Italian RenaissancePoliticsKali Hoying and Katherine Zimmerman

Background Begin trading with Europe through the

Mediterranean Develops a merchant class

City-states gain power Five main city-states

Naples & Sicily Milan Venice Papal States Florence

Avignon Papacy Popes move to France

City-State Information Modern diplomatic system and balance-of-power

Ambassadors and alliances Peace of Lodi

Armies composed mostly of mercenaries Condottieri = mercenary captains

Tendency towards despotism One-man rule Often hereditary

City-State Information Princedoms: ruled by an individual with support

of his family Milan

Monarchies: larger, stronger, and more permanent princedoms Naples and Papal States (though could be

considered a theocracy) Republics: run by oligarchies, or balanced

councils of the people Venice and Florence

Map of Italian City-States

Humanism in Politics Removed religion from politics Promoted that the government be run by

science Machiavelli “The ends justify the means”

Naples & Sicily “Kingdom of the Two Sicilies”

Only city-state in Italy with a king Maintained feudalism for a time Popes interfered with their affairs

Vassal state of the papacy Involvement of the house of Aragon placed Sicily

and Naples under separate rule Continued conflicts to attempt reunification

Alfonso of Aragon united them Also attempted to end status as a vassal state

Alfonso divided Naples and Sicily again upon his death Major cause of French invasions into Italy

Milan Visconti family led Milan Gian Galeazzo

Best chance for unification Daughter marries the brother of

French king Francesco Sforza becomes ruler

Not related to Visconti’s by blood Assisted by Florence in the takeover Peace of Lodi

Ludovico the Moor uses young duke as puppet Fails when duke marries the princess of the ruling

house of Naples Ends alliance between Florence, Naples, and Milan Convinces French to make claim to throne of Naples

Venice Retains republican form of government

Merchant aristocracy Council of Ten

Designed to expel and extinguish all conspiracies

Maintained independence until Napoleon

Enemies with Milan Sided with Florence, who later

turned and sided with Milan

Venice Held a large amount

of territory and flourished Currency was

recognized throughout the world

Ruled Eastern trade Government was

stable

Begin to decline Conflict with Ottoman

Turks Portuguese take over

spice trade French, Dutch, and

English enter Eastern trade

Outbreak of the plague Timber supplies are

exhausted

Papal States Popes ruled the Papal States

Tried to balance headed a city-state and the church

Secularized the papacy In political unrest until Great Schism was resolved

Popes returned to Rome and left France Popes became increasingly nepotistic and secular

Tried to increase state power and interfered in the diplomacy of other Italian city-states

Alexander VI and Cesare Borgia Alexander VI restored order to Rome His son Cesare uses papacy resources to create his

own territory Cesare tries to manipulate the election of his father’s

successor

Papal States Julius II

Adds Cesare’s territories into the Papal States to increase temporal power

Known as “warrior” pope Leo X

Medici Extremely lavish and distrusted Did not concern himself with religious matters

Clement VII Medici Sides with France over Spain Rome is sacked by the Spanish Ends popes’ interests in diplomacy

Florence Papacy aligns itself with Florence

Secures bankers the business of the papacy and merchants special privileges

Allowed them to take over the government

Opposed the Visconti family in Milan Sided with Venetians against them Changed their opinion with Sforza was elected

Unofficially ruled by the Medici family Bankers and one of the ruling houses

Cosimo de’Medici begins this rule Maintains appearance of a republic Helped Sforza take over Milan to neutralize threat Created a hierarchical rule

Florence Lorenzo the Magnificent

Grandson of Cosimo Pope excommunicates him and joins Naples

in declaring war on Florence Lorenzo goes to Naples without consultation

and worked out a peace settlement with the king of Naples

Maintains alliance with Naples and Milan, prevents foreign intervention, and stays in good terms with the French

Creates a Council of Seventy to run the government and a committee of seventeen to elect the priors

Banking business and trade suffer Lorenzo used public funds for private purposes

Not allowed since he was a private citizen

Italian Decline Fall of the Medici family

Savonarola Niccolò Machiavelli

The Prince Italian Wars cause Italy to lose its independence

Ruled by Spain for almost two centuries

Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527)

Worked for various governments in Florence No political opinion

Distrusted and disliked First political scientist

Viewed politics in a strictly scientific manner without involving ethics

Assisted in the decline of Italian city-states and the end of the Italian Renaissance (involuntarily) The Prince

Francesco Guicciardini (1483-1540)

Worked for the government in Papal States Medici’s (papacy) senior

administrator Sought reformation of republic Political Scientist

Discourse composed in Logrogno, Ricordi

Stressed that historical situations were unique Considerations on

Machiavelli’s Discourses Works not published during his

lifetime

Girolamo Savonarola (1452-1498) Gains fame in Florence through his

preaching “Wrath of God” Criticizes rulers, papacy, and

humanists Becomes dictator of Florence and

establishes a theocracy Ends the rule of the Medici Develops enemies in the Medici

family and the papacy Alliance with France

Becomes their puppet Leads to Italian decline

Arrested, tortured, and burned at the stake

Sources GRENDLER, PAUL F.. "Renaissance." Europe, 1450 to 1789: Encyclopedia of the Early Modern World.

