Ming China vs. Renaissance Europe Politics, economy, art, religion Ming China: recovery, Emperor Yongle, tradition Imperial government and world power: Forbidden City, exam system, Zheng He Europe: recovery, national rivalry, Renaissance England, France, Portugal, Venice, Florence, Spain – competition Renaissance: individualism, secularism, humanism – art, literature, religion Machiavelli The Prince
Mongol Empire around 1260 CE
Black Death – plague Spread from central Asia along Silk Road Killed 1/3 of Europeans, millions in Asia Ended European feudalism by raising wages
Emperor Yongle 1360-1424 CE Forbidden City – 9999 rooms, largest palace Imperial exams system – Confucian meritocracy Fleets of Zheng He – 6 expeditions, explore india/Africa
Renaissance Art: what made it special? perspective – three dimensional instead of two dimensional realism – human figures active and natural vivid color and light new techniques used – painting on fresco, large bronze statues and doors imagination – God was portrayed in painting for the first time individualism, secularism, classicism
Mona Lisa Leonardo da Vinci
before perspective 1390 after perspective 1508
“David” - Michelangelo
Model of Flying Man Leonardo da Vinci 1488
Michelangelo Sistine Chapel 1512
Michelangelo, Sistine Chapel Ceiling 1512
Machiavelli, The Prince A son can bear with equanimity the loss of his father, but the loss of his inheritance may drive him to despair. A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise. Before all else, be armed. Hatred is gained as much by good works as by evil. It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both. It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver. Of mankind we may say in general they are fickle, hypocritical, and greedy of gain. The new ruler must determine all the injuries that he will need to inflict. He must inflict them once and for all. There is no avoiding war; it can only be postponed to the advantage of others.