Europes Transition from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance: 1300-1550

Europes Transition from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance: 1300-1550

Woodcut of Dance of Death by Michael Wolgemut (1493)

Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci (1505)

2I. The Black DeathAlso known as the Bubonic Plague or The PestilenceStarted spreading across Europe in 1347/1348

A.Arrival in Europe and Spread

Genoese ships brought the plague to Italy in 1347.--ships carried all sorts of cargo and unwittingly fleas, rats, and the plagueFrom there it spread to southern Germany, France, and then England in 1348.--disease moves northward

Map of Black Death

B.Pathology (the study & diagnosis of disease)

1. Fleas often living on black rats bore what is typically referred to as the bubonic plague.

2. Poor sanitary conditions and lack of bathing facilitated the spread of the disease.--Watch out down below!--Overcrowding common--Fleas & lice common

3. The appearance of a single boil was followed by bleeding under the skin, vomiting of blood, and death. --Could be transmitted by coughing or sneezing as well as flea bite

BubousSepticemic Form (Victims have blackened skin):almost 100% mortality rateThe Disease CycleFlea drinks rat blood that carries the bacteria. Fleas gut cloggedwith bacteria.Bacteriamultiply infleas gut. Flea bites human and regurgitates blood into human wound.Human is infected!Medieval doctors had no way of coping with the plague. --They didnt know what caused it or how to cure it --Some prescribed bloodletting using leeches or making small cuts

C.Spread of the Disease

1.Black rats mostly stayed in cities, so the disease was concentrated there.

2.In England perhaps one-third of the population diedin some Italian cities more than one-half.

3.The plague reached Eastern Europe, the Balkans, and Russia.

The victims ate lunch with their friends and dinner with their ancestors.a. The Italian writer Giovanni Boccaccio (1331-1375) witnessed and wrote about the plague in his book, The Decameron. The following statement sums up the speed at which the plague spread.

D.Care

Many believed the plague was caused by poisoned or corrupted air. --Strong-smelling substances were used in an effort to stop the spread of the disease. --Some thought perhaps loud sounds like church bells or cannons might help

14 2. Many thousands of Jews were killed by people looking for a scapegoat.

Burning alive of Jewish peopleSavoy--The mass murder of Jews, called pogroms, occurred throughout Europe. --Rumors spread that claimed the Jews were responsible for the plague and were using it to kill Christians in an attempt to dominate the world1415Pope Clement VI reigned during the Plague. During the Plague he stayed in Avignon supervising sick care, burials, and the pastoral care of the dying.He condemned the persecution of the Jews stating those who blamed the plague on the Jews had been "seduced by that liar, the Devil." He issued a religious order to stop the violence.He said the Jews did not cause the plague. He said it was the result of an angry God striking at the Christian people for their sins.He accused some of those leading the pogroms of hoping to escape debts that they owed to Jewish moneylendersHe urged clergy to take action to protect Jews.

Pope Clement VIa. What the response of the Catholic Church to the Pogroms?

153. Many people believed the plague was a sign of Gods anger.God must be punishing them for terrible sins so the best thing to do was to ask for forgiveness, pray, make donations to the church, and try to live a better life

E.Social, Economic, & Cultural Consequences

1. Priests often took great risks to minister to the sick and had a high mortality rate. --many people fled the cities, but priests, monks, and nuns stayed to care for the sick --Up to two-thirds of the monks and priests of England died. The church replaced the priests with young, inexperienced men.2. Church officials sanctioned unorthodox measures in the emergency, such as laymen administering confession and the blessing of the sick for those close to death--The plague killed so many people and priests that the church could no longer perform Last Rites (ceremony for sick & dying). --Pope Clement VI granted remission of sins to all who died of the plague. --The pope also allowed people to confess their sins to one another, "even to a woman." --This gave new power to women in the church.

