HTAV Student lectures

Renaissance HistoryArea of study 1

Nicholas SmithTrinity Grammar School

smithn@trinity.vic.edu.au

Area of study 1:

Don’t panic and drop the subject

Much of the knowledge for this AOS will also come from other aspects of the course.

Always focus your notes, your revision, the study on the dot points from the Study design.

The questions must come from there.

Know different types of government of city-states in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries:

Republic, Principality, Kingdom and Papal state

NOTE: Remember to discuss how they interacted economically, politically and culturally

Characteristics of various political systems

Form of Government of State

• Who assisted Government and how• Nature of the elite class• What formal mechanisms of Government existed• Who were excluded from power and how• How did the system of government change during the Renaissanc

Past examination questions have included

• Identify the characteristics of a Republic• Compare a Republic to a Despotic state

KEY: Cannot ask you to write on a particular state, only ask you t refer to different types of states. You must therefore be able to use precise examples from the relevant states of your choice

Political systems examination answers

• They were Republics not democracies as such; very limited franchise.

• Also Duchy’s Despotism etc need a ruling elite to assist in their management of the state. Make sure you are aware that city states like Milan also had councils

Exam tips:For comparison’s identify Similarities and differencesIf comparing 2 city stas demonstrate a knowledge of the city states equally. We often get one sided answers

City state Interactions: hard aspect of this topic

EconomicTrade which is so vital as City States so small and they specialise in industries, who traded what with who?

Political

Positive InteractionsPolitical alliances between city states and key families within various city states, including key marriages

• Medici- Bentivoglio• Medici-Sforza• Sforza-Bentovoglio• Sforza- Montelfeltro

Negative InteractionsConflict, wars between statesSiena FlorenceFlorence MilanLeague of Cambrai versus VeniceFlorence v Papacy-Naples 1478-1480

Cultural

Artists, Architects moving aroundHumanist scholars moving aroundKey university in Bologna educates many key Florentines

For City states Questions I would organize notes according to the sub headings in the Study design not necessarilty by City state.

You don’t necessarily need direct quotes but specific examples

The Concept of the Renaissance

Pretty straight forward

Make sure you can identify What Burkhardt identified as the key aspects of the renaissance

Then make sure you can, with examples, discus how other Historians have challenged aspects of Burkhardt’s view

Finally discuss what influences were there on Burkhardt that shaped his concept

Humanism

3 types of Questions you tend to get

1. Chart a timeline on developments of HumanismSo ensure you can do this, from Petrach and Literary Humanism through to Neo-Platosim. Ensure you know key figures, key dates and key changes. This threw some people in an exam 3 years ago

2. Why Humanism is another question so try to look a a range of reasonsJustifies lifestyleProvides necessary skillsProvide guidance on how to live a virtuous life

3. How did an Humanist education influence other aspects of the Renaissance:Look a the influence on Art and ArchitectureInfluence on governmentInfluence on the actions of the individual

Changes and Developments in Art

Remember the dot point is changes and development in art not just a focus on art. Don’t limit yourself to paintings, Be able to refer to buildings, sculpture etc

• What aspects of art change• How and when do they change• Why does they change

Look at and be able to provide precise specific examples on aspects such as • Realism and emotion in Art• Perspective• The subject matter• The location of Art• The political uses of Art• The return of the nude• The importance of the portrait

All of these changes are driven by Patronage of different kinds

The Role of the Patron

We have had numerous questions in the past requiring students to refer to a range of patrons individuals, families, guilds, confraternities. Make sure you are able to link specific Art work to specific patrons

Art production is driven by the Patron. Therefore it is important to note that changes in Art are riven by the changing circumstances, backgrounds, interests, motives of the patron. Artists are purely tradesman

Past Question: what did both the Artist AND the patron gain from the production of Art

Great practice question, forces you to link Art to patron to motivation

Finally

Bringing it all together

What led to the Renaissance and how did it manifest itself

This could be a good practice essay

Look a the new political and economic systems present particularly in Northern Italy

What education system did the new elite receive and what was the focus of this education

How did the new found wealth and newfound education manifest itself in the Patronage of Art

And remember

2 short answers

Approx 20 lines

15 minutes

Its all about content knowledge, not a detailed and cmlex argument

Be able to refer to precise examples

Thankyou

If need to contact

smithn@trinity.vic.edu.au