The Renaissance:Rise of the Italian City-

State

Renaissance: General Characteristics

“rebirth”, or reawakening. Specifically… …Signals European interest in the

“classical” past. Occurred mainly in Italy (late 13th C to

early 17thC) An urban movement; rural peasants hardly

felt its effects Most events and changes were limited to

the rich, elite of society.

Renaissance: Roots of Modernity?

As of yet, we are not clear what modernity is, substantially, though we have some clues.

We know , as a whole, it signals a departure from the past

The past we are concerned with is Medieval institutions and ideas

Feudal chains, were "loosening" in Italian city-states.

Textbook tells us these city states were a 'bridge'—to what?

How would this lead to a weakening of feudal structure in the Italian city states?

Feudal Social Classes,Changes and Challenges

SECULAR

KING

NOBLES

KNIGHTS

MERCHANTS

PROFESSIONALS

CRAFTSMEN

PEASANTSfreemen

serfs

RELIGIOUS

POPE

CARDINALS

BISHOPS ABBOTS

PRIESTS MONKS NUNS

PEASANTSlay brothers and sisters

serfs

Unlike the Barons, Merchant $$ derived autonomously

Merchant rulers also challenged Papal supremacy, by taking religious matters into their own hands: particularly religious architecture and sculpture

Increasing control of city states by Merchant rulers, leads to new political ideas

i.e. republics /dictatorships & diplomacy

Lorenzo de Medici of Florence Cossimo de

Medici of Florence

Tomb of Lorenzo de Medici

Plazzo Vecchio, Florence

Medici court architecture, showcasing family line

Sociological & Economic impact of the city state

KING

NOBLES

KNIGHTS

MERCHANTS

PROFESSIONALS

CRAFTSMEN

PEASANTSfreemen

serfs

Economy, urban not rural (so, not agriculturally based)

Money starts flowing into cities creating changes in class structures

Modern financial & banking techniques develop (bookkeeping, loans, trade economies)

Competition between city states, propels the Merchant rulers to become patrons of arts and crafts, to beautify city

$$ Flowed, too, to Craftsmen. Inspiring innovation and creativity

City also promised some freedom for serfs who moved to cities

Increasingly, individualism emphasized

Increasingly, the notion of freedom from constraints…

Cultural Outcomes: Symbolism

Effect of growing autonomy, leads to a dramatic shift in popular symbolism

The ideal figure of the past—The Chivalric Knight —is replaced by….

The “Renaissance Man” Values—to be knowledgeable

about : the world Art and architecture / to

have refined taste Classical sources—

literature, art and science Crystallized in Castiglione’s,

The Courtier

HumanismChanging political, social and cultural ideals lead to…

Humanism Derived from the Latin humanitas Viewed the classics (literature, philosophy and

art) as their inspiration Stressed living in and understanding this world,

human dignity, and responsible citizenship Saw knowledge as a guide to personal and

political conduct

Humanist Personalities

1. Petrarch & Mirandola pg 182. Machiavelli pg 19-203. Castiglione pgs 22-234. Savonarola pgs 23 -245. More pgs 24 – 256. Erasmus pgs 18 & 25 -26