3. Guilds accepted many new members, often unrelated to old guild members.

High death rate forced guilds to do this. 4. The plague caused profound pessimism

a. Family members abandoned family members

b. The Italian writer Giovanni Boccaccio (1331-1375) witnessed and wrote about the plague in his book, The Decameron. In his introduction, he describes the sometimes shocking way people in Florence behaved during the plague:

Tedious were it to recount, how citizen avoided citizen, how many neighbors was scarce found any that showed fellow feeling for another, how kinsfolk held aloof, and never metnay, what is more, and scarcely to be believed, fathers and mothers were found to abandon their own children untended, unvisited, to their fate, as if they had been strangers.

c. Stopped performing customary death rites --fear of infection lead to the dead being buried in mass graves

d. Agnolo di Tura of an the Italian city state of Siena wrote the following: Trenches were dug, very broad and deep, and into these the bodies were thrown, and covered with a little earth; and thus layer after layer until the trench was full; and then another trench begun. And Iwith my own hands buried five of my children in a single trench; And no bells rang, and nobody wept no matter what his loss, because almost everyone expected death.

e. People become numb to death

Bring out your dead scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail

f. Flagellants

--some extremists joined groups which whipped themselves with iron spikes as penance for their and societys sins in the belief that the Black Death was Gods punishment for humanitys wickedness --They would go through the streets beating themselves with whips to pay for these sins.

f. Flagellants

G. Medieval Art & the Plague

Obsessed with death.

26Ring Around the Rosey is a nursery rhyme thought to be about the plague.Ring Around the RoseyThe UK version goes: Ring a ring o'roses A pocketful of posies ah-tishoo,ah-tishooWe all fall down.--Rosey refers to the round, red rashes on plague victims. --Posies (flowers) were thought to clean the air.--Ashes refers to the burning of the bodies.--Falling down refers to dying.The US version is sung:Ring around the rosey Pocket full of posies Ashes, ashes They all fall down26Mortality Rate Mortality Rate35% - 70%25,000,000 dead !!!5. New colleges were endowed to deal with the shortage of priests and the decay of learning.6. The plague did help solve the overpopulation problem.7. When Europe began to recover from the plague, fewer workers were available which allowed peasants and urban workers to demand more freedom or higher wages for their labor.8. Some peasants escaped to the cities which lead to the growth and importance of towns, the weakening of the manorial system, and the reduction of the power of the feudal lords

9. By traumatizing medieval society and the church, the plague ultimately contributed to the Reformation.II.The Hundred Years War (1337-1453)--116 years of fighting between England and France--This war is going on at the same time as the Black Death which started in 1347--Most of the fighting takes place in France

A.Causes

In 1328 French barons denied the claim of English King Edward III to the French throne and chose Philip VI of Valois as king.--Edward had a claim to the throne through his mother

--Barons invented a law which said that a woman or her son could not rule France

Philip VIEdward III2. French Land Belonging to British Kings --A longer standing issue was the status of lands within France that belonged to English kings.

--Edward was actually a vassal of Philips, holding sizable French territories as fiefs from the king of France [it went back to the Norman conquest].

3. Conflict Over FlandersWool industry.

Flanders wants its independence from French control.

Asks England for help.

The dagger pointing at the heart of England!4. A Struggle for National IdentityFrance was NOT a united country before the war began.

The French king only controlled about half of the country.

5. At first Edward accepted the decision, but in 1337 Edward decides to make a play for the French throne.

--First, there was the Flanders issue. --Second, Phillip VI invaded the lands that Edward controlled in France and tried to take them from him.

B. The Course of the War At Crcy (1346), Poitiers(1356), and Agincourt (1415), the English longbowmen were instrumental in defeating the French.English almost always outnumbered, but they had the longbow!Its arrows had more penetrating power than a bolt from a crossbow.Could pierce the armor of a knight at 200 yards!A longbow could be fired more rapidly. 6 arrows per minute.

Height of English Dominance

C. Joan of Arc and Frances Victory

C. Joan of Arc and Frances Victory

In 1429, the French peasant girl Joan of Arc claimed divine inspiration and helped turn the tide in favor of the French. --raised the English siege at Orleans and ten days later Charles VII, the dauphin, was crowned king at Reims.

2. She was captured by the English, tried, and executed on charges of witchcraft in 1432.

She instantly became a symbol of French resistance.Despite Joans capture, the French advance continued.

