Chapter 1 Section 1: Italy: Birthplace of the Renaissance

“Europe is waking out of a long, deep sleep….The time was when learning was only found in religious orders….learning has passed to secular princes and peers.”

Why did it happen in Italy?

■ 1300 – 1600

■ Renaissance – means REBIRTH

Why did it happen in Italy?■ Urban Centers

– Overseas trade helped by the Crusades led to growth of large city-states in Italy.– Wealthy Merchant class

▪ Merchants were the most powerful class due to their wealth which was based on merit (meaning they earned it, wasn’t inherited.)

■ Italian City-States– Ran own government

– Collected taxes

– Had own army

– Gained wealth through the use of merchants in trade between Europe and the East

Characteristics of Italian Renaissance

■ Scholars were curious about the world outside of Europe and wanted to return to the learning of the Greeks and Romans.

■ Major goal of the Renaissance was to study and imitate the cultures of Greece and Rome.

■ Renaissance architecture abandoned the “Gothic” style from the Middle Ages and borrowed from more classic styles.

The Medici Family

■ Florence was ruled by one powerful family – The Medici– Cosimo de Medici

▪ Virtual dictator of Venice

– Arranged marriages to strengthen family & business ties

– Lorenzo the Magnificent▪ Virtual dictator ▪ Supported the ARTS

Italy’s Advantages

■ Medici Family are famous for■ BEING RULERS

■ PATRONS (financial supporter) OF THE ARTS

■ Nepotism – preferential treatment of relatives

Classical and Worldly Values

■ Society became more SECULAR and less religious

■ SECULAR – to be more worldly and concerned with the here and now.

■ Secular achievements were given greater emphasis than earlier.

Classical and Worldly Values

■ The Renaissance Man– Idea that some people are artistic

geniuses.– Individuals would strive to master every

area of study.– According to Baldassare Castiglione the

ideal Renaissance Man was skilled in a variety of areas (charming, witty, well educated, dance, sing, play music, write poetry, skilled rider, wrestler, swordsmen)

Classical and Worldly Values

■ The Renaissance Woman– Women became more

educated

– Women were expected to marry whom their parents choose not for love but to strengthen business or family ties.

Isabella d’Este of Mantua

Renaissance Revolutionizes Art

■ Artists changed artistic styles– Paintings & sculptures

became more realistic

– Glorified human body

– Portraits of famous citizens

Renaissance Art

■ New Techniques– Natural postures and

expressions to show personality

▪ David

– Perspective is the technique that was perfected during the Renaissance that showed dimension in paintings

▪ School of Athens

Renaissance Revolutionizes Art■ Leonardo Da Vinci, best of example of

a Renaissance Man– Painter– Sculptor– Inventor– Scientist

■ Student of anatomy, science, and art.■ Skilled in a variety of disciplines■ Had an immediate impact on the

scientific thinking worldwide, including the importance of the scientific method

Leonardo Da Vinci’s Works

■ The LAST SUPPER ■ The MONA LISA

Michelangelo – Renaissance Artist

■ Michelangelo greatest artist of the Renaissance who was also skilled in many areas

■ Most well known for his portrayal of the human body■ Sistine Chapel■ David■ Pieta

Michelangelo’s Work

Renaissance Revolutionizes

Art

■ Raphael Advances Realism– Favorite work is the Madonna

and Child

– Famous Work▪ School of Athens

– Died at the age of 37

School of Athens - Raphael

Renaissance Writers Change Literature

■ Renaissance Writers– Used the VERNACULAR or local language.

– Wrote with self-expression or to portray the individuality of their subject matter.

– One way in which the writers of the Renaissance were influenced by the writers of the “western” classical culture was that they emphasized the power of human reason.

Machiavelli: Father of Political Science

■ Machiavelli Advises Rulers

– Wrote the “The Prince”

– Outlines how a ruler can gain power, keep it, and control enemies.

– Thought rulers should be shrewd & deceitful

– Effective rulers are feared by their subjects

– Advises that a wise ruler is one who does what is necessary to stay in power

– “The end justifies the means” meaning do whatever it takes to stay in power-be ruthless.

Political Impact of the Renaissance

■ State is supreme over the church

■ New monarchs assert control over national churches

■ Machiavelli has an impact

Setting the Stage

■ During Middle Ages

Europeans suffered from war and the Black Death, aka the Bubonic Plague

Europeans began to question everything.

■ Catholic Church teaching began to be questioned

■ Feudalism began to be questioned

■ Educated people began to reject long held values for “CLASSICAL” learning

Quiz

Click the Quiz button to edit this quiz