Renewal In Europe The Renaissance, The Reformation, & The Scientific Revolution

Origins of the Renaissance  During the Middle Ages, few people knew anything about life beyond their immediate area.  How would your life be different if everything you had came from no more than 100 miles away?  Music/Entertainment? Foods you eat?  During the Renaissance, Europeans began seeing more trade goods in their markets from Asia  Exotic Spices, Silk

Origins of the Renaissance  After the Black Death, the survivors could charge more for labor, and had all the same land, machines, ships, gold, etc. to raise more food and develop new products.  The more goods that became available, the cost went down  More people could purchase/own more things  New products arrived in markets from China, India and other Eastern lands.

Origins of the Renaissance How did Eastern Goods Arrive in Europe?  The Silk Road Reopens  Goods moved East and West between China and the Mediterranean Sea  Road too dangerous after the fall of Rome and Han Dynasty  Mongols re-opened route after 1200s, protected traders.

Origins of the Renaissance Marco Polo  Marco Polo is the most famous trader of his time  From Venice, spent 20 years travelling, working, and living in Asia with his family  Became a confidant of Kublai Khan; often more so than his own court  When Polo returned to Venice, he described amazing things to his fellow Europeans:  Paper money in addition to coins  Coal used to keep a fire burning longer than wood.  Piqued curiosity about Asia in Europe. Trade between the two increased.

Origins of the Renaissance Italian Trade Cities  By 1300s, Florence, Genoa, Milan, and Venice had become big trading centers.  Interaction with many different cultures, able to purchase exotic goods.  Main port cities were Genoa and Venice on the Mediterranean.  Asian spices and luxuries arrived here, and were shipped across Europe  Other cities specialized in various crafts  Venice- Glass  Milan- weapons and silk  Florence- Weaving wool into cloth

Origins of the Renaissance Italian Trade Cities  Italian Merchant families became increasingly wealthy  With wealth, could focus on culture  Trade Cities became wealthy

Origins of the Renaissance Italian Trade Cities Venice Island City on the Adriatic Sea that grew rich from sea trade.

Origins of the Renaissance Italian Trade Cities Milan Northern Italian City that grew wealthy from trade Duomo of Milan

Origins of the Renaissance Italian Trade Cities Genoa Located on the Mediterranean, also became wealthy through sea trade. Moonlight on Genoa Harbor c. 1400s

Origins of the Renaissance Italian Trade Cities Florence Banking and Trade Center. Wealthy leaders spent money on beautifying the city with buildings and art. Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore

Origins of the Renaissance Separate States and Rival Rulers  In the 1300s, Italy was made up of separate city-states with different forms of government.  Venice was a republic  Papal States (where Rome was located) ruled by the Pope as a monarchy.  Most other Italian cities ruled by a “signoria” government; where a single rich merchant family controlled the government.  Competed against each other to see whose city could grow richest from trade and become most famous and powerful.

Origins of the Renaissance Florence and the Medici Family  Florence stands out as an example of trade and wealth during the 1300s  Started out with wool trade, but banking increased their wealth.  Florentine bankers kept money for merchants from all over Europe.  Made money by charging interest to those that borrowed money.  The Medici family were bankers, became richest family by early 1400s, and ruled the city by  Cosimo de Medici paid architects to redesign many buildings, hired artists to decorate his palace.  Valued education (needed employees to read, write, and understand math); built libraries and collected books.  Florence became Italian center of art, literature, and culture.

Origins of the Renaissance Beginning of the Renaissance  Other wealthy families in other Italian cities tried to outdo the Medicis in their support of the arts and learning.  Renaissance means “rebirth”  Interest in Greek and Roman writings were being re-born  There was also a new emphasis on people as individuals, which is different from the Middle Ages