3. The war ended in 1453 with the English holding only the port of Calais in France.

D.Costs and Consequences

1. The war was costly for both sides.--For the French they suffered a huge loss of life, much of their farmland was ruined, trade was disrupted, and high taxes made citizens very unhappy.--The war was very expensive for the English. Having to maintain an overseas army bankrupted the government. And knights who normally did the governing at home were off at war and this lead to the breakdown of order at home

2. To pay for the war, Edward III had to negotiate almost constantly with the barons in Parliament, thus strengthening the institution.--representative assemblies became a habit--House of Lordsbarons and bishops--Commonsknights--Commons got the king to agree to a parliamentary statue in 1341 which said that all nonfeudal levies had to have parliamentary consent, essentially the king could not tax without Parliaments consent

3. The war promoted the growth of nationalism in both countries which will eventually lead to fall of feudalism in both countries.--nationalismfeeling of unity and identity that binds together a people; pride in ones country--before the war more allegiance to lord of the manor, but now that loyalty is shifting to the king and country

III.Challenges to the Church

A. The Babylonian Captivity (1309-1376) and the Great Schism (1377-1417)1. From 13091376 the popes resided in Avignon, France, under control of the French monarchy.--This hurt the popes authority and independence--Also, popes here generally lived in luxury and didnt focus on spiritual matters. The masses begin to question his authority.--In the absence of the papacy, the Papal states in Italy lacked stability and good government. --Pope Gregory XI brought the Papal Court back to Rome, but he died shortly after. Roman citizens demanded an Italian Pope be chosen who would remain in Rome.

2. Pope Gregory XI returned Papal Court to Rome but died shortly after. The next pope, Urban VI angered a number of cardinals with his tactless manner and they returned to France and chose a different Pope, Clement VII, who would reside in Avignon.

vsUrban VI in RomeClement VII in AvignonWill the real pope please stand up?The Great Schism: 1378-1417

B. The Conciliar Movement

Conciliarists believed reform could be achieved through periodic councils representing all Catholic people. --Believed he should share his power with a council

2. The English scholar John Wyclif (We-Cliff) (1330-1384) argued that there was no scriptural foundation for the popes temporal power. He also argued that all Christians should read the Bible for themselves.

--English translation of the bible came about from his ideas--His followers were called Lollards--Precursor of Reformation

3. The cardinals of Avignon and Rome summoned a council at Pisa in 1409 that deposed both popes and elected a third, but the old popes refused to step down.

So What?So now there are 3 popes!4. The German emperor Sigismund organized a council at Constance, Switzerland that met from 14141418 and resolved the schism, electing a new pope--Martin V becomes pope dissolves the council and does nothing about reforming the Church

--However the foundation for the Reformation of the 16th Century had been laid by the schism and conciliar movement.

Emperor Sigismund-The Renaissance was a time of renewed interest in learning and culture.

-It was a rebirth of the ideals of the Roman and Greek cultures.

-The Renaissance took place in Europe between 1350 and 1550.IV. Renaissance Defined

The influence of the Greeks can be seen in this Renaissance painting, School Of Athens, by Raphael. It shows famous Renaissance men such as Leonardo da Vinci with famous Greek scholars such as Aristotle and Plato.5353Giorgio VasariRenaissance DefinedThe word was first used by the artist & art historian Giorgio Vasari in the 16th century to describe the art of rare men of genius such as his contemporary Michelangelo

5454

The Milan CathedralRenaissance DefinedThe Renaissance began when merchants in Italy became wealthy from international trade.

They financed the arts, literature, architecture, and culture.

City-states began competing to make each of their cities the most famous.5555MichelangeloLeonardo da VinciRaphael

Michelangelo was a sculptor, painter,poet, and engineer.David and Pietaare two of his mostfamous sculptures.He also paintedthe Sistine Chapel.

Raphael is considered one of the three great masters of theRenaissance, alongwith Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. His paintings are found at the Vatican in Rome. Leonardo da Vinci wasa true RenaissanceMan. He excelled inmany areas; he was apainter, engineer,botanist, musician,anatomist, inventor,architect, and writer.

Renaissance Painting56

A. Many Crises of 14th Century

Loss of confidence lead to a search for answers- some intellectuals in Northern Italy started talking about building a new world, a better world

- they decide to improve their society by remaking the world using the ideas of the ancient Greeks and Romans

B. Commercial Developments in Italy1.Venice, Genoa, and Milan grew rich through trade with Northern Europe and the Middle East. --Geographically they were in a position to serve as a crossroads for the exchange of goods between East and West

VeniceMilanGenoa2. Florence, where the Renaissance originated, was an important banking center by the fourteenth century.