2004.Encyclopedia.com. 1 Sep. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. Machiavelli, Niccolò. The Prince. Florence: 1513. Web. <http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/machiavelli-

prince.asp>. MCCUAIG, WILLIAM. "Guicciardini, Francesco (1483–1540)." Europe, 1450 to 1789: Encyclopedia of the Early

Modern World. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Sep. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. Nelson, Lynn H.. "CHAPTER 3 THE ITALIAN CITY-STATES OF THE RENAISSANCE." Carrie - A Full-Text Electronic

Library. N.p., 30 Apr 2012. Web. 1 Sep 2012. <http://vlib.iue.it/carrie/texts/carrie_books/gilbert/03.html>. Nelson, Lynn H.. "CHAPTER 4 THE INVASIONS OF ITALY 1494-1527 MACHIAVELLI AND GUICCIARDINI." Carrie - A

Full-Text Electronic Library. N.p., 30 Apr 2012. Web. 1 Sep 2012. <http://http://vlib.iue.it/carrie/texts/carrie_books/gilbert/04.html>.

Watson-Novacek, Deborah. "Condottiere - Renaissance Mercenary Captains." BellaOnline The Voice of Women. Minerva WebWorks LLC, 2012. Web. 31 Aug 2012. <http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art63087.asp>.

"Girolamo Savonarola." Encyclopedia of World Biography. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Sep. 2012<http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

 "Italian Politics." . N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Sep 2012. <http://www-student.unl.edu/cis/hist100w05/online_course/unit3/lsn09-tp02.html>.

“Italian Renaissance Art: Political Background: Machiavelli and Medici." Italian Renaissance Art: Political Background: Machiavelli and Medici. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Aug. 2012. <http://faculty.uml.edu/Culturalstudies/Italian_Renaissance/6.htm>.

"RENAISSANCE: HISTORICAL INFORMATION: The Renaissance." The Miniatures Pages. N.p., 24 May 1996. Web. 31 Aug 2012. <http://theminiaturespage.com/ref/history/reninfo.html>.

"Social and Economic Changes During the Renaissance."All-About_Renaissance_Faires.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Sep 2012. <http://www.all-about-renaissance-faires.com/renaissance_info/economic_social_and_religious_change_in_the_renaissance.htm>.

The Historical, Political and Diplomatic Writings of Niccolò Machiavelli, trans. C. E. Detmold, 4 vol, Boston 1882. Extract from `Discourses' (I, 55). Web. <http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/machiavelli-disc1-55.asp>.

By: Natalie Marshall

The Renaissance: Italian Literature

Most important literary movement in the Italian Renaissance

An intellectual movement Derived from the study of

classical literary works of the Greeks and Romans

People who studied humanism were called “humanists”

Renaissance Humanism

Studied the liberal arts which they derived from the writings of the ancient Greeks and Romans

The subjects that were studied are called “humanities”

Worth and dignity of a person was emphasized

Shift from theology and logic to human studies

Some form of syncretism was present- would mix present society ideals with the works and thoughts of the ancient Roman and Greek world

Renaissance Humanism

“Civic Humanism” Connected to Florentine spirit

and pride Rejected family Promoted intellectuals Looked to the Roman Cicero

as a model Believed it was the

responsibility of an intellectual to be productive for their state

One can only mature if they participate in the activities and life of the state

Italian Humanism

“Civic Humanism” Reflected the values and ethics of urban society

during the Italian Renaissance Studies of humanities should be put into practice Humanists often served as chancellors, councilors,

and advisors to the state

Italian Humanism

Very interested in classical Greek civilization Humanists researched and read the works of Plato Humanists also followed Greek poets, dramatists,

historians, and orators Read the works of Thucydides, Euripides, and

Sophocles Humanists pursued the works of the classical

Greeks while people of the middle ages ignored the Greeks

Humanist Interest in the Greeks

Profound impact on education Believed humans could be greatly

benefitted by education Books were written on education Schools were established

Most famous being one founded by Vittorino de Feltre at Mantua in 1423

Educational system was based off of the ideas of Cicero and Quintilian

Liberal studies

Humanism on Education

“Father of Humanism” Brought popularity to

renaissance humanism His father wanted him to

become a lawyer, but he pursued a career in literature instead

Not modest at all 1st person to describe the

Middle Ages as a period of darkness

Searched monastic libraries in Europe for Latin manuscripts

Francesco Petrarch

Placed great emphasis on classical Latin

Emphasis on Latin caused humanists to use Cicero and Virgil as models

“Christ is my God; Cicero is the prince of the language” –Petrarch

Francesco Petrarch

Written by Petrarch It is an allegory of the struggle of his soul to

reach a higher spiritual state “nothing is admirable besides the soul;

compared to its greatness nothing is great” Look inward and forget worldly objects

