RENAISSANCE The time from about 1400 to 1600 in which Europeans entered an age of thought, learning, art, and science; a French word meaning “rebirth”.

Fall of Rome Today Ancient Times Modern Times Middle Ages Renaissance

End of the Middle Ages Black Plague killed one quarter to one third of the population of Europe Wars between European kingdoms killed many others Widespread destruction led to great changes– END OF FEUDALISM Peasants were no longer held by feudal lords, they moved to cities for work People began to question how things were

Rebirth Around the time of the Plague, an Italian scholar named Petrarch re-discovered Ancient Roman texts He and others began searching for Ancient writing to learn about This rediscovery led many people to try to recreate the writing and art of the Ancient Greeks and Romans Emphasized reason, a questioning attitude and free inquiry, in contrast to the medieval concern with faith, authority and tradition

During the Middle Ages, the Earth was believed to be flat and small Example of Rebirth About 200 BC, Greek scholar Eratosthenes correctly calculated the size & shape of the Earth During the Middle Ages, the Earth was believed to be flat and small The rebirth of Ancient learning showed people that the Earth was really round Columbus and Magellan used that information to find a western route to Asia

Humanism Scholars like Petrarch liked the Ancients' emphasis on the individual rather than the church Focused on the study of grammar, rhetoric, literature, philosophy and history like the Ancients had studied Became known as humanism-- A philosophy that all people should strive to be educated and learned in the classical arts, literature, and science and not only look to religion Brought back curiosity, which had been seen as sinful

The Renaissance started in Italy-- Why? Trade had led to large city states - & large cities. Italy was urban while most of Europe was still rural

The Renaissance started in Italy-- Why? Plague killed 1/3 of the population so there were fewer laborers – survivors could choose to leave and move to cities Make more money to spend on art, literature etc. Italy had many patrons

Patrons The Medici Family Powerful banking family that ruled Florence during the Renaissance Cosmo de Medici Lorenzo de Medici– “Il Magnifico” (his son is Pope Leo X) Giovanni de Medici (Pope Leo X) Huge patrons of the arts – spent their money to pay for artists and writers

Art Artists were held in a higher regard than they had been during the Middle Ages Artists used the scientific method and studied human anatomy Patrons began supporting art and beautifying their buildings and churches Brunelleschi– dome Donatello-- sculpture Botticelli-- paintings Leonardo da Vinci-- paintings and inventions Raphael-- paintings Michelangelo-- paintings and sculpture

Science More and More people began asking the question Why? Scientists like Nicolas Copernicus, and Galileo Galilei sought answers to the world’s mysteries Many new discoveries and inventions changed the way people saw the world Leonardo da Vinci (Italy) Copernicus (Poland) Galileo (Italy) Johannes Kepler (Germany) Francis Bacon (England) Robert Hooke (England)

Literature Literature-- stories, poems and plays-- were inspired by humanist and Renaissance ideas Deal with human ideas as well as religion Dante Alighieri (Italy)-- “The Inferno” William Shakespeare (England)-- “Romeo & Juliet,” “Hamlet,” & “Midsummer Night's Dream” Miguel Cervantes (Spain)-- “Don Quixote”

Religion The Church ceased to be the only institution providing education Society became more secular, or more independent of the church The Church was challenged by the work of Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation King Henry VIII of England split from the Catholic Church and started the Church of England Scientific discoveries challenged many Church and Biblical claims

Exploration Increased curiosity and rediscovery of past knowledge led to exploring the world Many lands previously unknown to Europeans were discovered during this period, though most were already inhabited From the perspective of many non-Europeans it marked the arrival of settlers and invaders from a previously unknown continent Magellan (Spain) Columbus (Italy/ Spain)

Ordinary People The Black Plague had ended and medical techniques improved More people had access to education. What made this possible? Trade increased as merchants sold goods from far-away places More people moved into cities. How would that improve lives? Nobles and the middle class could afford art and luxuries Most people were peasants, however, and their lives changed very little