--This came about when Florentine merchants and bankers acquired control of papal banking. From their position as tax collectors for the pope, Florentine mercantile families began to dominate European banking and banking families like the Medici in Florence controlled the politics and culture of their cities.

Duomo in FlorenceC. Communes and Republics

In northern Italy the larger cities won independence from local nobles and became self-governing communes of free men in the twelfth century--Cities controlled life in Northern Italy, not the countryside and the nobles2. Local nobles moved into the cities and married into wealthy merchant families.

--The merger of the feudal nobility and wealthy merchants created an oligarchy or small group that ruled a city and its surrounding countryside.

--However originally the commune was supposed to be a republican form of government in which all citizens participated and the lower classes never gave up on that idea.

This new class set up property requirements, years of residence, and social connections for citizenship.

4. The excluded, the popolo, rebelled and in some cities set up republics.

--The popolo were the common people who were bitter because they were disenfranchised and heavily taxed

--They never gave up on the idea of gaining more influence and participation

5. By 1300 the republics had collapsed, and a signori or merchant oligarchies governed most Italian cities.

--These governments maintained a faade of republican government because of the Renaissance nostalgia for the Roman form of government --In the 1400s the signori and the most powerful merchant oligarchs began building magnificent palaces in the centers of cities and requiring all business to be done there. They hired architects, artists, musicians, and writers to display and assert their wealth and power --The Medici family ruled Florence

Cosimo de Medici 64Cosimo the Elder1389-1464

14341434-14641434Medici Rule in Florence

Giovannis son, Cosimo il Vecchio, founded the political power of the Medici family. After being banished from Florence by the powerful Albizzifamily, Cosimo returned because of the support of the people.Cosimo became the uncrowned king of Florence by placing the chief magistrate offices in the hands of his followersand banishing his enemies.

Cosimo ruled Florence until his death.Cosimo spent a large part of his wealth on supporting the arts. He supported works by Ghiberti, Brunelleschi, Donatello, and Alberti.Due to Cosimos financial backing and support Florence became the cultural center of Europe and the home of humanism.Giovanni di Bicci de Medici made the Medici thewealthiest family in Italy through banking.1360-14291464Cosimos son, Piero, ruled after his fathers death and continued his fathers policies.

Cosimo il Vecchio64 651480

1480-1492April 814921434Medici Rule in FlorenceThe Florentine Renaissance reached it peak under Lorenzosrule. Lorenzo, like his grandfather, supported the arts. Artists such as Verrocchio, Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, andMichelangelo were part of Lorenzos court. Lorenzo securedassignments for these artists from other patrons. Michelangelo lived with Lorenzo for several years. Savonarola preached about the coming of the Last Days andcondemned the immoral life of the people of Florence. Hepreached a return to a Christian life.Lorenzo went to Naples to negotiate a peace with King Ferrante after which Florence prospered and Lorenzo became the undisputed leader of Florence.Girolamo Savonarola, a Dominican friar, became the new leader of Florence.

At Pieros death in 1469 his sons Lorenzo and Giuliano came to power. Giuliano was murdered in 1478.Lorenzo de Medici died.1494Medici family overthrown.1494Lorenzo de Medici65 66May 2314981434Medici Rule in FlorenceThese luxury items were burned at the Piazza della Signoria. Works of art by Botticelli and Michelangelo were thrown into the fire. Florences economic and political problems continued. Savonarola and two of his assistants were arrested and tortured on the rack. All three signed confessions.Under Medici rule Florence became the center of the Renaissance. Cultural achievements financed and supported by the Medici family contributed to historical achievements not seen since the Golden Age of Athens. Savonarola had all items of luxury, such as mirrors and cosmeticscollected. He also collected anything that was immoral or lewd, such as pagan books, gaming tables and chess pieces. Cosimo I, changed Tuscany into a nation state. He becameGrand Duke of Tuscany and ruled until his death in 1574.Savonarola and his two assistants were hung from crosses andburned at the piazza della Signoria, the same location whereThe Bonfire of the Vanities took place. 1537

1497Girolamo SavonarolaSavonarola and his followers conducted theBonfire of the Vanities.Medici family return to rule Florence. 151266

D. The Balance of Power Among the Italian City-States

1.In the fifteenth century, five powers dominated the Italian peninsula: Venice, Milan, Florence, the Papal States, and the kingdom of Naples.

