The Renaissance in Europe Chapter 15

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

End of the Middle Ages The “Dark Ages” were bombarded with crisis’ including: The Black Death The Hundred Years’ War The Great Schism The Church dominated in all ways politically and socially.

The Renaissance Time period: 1350-1600 Meaning “rebirth” Began in Italy in the 1300s Served as a bridge between the Middle Ages and modern times Explored human experience instead of religion Began in Italy

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

Why Italy? Why did the Renaissance occur in Italy first? Renaissance thinkers had a new interest in ancient Rome Italy- center of Roman empire Architectural remains, statues and coins from ancient Rome. Location encouraged trade How did the Crusades influence the Renaissance? Who ruled the Italian states? Controlled by powerful and wealthy families

The Italian City States Each dominated politically and economically Trade encouraged the exchange of ideas that helped stimulate the development of Renaissance culture 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 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 Believed morality was unrelated to politics “The end justifies the means”

Section 2: Ideas and Art of the Renaissance

Humanism Humanism focused on the individual Seen as a major change from the Middle Ages religion centered life and culture Goals: educate the whole person (today’s liberal arts) Based on the classics- the literature of ancient Greece and Rome Use the classics to revitalize their culture Humanists wanted to revitalize their culture Renaissance art was very realistic

Humanism Humanists believed that intellectuals had a duty to live an active civic life Byzantine and Islamic influences were important to the development of Renaissance humanism Byzantine scholars provide knowledge of the ancient Greek language

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

A New View of the World How did the way people think change from the Middle Ages? What was the focus of life and the future? What was the ideal “Renaissance Man?” Baldassare Castiglione Describes the men should have manners, skills, an education, virtues, be good at games, play a musical instrument, and knows literature and history

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)

Renaissance Education Education was increasingly secular and less focused on religion Core of humanist schools were liberal studies (history, ethics, public speaking…) Purpose of liberal education was to produce individuals who follow a path of virtue and wisdom Also emphasized physical education

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 Renaissance artists sought to imitate nature and paint the human body

New Techniques in Painting 14th century Giotto- focused on depicting human beings and their realities and dramas Originally painted frescos Frescos- painting done on fresh wet plaster with water based paints New perspectives Tried to give their image/painting three- dimensional depth; Middle Ages art looked very flat

Sculpture and Architecture Renaissance sculptors and architects sought to express a human-centered world Donatello- studied the statues of Greeks and Romans Buildings of classical Rome inspired the work of Filippo Brunelleschi

Renaissance Artists Leonardo da Vinci Raphael Sanzio Artist, scientist, inventor Dissected human bodies to better understand their workings Raphael Sanzio Numerous Madonna paintings Has frescos in the Vatican palace Michaelangelo Buonarroti Sistine Chapel ceiling

Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa

Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper

Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man

Michelangelo's David

Michelangelo's Pieta

Fresco

Architecture: Brunelleschi’s Duomo

Inside the Duomo

Brunelleschi’s Gates of Paradise

Middle Ages Art Compared to the Renaissance

Northern Artistic Renaissance Northern Europe sought to portray their world realistically Painted illustrations for books and wooden panels School of art: Flanders Flemish artists typically placed their subjects among everyday objects By 1500- northern Europe began to study the Italian Renaissance

Women during the Renaissance Peasant and Lower Class women Did their status change from the Middle Ages? What was marriage based on? More young women turned to prostitution during the Middle Ages Wealthy women enjoyed more freedoms such as an education Women were seen as ornaments on her husband’s arm Women were to make themselves pleasing to men and remain pure until marriage

Women during the Renaissance Christine de Pisan Why is she revolutionary?