The Renaissance,It means rebirth in French. It is a period of time in Europe from 1300-1550 marked by tremendous artistic, literary, and scientific breakthroughs.

Major events leading to the Renaissance in Europe

The Plague, or the Black Death, in Europe (1347-1351)

The Crusades to the Holy Land, (1095-1291)

Rise of powerful merchants in Italy

The Crusades, 1096-1204 Pope Urban II asked

nobles in Europe to take back the holy city of Jerusalem from Islamic invaders.

Crusaders were able to take Jerusalem, but could not hold it.

Because of the Crusades, trade was reestablished with Asia through the Middle East and Italy.

The Black Death, 1347-1351 In 1347, there is an

outbreak of the bubonic plague at Messina on the island of Sicily.Most likely got there

by following trade routes from Asia

In the course of a few years, plague will wipe out 1/3 of the population of Europe

The Black Death, 1347-1351

This leads to several changes in societyFewer people meant workers could

demand more money (Supply and Demand)

Fewer people also meant that peasants gained more power over their lords

The suffering led people to lose faith in the Catholic Church.

Rise of powerful merchants in Italy and Europe New trade with Asia

went through Italian ports.

Merchants became extremely wealthy controlling this tradeMedici’s in FlorenceHanseatic League

in Germany

Rise of powerful merchants in Italy and Europe

These merchants used their money to support artists, writers, and architects. This led to a rebirth, or “Renaissance” of art and culture first in Italy, then in Germany (Northern Renaissance)

Effects of Renaissance in Europe

New interest in classical learning from Rome and Greece

Increased science and technical knowledge

New interest in classical Roman and Greek culture The Islamic world were the keepers of

Ancient Greek and Roman culture while Europe was in the Dark Ages.

Trade from the Crusades not only brought goods, it also brought these ideas back to Europe.

As faith in the Church dropped off due to the Black Death, many people sought learning from these Greek and Roman sources Humanism, or the study of the

humanities, replaces more traditional religious teaching

Increased science and knowledge

The new focus on humanism freed people to explore new areas of science.

Trade also brought new science and technology to Europe from AsiaAstronomy, Engineering, and

Algebra from the Islamic World

Moveable Type from China

Increased science and knowledge We see many great writers and

scientists who challenge the traditional teachings of the Catholic ChurchGalileo and Copernicus first

suggested that the Earth rotated around the Sun.

Machiavelli writes “The Prince” which later becomes the blueprint for absolute monarchs

Guttenburg uses movable type to develop the first printing press.