2. City patriotism and constant competition for power among cities prevented political centralization on the Italian peninsula. --loyalty was to city, no concept of country for Italians --the major Italian city states controlled the smaller ones and competed furiously amongst each other for territory --while the states of Northern Europe moved toward centralization the world of Italian politics resembled a jungle where the powerful dominated the weak

3. As cities strove to maintain the balance of power among themselves, they invented the apparatus of modern diplomacy.

-Italians invented the machinery of modern diplomacy by establishing permanent embassies with ambassadors

4. Italy became a battleground as France, Spain, and the Holy Roman Emperor vied for dominance.

--The major Italian city states possessed great wealth, but this wealth and their inability to form a common alliance against potential foreign enemies made Italy an inviting target for invasion and for centuries they had to deal with invasions by outsiders. --Italy did not achieve unification until 1870

V. Intellectual Change A. Humanism1. The revival of antiquity took the form of interest in archaeology, recovery of ancient manuscripts, and study of the Latin and Greek classics.--Humanism was based on the teachings of the Greek philosopher Plato and the Roman statesman Cicero.

2. The study of the classics became known as the new learning, or humanism.

--Humanists studied the humanities (subjects like grammar, history, rhetoric, poetry, and moral philosophy.) --Humanists wanted to study the historical works themselves, believing this would make them more well rounded individuals better able to participate in government.

3. Interest in human achievements led humanists to emphasize the importance of the individual and individualism.

--They stressed personality, uniqueness, genius, and full development of mans capabilities and talents. --They believed each person could achieve great things. --Each person had dignity and value. --Focus was on the world they lived in, rather than the medieval focus on the afterlife

4. Humanists placed heavy emphasis on education and moral behavior.

--The goal of education was notsimple learning or specialization,but the creation of a well rounded, moral citizen who would use their education tomake society a just and betterPlace.

--During the Middle Ages, manwas considered to have a sinful nature. The humanists stressed that life on earth was meaningful,and that man was not sinful.

5.Humanists opened schools and academies throughout Italy.6. They were ambivalent about education for women.--Most thought women should not participate in public activities because their place was in the home

7. Petrarch (1304-1374) --First great humanist. Considered the Father of Humanism.--Believed he was witnessing a golden age of intellectual achievement after a Dark Age.--He was responsible for he recovery of manuscripts and works of Greek & Roman writers.

Francesco PetrarchImpact of Humanism

PetrarchChurch and kingmost importantIndividual is importantMan is sinfulMan is good withdignity and valueDignity and worthof all peopleHierarchy ofpeoples worthLifes pleasuresmust be avoidedto please GodPeople can enjoylife and still begood ChristiansEncouraged humanachievementAccept church doctrine without questionEach individual findsthe truth for himselfAccept the human conditionHumanismMedieval Thought77B. Political ThoughtNiccolo Machiavellis The Prince (1513) addressed the subject of political power.--How should a ruler go about gaining, maintaining, and increasing his power?

Niccolo Machiavelli

Trade ExpandsTrade brings goods and ideas to an increasing number of people.Trade also brings wealth.City-StatesMerchants in city-states becomewealthy and compete with one anotherto make their city the most beautiful.

Nobles commission artists, architects.

Renaissance Starts in ItalyFlorence under Medici rule leads the way.

Humanism emerges: Belief in the individual,return to classics, public service.Renaissance Moves NorthIdeas spread due to trade, travel,and the printing press.

Achievements: Art, literature, science, architecture. Artists likeRaphael(above,St. George)

and

Jan van Eyck(The ArnolfiniPortrait, right)painted people realistically.The Renaissance79HumanismLiteratureThe LastJudgment, byMichelangeloPetrarchShakespeareCervantesReturn to elements ofGreek and Roman architectureDanteAlighieriRomeo andJulietDonQuixote

The Duomodesigned by Brunelleschi

TheDivineComedyArchitectureRecoveredclassical texts,translated theminto ItalianColumns, pillars, arches, domes, nichesDante and The Divine Comedy, by Michelangelo

Mona Lisa, by Leonardo da Vinci The Last Supper, by Leonardo da VinciPaintingRenaissanceMichelangeloLeonardoda Vinci RaphaelSistineChapelMonaLisa,LastSupper Linearperspective80This lecture feels like itis missing somethinglike it needs more of something

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