The RenaissanceThe Renaissance

World HistoryWorld History

Johann Gutenberg & The Printing PressJohann Gutenberg & The Printing Press• Printing pioneered by the Chinese• German Gutenberg dev. movable

type techniques• Process more efficient• 1st printed work: certificates of

indulgences• Gutenberg Bible (1455) 200

copies printed– 1st mass produced work– Cost 300 Florins– Cheaper & faster than monk, hand-

written copies– Caused a cultural rev. in Europe

• Enabled the spread of new ideas: Renaissance and Reformation

• Turning point btwn. Middle Ages and Early Modern Period

• Resulted in a rise in literacy

• Printing pioneered by the Chinese• German Gutenberg dev. movable

type techniques• Process more efficient• 1st printed work: certificates of

indulgences• Gutenberg Bible (1455) 200

copies printed– 1st mass produced work– Cost 300 Florins– Cheaper & faster than monk, hand-

written copies– Caused a cultural rev. in Europe

• Enabled the spread of new ideas: Renaissance and Reformation

• Turning point btwn. Middle Ages and Early Modern Period

• Resulted in a rise in literacy

Town Life during the RenaissanceTown Life during the Renaissance

• Guilds and the middle class continue their ascent to power that began in the Middle Ages

• Merchants and bankers became the most important segment of society

• Society– Towns grew as commerce grew, people began to urbanize

and farm less

• Power– Middle class held most of the power by forcing lords to

grant charters for new towns and controlling banking

• Status– Determined by wealth and ability

• Guilds and the middle class continue their ascent to power that began in the Middle Ages

• Merchants and bankers became the most important segment of society

• Society– Towns grew as commerce grew, people began to urbanize

and farm less

• Power– Middle class held most of the power by forcing lords to

grant charters for new towns and controlling banking

• Status– Determined by wealth and ability

The Growth of Italian City-StatesThe Growth of Italian City-States

• What is the Renaissance, & why Italy?– French for “rebirth”; a revival in arts and learning– Renewed interest in ancient Greek and Roman

culture– Italian city-states displayed their wealth by

supporting artists

• Why were Italian City-States so powerful?– Strong ties w/ Byzantine and Muslim merchants– Each city-state specialized in one economic area

• Milan: metal goods and military armor• Florence: banking and textiles• Venice: Asian Goods• Rome: religious center for pilgrims

• What is the Renaissance, & why Italy?– French for “rebirth”; a revival in arts and learning– Renewed interest in ancient Greek and Roman

culture– Italian city-states displayed their wealth by

supporting artists

• Why were Italian City-States so powerful?– Strong ties w/ Byzantine and Muslim merchants– Each city-state specialized in one economic area

• Milan: metal goods and military armor• Florence: banking and textiles• Venice: Asian Goods• Rome: religious center for pilgrims

Florence: the most influential city-stateFlorence: the most influential city-state• Maintained a thriving wool

and silk industry• acted as the “middle man”

in exchange of goods from the East

• sold insurance to sea traders

• created banks that made loans to monarchs and popes and exchanged currencies

• Medici family promoted trade, banking, art, learning, and intense civic pride

• Maintained a thriving wool and silk industry

• acted as the “middle man” in exchange of goods from the East

• sold insurance to sea traders

• created banks that made loans to monarchs and popes and exchanged currencies

• Medici family promoted trade, banking, art, learning, and intense civic pride

Humanism: The Spirit of the Renaissance

Humanism: The Spirit of the Renaissance

• A new interest in Ancient Culture

– Knowledge of classical works was rediscovered in the Middle Ages- only those in holy orders could read the Greek and Roman writings

– Crusades made people eager to learn about the world outside of Europe

– Scholars believed classical writings would help solve modern problems

• A new interest in Ancient Culture

– Knowledge of classical works was rediscovered in the Middle Ages- only those in holy orders could read the Greek and Roman writings

– Crusades made people eager to learn about the world outside of Europe

– Scholars believed classical writings would help solve modern problems

• A Fascination with Classical Culture

– Artists used ancient art as models

– Donatello copied the Roman ideal of the human body

– Brunelleschi designed buildings after studying ancient ruins in Rome

– The practice of copying ancient style led to innovations in technique

• A Fascination with Classical Culture

– Artists used ancient art as models

– Donatello copied the Roman ideal of the human body

– Brunelleschi designed buildings after studying ancient ruins in Rome

– The practice of copying ancient style led to innovations in technique

Donatello’s DavidDonatello’s DavidDonatello’s Atys

Brunelleschi’s il DuomoBrunelleschi’s il Duomo

A New Type of Scholar Called a HumanistA New Type of Scholar Called a Humanist

• Studied ancient writings• Studied Latin, Greek,

history, and mathematics• Opened schools• Emphasized studying

works in language they were written in

• Studied and wrote literature written in the vernacular

• Secularism was emphasized by many while maintaining Christian beliefs

• Studied ancient writings• Studied Latin, Greek,

history, and mathematics• Opened schools• Emphasized studying

works in language they were written in

• Studied and wrote literature written in the vernacular

• Secularism was emphasized by many while maintaining Christian beliefs

• A Belief in Human Potential

– Believed each person could achieve great things.