“And men go to admire the high mountains, the vast floods of the sea, the huge streams of the rivers, the circumference of the ocean, and the revolution of the stars- and desert themselves.”

The Ascent of Mount Ventoux

He was a chancellor of Florence He wrote the New Cicero

A biography on Cicero Talked about the mixture of political

action and literary creation in the life of Cicero

To mature intellectually and morally one most participate in the state

Gained a through knowledge of the Greeks- one of the first Italian humanist to do this

Also wrote the History of the Florentine People

Leonardo Bruni

1407-1457 Raised in Rome Knew both Latin and Greek Eventually became a papal

secretary Used knowledge of the

classical languages to criticize ideas, theories, beliefs, and practices of modern times

He was highly controversial He said that the Donation of

Constantine (a document that justified the papacy's claim to temporal rule) as forgery, or fake.

Lorenzo Valla

• Wrote, The Elegances of the Latin Language• Wanted to restore

Latin to how it was prior to medieval times

• Advocated proper use of classical Latin

• Only acceptable form of Latin was that between the last century of the Roman Republic and the 1st century of the empire

Lorenzo Valla

Cosimo de’ Medici asked Marsilio Ficino to translate a Greek work, Corpus Hermeticum, into Latin

The writings spoke of how everything was of divine nature- heavenly bodies and earthly objects

“God as a whole is in all things” –Giordano Bruno

Renaissance Hermecticism

Wrote one of the most famous pieces of writings to come out of the Renaissance

He wrote, The Oration on the Dignity of Man

He researched the works of many philosophers to come up with the story

Very interested in Hermetic philosophy

Giovanni Pico della Mirandola

Written as a preface to Mirandola’s 900 theses In it Mirandola wrote that humans have

unlimited potential “To him it is granted to have whatever he

chooses, to be whatever he wills.” –Mirandola “You, constrained by no limits, in accordance

with your own free will, in whose hand We have placed you, shall ordain for yourself the limits of your nature.” -Mirandola

The Oration of the Dignity of Man

Humanists strongly impacted the recording of history Influenced by classical Roman and Greek historians,

and not by those of the Middle Ages Began to think in passages of time- chronologized

the past into the ancient world, the dark ages, and then their own age

Started to secularize history Focused more on political forces or individuals

Medieval historical literature emphasized God intervention in human affairs while the Humanists emphasized human motives

Humanism’s Impact on History

Historian during the Renaissance To Renaissance scholars he was

the greatest historian Wrote the History of Italy and the

History of Florence Recordings of history were meant

to teach lessons, but lessons were not always in plain view

He was experienced in government and diplomatic affairs which enabled him to analyze political situations

Used personal examples and documentary sources for his works

Francesco Guiccidardini

Petrarch. "The Ascent of Mount Ventoux." Francesco Petrarch. Peter Sadlon, 1999. Web. 04 Sept. 2012. <http://petrarch.petersadlon.com/read_letters.html?s=pet17.html>.

"The Renaissance Humanists." The Renaissance Humanists. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Sept. 2012. <http://www.roebuckclasses.com/ideas/humanist.htm>.

Sadlon, Peter. "Francesco Petrarch - Father of Humanism." Francesco Petrarch - Father of Humanism. N.p., 1999. Web. 04 Sept. 2012. <http://petrarch.petersadlon.com/petrarch.html>.

Nauta, Lodi. "Lorenzo Valla." (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). Stanford University, 19 May 2009. Web. 04 Sept. 2012. <http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/lorenzo-valla/>.

Nelson, Lynn H. "ITALIAN HUMANISM." ITALIAN HUMANISM. European University Institute, May 1993. Web. 04 Sept. 2012. <http://vlib.iue.it/carrie/texts/carrie_books/gilbert/05.html>.

Mirandola, Pico Della. "Oration on the Dignity of Man." Preface. Western Civilization. Fifth ed. Belmont: Thomson Wadsworth, 2003. 317. Print.

Bibliography

Women

Painting

The Italian Renaissance

Painting

Italian Renaissance Began in mid 14th century

Due to the growth of city-states.

