The Renaissance in Italy

I. The Italian City States

A. Why Italy?

1. Remains of Roman heritage

2. Cities were centers of trade

3. Powerful merchant class – stressed

education & individual achievement

B. The Medici’s

1. The Medici family was among the wealthiest families in Florence

2. They used their power for politics and financial support of the arts.

3. Many artists learned their trade while visiting the Medici palace.

II. What was the Renaissance?A. New Worldview

1. A time of creativity and change among politics, social, economic and culture.

2. It was a time of rebirth after the Middle Ages

3. Focus was on the here and now - not life after death.

B. Spirit of Adventure

1. Christopher Columbus sailed to the Americas

2. Copernicus changed the way people viewed the universe.

3. Writers and artists began experimenting with new forms of the arts.

C. Humanism1. The heart of the

Renaissance was intellect.

2. Focus was on worldly objects instead of religious issues.

3. They studied Greek and Roman texts.

III. Golden Age of ArtsA. New Techniques

1. Art reflected humanist concerns.

2. Paintings became more realistic, learning how to use perspective.

3. Women became painters (many allowed their husbands to pass the work as theirs).

4. The architecture resembled the styles of ancient Greece and Rome.