– Claimed people educated in the classics could create a better world

– Emphasized human achievement on earth, rather than the afterlife

• A Belief in Human Potential

– Believed each person could achieve great things.

– Claimed people educated in the classics could create a better world

– Emphasized human achievement on earth, rather than the afterlife

Petrarch (Petrarca) 1304-1374Petrarch (Petrarca) 1304-1374

• Background– 1st Humanist

(1300s)– Petrarch and Dante

are considered the fathers of the Renaissance

– Scholar, poet– Wrote in Latin– Works include: a

guide to the Holy Land, sonnets to his love Laura, an early self-help book, letters to historical figures

• Background– 1st Humanist

(1300s)– Petrarch and Dante

are considered the fathers of the Renaissance

– Scholar, poet– Wrote in Latin– Works include: a

guide to the Holy Land, sonnets to his love Laura, an early self-help book, letters to historical figures

• Philosophy

– Believed in the value of studying ancient history and literature

– Study of human thought and action

– Saw no conflict with realizing humanity’s potential and having religious faith

– Emphasized solitude & study or a contemplative life, rather than an active life experiencing the world

• Philosophy

– Believed in the value of studying ancient history and literature

– Study of human thought and action

– Saw no conflict with realizing humanity’s potential and having religious faith

– Emphasized solitude & study or a contemplative life, rather than an active life experiencing the world

Dante Alighieri 1265-1321Dante Alighieri 1265-1321

La Divina Commedia The Divine Comedy

La Divina Commedia The Divine Comedy

• The greatest literary statement produced in Europe in the late Medieval Period

• Written in vernacular, the Tuscan dialect

• Established the vernacular as an appropriate language for all works, replacing Latin (access to more people)

• The greatest literary statement produced in Europe in the late Medieval Period

• Written in vernacular, the Tuscan dialect

• Established the vernacular as an appropriate language for all works, replacing Latin (access to more people)

• This dialect became the basis for the modern Italian language

• Describes a fictionalized account of Dante’s journey through Hell (Inferno), Purgatory (Purgatorio), and Paradise (Paradiso)

• Inferno described as having 9 levels, each level getting worse and being the home to worse sins

• 9th level is home to those who commit treachery

• This dialect became the basis for the modern Italian language

• Describes a fictionalized account of Dante’s journey through Hell (Inferno), Purgatory (Purgatorio), and Paradise (Paradiso)

• Inferno described as having 9 levels, each level getting worse and being the home to worse sins

• 9th level is home to those who commit treachery

Erasmus of Rotterdam 1466-1536

Erasmus of Rotterdam 1466-1536

Philosophy and ContributionsPhilosophy and Contributions

• Northern Europe was still more religious

• Christian Humanism – reform the Church by eliminating abuses and restore piety

• Promoted learning as a way to understand Christianity better

• Studied original versions of the Bible written in Hebrew and Latin

• Northern Europe was still more religious

• Christian Humanism – reform the Church by eliminating abuses and restore piety

• Promoted learning as a way to understand Christianity better

• Studied original versions of the Bible written in Hebrew and Latin

• Criticized Renaissance Popes as corrupt and unconcerned with religious matters

• Wrote in Latin, but encouraged the works to be translated into the vernacular

• Blamed for introducing the ideas that led to the Reformation, he “laid the egg” according to the Church

• Known to question some Church practices and Luther’s ideas

• Many of his translations are still in use today

• Criticized Renaissance Popes as corrupt and unconcerned with religious matters

• Wrote in Latin, but encouraged the works to be translated into the vernacular

• Blamed for introducing the ideas that led to the Reformation, he “laid the egg” according to the Church

• Known to question some Church practices and Luther’s ideas

• Many of his translations are still in use today

Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527)Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527)

• Florentine statesman• The Prince• A handbook for politicians• Offers a realistic analysis

of politics• Put ideas that already

existed on paper• “The End Justifies the

Means”

• Florentine statesman• The Prince• A handbook for politicians• Offers a realistic analysis

of politics• Put ideas that already

existed on paper• “The End Justifies the

Means”