Italian Renaissance

Wealth, trade, and the Church

Italian Renaissance ( 1420 - 1600 A.D. )

European Population

11th to 14th centuries

Justinian Reformation (533 A.D.)

Black Death 1328

Italian City-States

14th, 15th, and 16th Centuries

Power and growth of European Empires Focus on mono-culturism Rise of humanistic studies, science, and

arts Unstable political and economic situation

Italian City-States (cntd)

14th, 15th, and 16th Centuries

Shift in regional powersVolatility in economies, trade, social

structuresMain Point: economic, social, or

political stability are not needed for intellectual and cultural experimentation.

Urban Wealth

12th to 13th Centuries-start and apex (Italy)

Venice

Concentration of wealth and the church: sin, sin,

and damnation of the soul: usury!!

Birth of City-States

Monarchy vs. Regional Autonomy

City-States

Firenze/Florence: City-State

Medieval Period: Holy Roman Emperor

vs. Roman Pope

Space for autonomy

Banking and Trade

City-States and Regions in Italy

Early Renaissance

Papal States (Romagna)

Republic of Firenze and Venice

Kingdom of Napoli

Duchy of Milano

Concentration of Wealth

Wealth: non-aristocratic vs. nobility Banking and middle class City-States: self-funded autonomy Reorganization of Social Structures Nobility and Banking interests Dwindling of nobility power and papacy

Social Structure in City-States

Old nobility and merchant class Emergent capitalists and bankers Less wealthy merchants and

tradespeople Poor and destitute (1/4 or population,

approx) Domestic slaves

Commerce: a blessing or a curse?

Deep class divisions

Gender relations

Slavery (Southern Italy-12th century)

Slaves: Muslims from Spain, North

Africa, Crete, the Balkans, and the

Ottoman Empire.

Commerce: a blessing or a curse?

Slavery and domestic service

Ownership: sell and “enjoyment”

Off-spring and freedom

Parental rights

Plantation Slavery: Cyprus and Crete

Firenze

Role as cultural center Rulers and glorification of wealth Patrons of arts, sciences, philosophy,

architecture, literature Cosimo de’Medici: 1389-1464 Platonic Academy Lorenzo and Piero de’Medici (1449-

1492)

Conclusions

Socio-economic and political changes led to intellectual, scientific, and artistic experimentation.

Power struggles btx Roman Emperor and Pope open space for political autonomy in Italy.

Trade and political autonomy facilitated the development of banking industry

Concentration of wealth made possible the rise of City-States, trade, and reorganization of social structures

Deep divisions between social classes: old nobility and merchant class; emergent capitalists and bankers; Less wealthy merchants and tradespeople; poor and destitute and domestic slaves

Conclusions Concentration of wealth ended the influential role of

nobility.

Commercial diversity (Sugar Cane Plantations) gave rise to plantation-style slavery during the Renaissance

Church officials rose from the ranks of nobility; strong political roles focused on expanding power

Last but not least: economic, social, or political stability are not needed for intellectual and cultural experimentation

Questions?

Thank You