The Renaissance

A New Europe is Born

The Early Modern World In the late 15th century, the same time as the

growth of the Ottoman and Safavid Empires, Europeans engaged in a vigorous period of state building.

They created independent monarchies in western and central Europe

They then began to expand into the rest of the world

Petrarch Living, I despise what melancholy fate

has brought us wretches in these evil years.Long before my birth time smiled and may again,for once there was, and yet will be, more joyful days.But in this middle age time's dregssweep around us, and we beneath a heavyload of vice. Genius, virtue, glory nowhave gone, leaving chance and sloth to rule.Shameful vision this! We must awake or die!

---Petrarch, Epistolae metricae

The Renaissance Literally: French for “rebirth” After the fall of the Roman Empire, Europe

entered Medieval times, a period of limited learning, art, and innovation.

The reemergence of Greco-Roman ideas led to this new age

Began in northern Italy and spread to the rest of Europe

Characteristics of the Italian Renaissance

Printing Press

Individualism

Secular

Re-discovery of Greek and

Romanworks

Recovery from14th century

Wealthy

Urban Society

Italian Renaissance

Italian States Italy was not a centralized state; power was in

city-states Milan Venice Florence

Medici family

The Italian Wars Outside Italy, powerful

monarchies were growing who were attracted to the wealth of Italy

French King Charles VIII invaded Naples

Spanish troops came to the aid of Italians

French and Spanish fought for 30 years

In 1527, the Spanish defeated the French and looted and destroyed Rome

Machiavelli Wrote The Prince, a famous book about political

power Medieval writers wrote about the ethical side of a

prince, based on Christian principles He believed human nature to be self-centered Political activities should not be restricted by moral

principles; a leader must do what needs to be done “It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be

both. “

Renaissance Society- Nobles Middle Ages- nobility based on owning land Renaissance- land still important, but wealthy merchants also

achieved nobility 2-3% of the population, but major impact Baldassare Castiglione- The Book of the Courtier

Renaissance Society- Peasants and Townspeople 85-90% of the total European population Peasants becoming increasingly free as the

use of currency increased Townspeople

Patricians- wealthy traders, industrialists, and bankers

Burghers- shopkeepers, artisans, guild masters, guild members

Workers- low wages, 30-40% of population

Humanism Humanism- the key intellectual movement of

the Renaissance Classical Worldly Dignified Civilized Perfection

See http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/ren-humanism/

Humanism Really an old idea from Ancient Greece and Rome Based on the Socratic and Platonic ideas of observation and

reasoning Idea that man, not God, was the center of the universe Man controls his own destiny Man can learn about and understand his world by observation

and reason without God’s help Helped spark a new age of secular learning and the

development of early modern schools and universities such as Oxford and Cambridge

Led many to question both governments and the institutional Church

Vernacular Literature Most official writing was in Latin Humanist focus on classics also continued the use of

Latin Some writers, however, began writing in the vernacular- the language spoken in the region, such as Italian, French, or German Dante- Divine Comedy Geoffrey Chaucer- The Canterbury Tales Christine de Pizan- The Book of the City of Ladies

Education in the Renaissance Renaissance humanists believed that

education could dramatically change humans Liberal studies

Enabled individuals to reach their full potential History, moral philosophy, rhetoric, letters,

poetry, mathematics, astronomy, and music Women learned religion and morals

Renaissance Art See

http://www.historyteacher.net/APEuroCourse/PowerpointPresent/RenaissanceArt.ppt

Artistic Renaissance in Italy Realistic, focused on people Fresco- a painting done on fresh, wet plaster with

water-based paints Paintings with depth; perspective Used geometry to gain perspective and lighting Donatello- sculpture Brunelleschi- architecture (Dome of San Lorenzo in

Florence- Duomo)

Masters of the High Renaissance Leonardo da Vinci

Realistic painting; then idealized painting Multi-talented Mona Lisa, The Last Supper

Raphael Madonnas School of Athens

Michelangelo Painter, sculptor, architect David, Sistine Chapel

Northern Artistic Renaissance Illustrations for books Wooden panels for altarpieces Jan van Eyck- among the first to use oil paints Minute details

Renaissance vs Middle Ages http://www.wpunj.edu/~history/study/

edelciv12.htm

Themes How does humanism make people question

why things are the way they are? How do new ways of thought in science,

religion, and politics affect government structures and daily life?

Identify major artists and works of the Renaissance.