaries

called condottieri States were: Milan (Sforza), Venice, Florence (Medici)

(cultural center), Papal States (popes), & Naples Machievelli: wrote for Lorenzo de Medici (The Prince

and Circle of Governments)

The Decline of the Italian City-States

Peace of Lodi (1454) established a balance of power Due to fear of Ottomans after conquest of

Constantinople Foreign invasions begin in 1494 with French

Girolama Savonarola turns Florence into a mini theocracy after Medici are ousted

Habsburg-Valois Wars are fought regarding dynastic thrones in Italy 1527 – Sack of Rome symbolically ends the Renaissance

The Renaissance – What is it?

According to Burckhardt, the Renaissance is a distinct break from the Middle Ages, in which the culture of antiquity is revived in the form of humanism

Oftentimes, the Renaissance is considered the very beginning of Modern European History

Economics drives the Renaissance!

During the middle ages, manorialism developed due to the fact that money virtually disappeared from use in Europe and trade nearly came to a complete halt.

Renaissance economic developments were dominated by the rise of capitalism and the disintegration of manorialism (feudal bargaining).

Renaissance Capitalism As renaissance society became more

settled, they began to produce surpluses and began to trade with other regions.

This growth of trade led to the development of towns and the rise of a merchant class.

Towns eventually became interdependent and needed trade to survive.

Money again was used and barter eventually came to a halt.

Reasons for the Growth of Capitalism

Crusades: increased trade Exploration: As developing states got $,

they outfitted parties to explore and find routes to get to the riches in the east. This led to new riches, new trade routes, and new diseases, such as the plague.

Gold: precious metals expanded the European economy, fueled inflation, and put more currency in European economies.

Another Reason: The Growth of Towns/Merchant Class

Led to the eventual decline of the power of the nobility and the shift away from land being the only source of wealth and power.

Led to the growth of trade Led monarchs to develop stronger armies

and navies to protect trade and commercial interests.

More Reasons: Population Growth/Cottage Industries

Population growth created a pool of laborers and possible consumers. This growth was partially checked by the plague during some decades.

Cottage Industries began to develop as the agricultural revolution allowed some families to leave the farm and concentrate on skills such as weaving, furniture making, etc.

Another Reason: New Techniques and Inventions

Inventions such as the printing press, banking systems, bills of exchange, and double entry bookkeeping made transactions easier and capital more available. This encouraged the growth of trade and commerce.

New inventions also encouraged the growth of cottage industries, but the majority of Europeans were still farmers until the late 18th century.

Areas of Trade

Began in the Italian city states because they brought goods from the East through the Mediterranean and sent them overland to the rest of Europe.

Flanders: center of cloth and woolen trade Hanseatic League dominated Baltic trade England, Netherlands, & France dominated

Atlantic trade by the 1500’s.

Results of Economic Expansion

Decline of feudalism: money economy, cash payment of rents, consolidation of smaller farms

New Business Organizations: partnerships, chartered companies, and joint stock companies

Revival of Slavery: (there was limited opposition to this by some church leaders)

Growth of secularism and individualism

THE ITALIAN RENAISSANCE

The Italian renaissance differed somewhat from the renaissance in Northern Europe.

While the Italian renaissance focused on art, humanism, and education, the N. European renaissance focused on the reformation of the church and the birth of Protestantism.

Why Italy? Italy = center of early European commercial

life. So, Italians were constantly introduced to new ideas from other civilizations, (esp. from the Moslems and the Byzantines).

Secularism fostered by: Italy’s favorable econ. situation, & political cynicism fostered by the reality of the feuding city states, and writers such as Machiavelli.

Why Italy?

Families made wealthy by trade and political power wanted to become the patrons of the arts. Many such as the Medici’s sponsored a lot of art, because they wanted to prove they were more powerful than the other wealthy families.

Contact with past Roman glory was more immediate, due to Italy’s location.

Characteristics of Humanism Revival of antiquity in philosophy, literature, and art Strong belief in individualism and the great potential

of human beings Focused on studying of ancient languages

• Use of vernacular to translate Latin and Greek• Printing press used to spread knowledge of the ancients

Largely rejected Aristotle and Scholasticism in favor of Cicero, Livy, Virgil, and Plato

Advocated liberal arts education for a well-rounded individual• Grammar, rhetoric, poetry, history, politics, moral

philosophy Secular spirit

• Life should be enjoyed rather than lamented!

Civic Humanism

Education should prepare leaders who would be active in civic affairs

Participation in public affairs was essential for human development

Men should not become hermits, but instead must work within the government to help better society

Major Humanist Figures Petrarch: known as the father of humanism

Characterized the Middle Ages as the “Dark Ages”

Wrote poetry in the vernacular like Dante

Machiavelli: The Prince Observed the foreign invasions of Italy and the

attempt of Cesare Borgia to unite Italy “the ends justify the means;” beginning of

“realpolitik.” “It is better to be feared than loved.” A ruler must behave both like a lion and like a

fox.