Various City-States Florence

Center of the Renaissance Rome Venice

Longest lasting Naples

King Sicily

Middle Ages Artists were members of religious

houses No sculptures

Idolatry One Dimensional

General Information Art

Realism Linear Perspective

Depth Frescoes Landscapes Mythology The Madonna ¾ portraits

Why & How? The revival of classical, Romanesque

architecture inspired classicism in painting. Vitruvius

Math=Art! New artistic techniques/ideas

Open Mindedness Humanism

Inspiration and $$$ The Medici Bank

Cosimo Vitruvius

1st Century Writer “On Architecture” The Bellini Family

Venice The Catholic Church Various Rich People

A few people to know… Leonardo Da Vinci

THE MAN Michelangelo and Raphael

The OTHER Men Donatello Titian Giotto Masaccio Bruneleschi

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)Emphasis on

humans, nature, and landscapes.

Focused on the math involved in painting/drawing.

InventorMona Lisa, The Last

Supper, The Vitruvian Man

Michelangelo (1475-1564) Focus on architecture

Designed the Medici Chapel

Large role in the “High Renaissance”

Also a poet “The flesh now earth, and

here my bones, Bereft of handsome eyes, and jaunty air, Still loyal are to him I joyed in bed, Whom I embrace, in whom my soul now lives.”

David, The Creation of Adam, Sistine Chapel Ceiling

Raphael (1483-1520) Simplicity and human grandeur. Known outside of Rome for his

printmaking School of Athens

Sources Medici. "Medici Archive: Document Details." Medici Archive:

Document Details. Medici Family, 2005. Web. 04 Sept. 2012. <http://documents.medici.org/document_details.cfm?entryid=722>.

Medici. "Medici Archive: Document Details." Medici Archive: Document Details. Medici Family, 2005. Web. 04 Sept. 2012. <http://documents.medici.org/document_details.cfm?entryid=10687>.

Ferguson, John. "Middle Ages Art." Middle Ages Art. Middle Ages, 2009. Web. 04 Sept. 2012. <http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/middle-ages-art.htm>.

Italian RenaissanceArchitecture

How it relates to the time period: Renaissance architecture is the architecture of the

period between the early 15th and early 17th centuries in different regions of Europe demonstrating a conscious revival and development of

certain elements of ancient Greek and Roman thought and material culture.

Stylistically, Renaissance architecture followed Gothic architecture and was succeeded by Baroque architecture. Developed first in Florence, with Filippo Brunelleschi as

one of its innovators, the Renaissance style quickly spread to other Italian

cities

Italian Architecture:Style of architecture, reflecting the rebirth of Classical culture,

that originated in Florence in the early 15th century and spread throughout Europe, replacing the medieval Gothic style. 

Middle Ages Architecture:

Medieval Architecture featured different styles

which were called Romanesque, the

French Style, Perpendicular style both

more commonly as Gothic architecture.

How it relates to the region: In Italy people are coming out of the

Dark Ages &they want a whole new way of doing “life”

Italians were moving away from the Gothic style or architecture that they have known for so long

Italy displays “Renaissance Architecture” very well throughout the region

Evidence:

Sistine Chapel: Outside & Inside

P

eople

:  Filippo Brunelleschi

Trained as a goldsmith in his native city of Florence, Brunelleschi soon turned his interests to architecture, traveling to Rome to study ancient buildings. Among his greatest accomplishments is the engineering of the dome of Florence Cathedral (Santa Maria del Fiore, also known as the Duomo). He was also the first since antiquity to use the classical orders Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian in a consistent and appropriate manner.

Leon Battista Alberti Worked as an architect from the 1450s onward, principally in

Florence, Rimini, and Mantua. As a trained humanist and true Renaissance man, Alberti was as accomplished as an architect as he was a humanist, musician, and art theorist. Alberti‘s treatises on architecture  De re Aedificatoria

Andrea Palladio Andrea Palladio (1508–1580) was the chief architect of the

Venetian Republic, writing an influential treatise, I quattro libri dell'architettura. Due to the new demand for villas in the sixteenth century, Palladio specialized in domestic architecture, although he also designed two beautiful and impressive churches in Venice, San Giorgio Maggiore (1565) and Il Redentore (1576). Palladio's villas are often centrally planned, drawing on Roman models of country villas.

Sources: Primary:

"The Civilization of the Renaissance In Italy." About.com Medieval History. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Sept. 2012. <http://historymedren.about.com/od/burckhardt/a/cri_main.htm>.

"Top Sources." Eastbury Manor House. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Sept. 2012. <http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=117579>.

Secondary: "Architecture of Italy - Great Buildings Online." Architecture

of Italy - Great Buildings Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Sept. 2012. <http://www.greatbuildings.com/places/italy.html>.