What came Before? What were the Middle Ages like? How do you think the Middle Ages came to an end? What do you think life was like immediately after the Middle Ages?

End of the Middle Ages Positive effects of the Plague (the Black Death)? Less people = can demand more money for work More money = can buy more stuff Demand for more stuff = people make more stuff The more stuff available = the less it costs The less things cost = people buy more The economy recovers – Feudalism collapses People move to cities to work

Trade The Silk Road Italy becomes the center of European society. Why? Italian cities become very rich. What effect might this have on people living in Italy?

Florence, Italy Banks develop Hold money for merchants all over Europe Use the money to make loans to people (Kings, etc.) Charge interest Make lots of money and gain lots of power Florence (and Italy) becomes the center of the Renaissance

Where does the Money Go? Patronage Pay people to do work for you How might this be different from how people lived before? Build beautiful palaces, fill them with paintings and statues, build hospitals and roads, make the cities more attractive to look at/live in Other cities don’t want to be left behind – competition spreads the Renaissance

The Renaissance Renaissance means “Rebirth” What was different? What was it the rebirth of? What was different? Writing – begin to write in language of the people Write about the realities of life Art – More realistic, more representative of human beings and their achievements, utilize perspective. Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci

Humanism Humanism How might humanism change society at the time? Way of thinking and learning that stresses the importance of human abilities and actions How is this different from before? How might humanism change society at the time? Reading, writing, learning, art, culture, society, power, etc.

Other Themes Humanism Secularism Rationalism Virtue Non-religious Using reason and logic to make decisions Virtue High Moral Standards How have morals changed?

Niccolò Machiavelli A writer and politician living in Italy during the Renaissance Didn’t care about theories; wanted to know what “really” works. Wrote a book called “The Prince” Leaders must lie and cheat for the good of their people Leaders must not be too merciful or they will be judged weak Leaders must get used to idea of causing pain Leaders must realize they are above the laws they use Be feared not loved (since you cannot be both) The end ALWAYS justifies the means