More Important People Boccaccio: Decameron

Over 100 stories that provide a social commentary on 14th century Italy

Aimed to impart wisdom of human character Lorenzo Valla: “critical analysis” of classical

documents--esp. church docs. Donation of Constantine proven false

Pico Della Mirandola: Oration on the Dignity of Man Because they are created by God, humans have

unlimited human potential that should be realized

More Important Dudes Marsilio Ficino

Founded the Platonic Academy – translated Plato’s works into Latin

Castiglione: Book of the Courtier Most important work on Renaissance Education Specified the qualities of a true gentleman.

• Emphasized civic duty, versatility, and moral conduct.

Ideal “Renaissance Man” – Virtu• Both intellectually and physically accomplished

Italian Renaissance Art Quattrocento – Florence

Massive patronage came from wealthy merchant families who commissioned countless works from the great artists

Patronage also came from local churches who increasingly saw art as a means of glorifying God

Cinquecento – Rome Renaissance Popes spends lots on Renaissance

art!!! “Artist as Genius”

Italian Renaissance Art Techniques and Characteristics

3-D Realism Perspective Chiaroscuro

Individualism – glorification of individual Classicism – especially in sculpture Use of geometry and math for harmony Secular – For example, Portraiture

Famous Renaissance Artists & Sculptors

Quattrocento – Early Renaissance Giotto – St. Francis Brunelleschi – Il Duomo Lorenzo Ghiberti – Florentine Baptistery Doors Donatello – Bronze David Masaccio – Expulsion and Tribute Money Botticelli – Birth of Venus and Primavera

Famous Renaissance Artists & Sculptors

Cinquecento – High Renaissance Bramante - Tempietto Da Vinci – The Renaissance Man

• Mona Lisa and Last Supper Raphael – School of Athens Michelangelo – Architect, sculptor, and painter

• Sistine Chapel Ceiling• Marble David• Pieta• Dome of St. Peter’s Cathedral

Venetian School Titian – Man in a Red Cap

THE N. EUROPEAN RENAISSANCE

As trade grew and the medieval social, economic, and political institutions began to break down, the Renaissance spread northward. The Northern Renaissance develops along with

the Reformations.

Northern “Christian” Humanism

Similar to Italian humanism in that both rejected medieval scholarship and valued classical civilizations.

Different from Italian humanism because it placed more emphasis on purifying the Christian religion and encouraging a return to simple Christian piety. Emphasized the early Christian writers for answers

on how to improve society and the church

Actions of N. Humanists Attacked the abuses of the Catholic church. De-emphasized the observance of ritual as

the core of religious life. Worked to produce new translations of the

Bible from the original Hebrew and Greek texts and revived the study of these languages.

Emphasized education and power of the human intellect to bring about change and moral improvement

Erasmus (1466-1536) Dominated the intellectual thought of the N.

renaissance Published revised Greek and Latin editions

of the New Testament. His book, In Praise of Folly, satirized

ignorance, superstition, immorality and hypocrisy of Church leaders

Criticized corruption of the church and called for men to lead simple Christian lives

The Northern Renaissance In England

Sir Thomas More (1478-1535) wrote Utopia: described an ideal society based on socialism. Held that through human efforts, man could construct a perfect world.

Other English names include: Francis Bacon: Novum Organum: Inductive

method Spenser: Faerie Queen Marlowe: Dr. Faustus Shakespeare: numerous works

The French Renaissance

Montaigne: Essays: directions for how a “good” man should live. (Civic duty and simple piety) Codified a growing sense of skepticism in the

Renaissance world

Rabelais: created the modern French language with the

help of John Calvin. Satirized both government and church practices

Characteristics of N. Renaissance Art

More emphasis on detail Use of oil paints rather than tempera More emotional than Italian style Works often preoccupied with a different

subject matter than Italian Renaissance Everyday life due to lack of classical

motivation

Major Artists of the N. Renaissance

Flemish Style Jan Van Eyck – Arnolfini and His Wife Bosch – Work often depicts death Peter Brueghel the Elder – Peasant Life

Germany Albrecht Durer – Most famous of all!

• Knight, Death, and the Devil Hans Holbein the Younger – The Ambassadors Fugger Family – Major patron of Northern art

The Printing Press The most important invention of the 15th

century was the printing press, generally credited to Johann Gutenberg (c. 1450).

Printing by moveable type was cheap and greatly increased the circulation of books.

Printing also increased the need for education, fostered the use of propaganda, and allowed scholars from remote areas to share ideas and scientific findings.