Unit 9 Late Middle Ages and Renaissance Days 4 The Renaissance, Italian City-States, Machiavelli, & the Medici's

The Renaissance

This period between 1350 and 1550 was known as the Renaissance (means “rebirth”) – a period marked by a “rebirth” in Greco- Roman knowledge and arts (painting, sculpting, architecture, literature, and science) in Europe. Started in the Northern Italian city-states and spread into Northern and Western Europe. The Renaissance marks the birth of the modern world.

There were many factors that contributed to the start of the Renaissance: Economic effects of the Crusades. Trade promoted contact between Empires New Economic Concepts and Institutions Developed (Banks) Development of Italian City-States

Economic Effects of the Crusades Crusades stimulated trade by introducing Europeans to many desirable products Trade promoted frequent contacts with Byzantine and Muslim Empires Crusades increased demand for Middle Eastern products Trade was stimulated and Europeans demanded Middle Eastern trading goods included spices, fruits and cloth

Economic Effects of the Crusades Crusades stimulated production of goods and trade in Middle Eastern markets Crusades encouraged use of credit and banking Muslim money changers set up banks in Muslim Empire’s cities Banks offered credit in the form of sakks, pronounced “checks” Crusades led to rise of urban areas, large city-states in Northern Italy

Important Economic Concepts After Crusades new economic institutions develop Church rule against usury and banks’ practice of charging interest helped to secularize northern Italy Usury: lending of money at high interest rates. The church had rules against this. Secularize: to transfer from religious to civil or use or control Northern Italian trading centers of Florence, Venice and Genoa flourished as the church relaxed its rule on usury Banking becomes an important business especially in Italy

Letters of credit, expanded the supply of money and expedited trade Merchants and traders exchanged checks for cash New accounting and bookkeeping practices were introduced Use of Arabic numbers (i.e., 0, 1, 2, 3, etc.)

Rise of City-States in Italy Wealth accumulated from European trade with the Middle East led to the rise of Italian city-states. Wealthy Merchants ere active civic leaders. European Renaissance, a rebirth of learning and the arts, began in northern Italy in 1300s Important Italian Renaissance city-states included: Florence Venice Genoa

Florence, Venice and Genoa were important city-states Italian city-states had access to trade routes connecting Europe with Middle Eastern markets City-states served as trading centers for the distribution of goods to northern Europe Were initially independent city-states governed as republics Ran own affairs, collected own taxes, and had own armies Wealthy merchants were the most powerful class and they dominated politics in these republics Venice Genoa Florence The Renaissance, or rebirth in art and learning, began in northern Italy in the 1300s

Machiavelli’s The Prince Wrote an early modern treatise (book) on government, The Prince Believed the world was wicked and most people are selfish, fickle and corrupt Supported absolute power of the ruler Detailed how a ruler could gain power and keep it from his enemies Maintained “the end justifies the means” What was politically effective was more important than what was morally right Do good if possible, but do evil when necessary It “is much safer to be feared than loved”

The Medici Family in Florence Wealthy merchants, like Cosimo de Medici of the wealthy Medici family, were active civic leaders Medici wealth came from trade & banking Medici family had banks throughout Italy Also had banks in major European cities Cosimo de’ Medici, known as Cosimo the Elder, was the wealthiest European of his time and was the virtual dictator of Florence.