The Renaissance in Europe

Chapter 15

Do-Now

What is a Renaissance? How do you think it impacted Europe?

The Renaissance

Time period: 1350-1600

Meaning “rebirth”

Began in Italy in the 1300s

Explored human experience instead of religion

Geography of Italy

Italy thrived on their trading network

Italy is surrounded by water: the Mediterranean Sea

Italy used the Mediterranean Sea for protection and trade

Italy traded with the Middle East, Africa, and Asia all thanks to the Mediterranean.

Government of Italy

Italy during the Middle Ages did not set up a centralized monarchy

Instead, Italy had a number of city states

By the 15th century- 5 city states existed: Milan, Venice, Florence, the papal states which centered on Rome, and the Kingdom of Naples

The Five City States

Each dominated politically and economically

Milan, Venice, and Florence are located in northern Italy

Milan- well known for trade Visconti family became the dukes in Milan

The last Visconti died in 1447

Mercenaries (soldiers) fought to take over especially because they wanted money

The most well known mercenary group is the Sforza

Sforza’s took over and built a strong centralized state Brought in a tax system

Venice

Another of Italy’s well known city states

Attracted traders from all over the world

Was a republic

Had a leader called a doge

Wealthy merchants ran the republic

Florence

14th century

Small wealth group of merchants took over the Florentine government

Merchants had a series of wars against their neighbors

Established it as a strong city-state

Cosimo de Medici- wealthy leader- ran the government from behind the scenes

The Social Classes

Nobility-dominated society. Held important political posts and served as advisers to the king

Peasants and Townspeople- Peasants were the majority of the population, serfdom declined.

The Social Classes

1. Patricians

2. Burghers- shopkeepers, artisans, guild masters, guild members

3. Workers/peasants

4. Unemployed

Family and Marriage

Parents arranged marriages to strengthen business ties

Fathers and husbands were at the center of the family

Men managed the finances

A woman’s role was to supervise the household

Machiavelli

During the Renaissance, Niccolo Machiavelli wrote a book titled The Prince

In The Prince, Machiavelli brings up an issue- is it better to be loved or feared.

Machiavelli noted that the prince acts on behalf of the state. The leader (being the prince) must do good works when possible, but be ready to do evil when necessary

Section 2: Ideas and Art of the

Renaissance

Humanism

Humanism focused on the individual

Goals: educate the whole person (today’s liberal arts)

Based on the classics- the literature of ancient Greece and Rome

Humanists wanted to revitalize their culture

Renaissance art was very realistic

Francisco Petrarch

Called the father of the Italian Renaissance humanism

He placed an emphasis on classical Latin

Believed that intellectuals had a duty to live an active civic life and to put their study of the humanities to the state’ service

Vernacular

The humanistic approach led to people wanting to write down their findings, especially scholars, lawyers, and religious people

Issue: in the different regions of Italy was a different vernacular (local spoken language)

The Printing Press

Papermaking technologies were seen throughout the world

The invention of the movable type in the 1400s led to Johann Gutenberg’s printing of the Bible in Germany in 1456

Outcome: Books became more available

Literacy increased

Ideas spread rapidly

Renaissance Artists

Michelangelo- sculptor, engineer, poet, painter, architect. Best known for his statue of David

Leonardo da Vinci- interested in the human anatomy, most well known painting is the Mona Lisa

Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa

Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper

Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man

Michelangelo's David

Michelangelo's Pieta

Renaissance Art

Fresco- a painting done on fresh, wet plaster with water-based paints

Perspective- artistic techniques used to give the effect of three-dimensional depth to the two-dimensional surfaces

Fresco

Architecture: Brunelleschi’s

Duomo

Inside the Duomo

Brunelleschi’s Gates of Paradise

Middle Ages Art Compared to the Renaissance