The Renaissance The Renaissance   The Word Renaissance means ‘rebirth’ . The people in Italy between 1350 and 1550 believed they had witnessed a rebirth of the Classical world (Greek and Roman culture) Italy was the center of this new cultural phase for a lot of reasons; First, Italy wasn’t unified in one state. It had been broken into different kingdoms and city-states since the fall of Rome. Secondly, Italy was more urban, and those cities were centers of money and culture Despite their proximity to Rome, most Italians were had a more secular or non-religious world view. There were a few powerful families in control of much of Italy and they were REALLY STINKING RICH. They had been trading with the Muslims and the Byzantine Empire for a long time and had stayed open to classical culture and ideas. Florence was a Republic that dominated the region of Tuscany. In the 1400s the city was taken over by a powerful family, the Medicis. The Medici got rich through banking and trading. They also married their sons to wealthy trader’s daughters and increased their wealth that way. Cosimo de’ Medici, 1389-1464, was the founder of the Medici dynasty, who ruled Florence for 383 years. The Renaissance

The Renaissance Julius II Venice was ruled by a Grand Council made up of the most powerful families in the Republic. The Grand Council then chose a duke or doge to run the Republic. They became a great naval power, with 3,000 Venetian ships. Milan was run by the Visconti family until 1447 when it was taken over by the Sforza family. They employed mercenaries , or paid professional armies, to back them up. In fact, the Sforzas started as condottieri, or mercenaries. They rose to power this way. Francesco Sforza and his Castella Sforzesco The Papal States were ruled by the Pope religiously and politically. Two of the more powerful Popes from the Renaissance were Alexander VI Julius II

The Renaissance The various families and powerful people in Italy got so wealthy off of banking and trade that they began to spend their money lavishly. They built castles, bought fancy clothes, indulged in cosmetics, art, mirrors, playing cards books and musical instruments. They also were patrons to great artists and intellectuals, like ; Donatello Titian DaVinci Michelangelo Boticelli Raphael

The Renaissance Their wealth grew so great that they managed to raise the anger of a Dominican preacher named Girolamno Savonorlo who held “Bonfires of the Vanities” where he burned they symbols of all of this wealth.   “Savonarola and Spiritual Concerns Although the humanist movement in Florence was very strong, Florentines were also concerned about their spiritual lives. Thus, amidst their prosperity, a preacher named Savonarola was able to change the thinking of many citizens. Savonarola was concerned about what he considered abuses by the church and about people's excessive interest in material goods. He preached against the accumulation of worldly possessions and called for a "bonfire of the vanities" in which people were to burn "immoral" paintings, cosmetics, and such entertainment-related items as musical instruments and playing cards. Savonarola was successful in convincing many Florentines to return to a more spiritual way of life. However, his condemnation of church abuses of wealth led to his downfall. The Pope restricted Savonarola from preaching; when he continued to do so, he was excommunicated. Soon after, Florentines turned against him for what they saw as his role in an unfavorable political climate. He was publicly executed in 1498.” http://www.learner.org/interactives/renaissance/florence_sub.html

The Renaissance At the same time the riches in Italy and lack of unification made the Italian States a target for French and Spanish monarchies who tried to take Italy. Their armies wrecked havoc and ransacked the art and kidnapped priests , nuns and bishops. Spain eventually becomes incredibly powerful in Italy. The title Holy Roman Emperor goes to the Spanish King Charles V and he gains control over a lot of the Italian peninsula.  

The Renaissance Through all of this a man named Nicolo Machiavelli worked for the Roderigo and Cesare Borgia. (Rodrigo would become Pope Alexander VI) he was a historian and diplomat and when the Borgias lost power . To gain the attention and favor of the ruling Medici family he wrote the book The Prince. The book has gone on to become the most popular and influential book on politics in the Western World.

MACHIAVELLI-THE PRINCE A GUIDE TO RULING AN AUTOCRATIC STATE

Italian City-States The lack of central political unification led Italy to develop much differently than the rest of Europe. While France, the Holy Roman Empire and England were feudal and had primitive economies, Italy was more sophisticated economically and politically. Italy was also much more urban and literate than the rest of Europe.

Italian City-States The city-states created more complex banking and lending systems, the cities became international trading hubs, and capitalism took hold. Financial practices matured. Between the 11th and 15th centuries the wealth of Northern Italians tripled.

Nicolo Machiavelli Born in Florence in 1469 Historian and government official Author of the book, The Prince which advises rulers to separate politics from morality and be objective about their political goals without being clouded by the distraction of morality.

Cesare Borgia Machiavelli modeled his prince in his book on Borgia who was a powerful politician in Italy at the time. His father was Pope Alexander VI, and he gave his son many important offices, including cardinal. He was a ruthless, sneaky, brutal man who became duke of Romagna and tried to enlarge his wealth and holdings by conquering others. Machiavelli admired his cunning and wit, and thought he was powerful enough to unify Italy.

Implications of his Work Machiavelli was tossed by the fate of two of Italy’s most powerful families, the Borgias and the di Medicis. He was favored by the Borgias, but they fell out of favor and power when Pope Alexander died and Cesare tried to take over Italian provinces that belonged to French families. The di Medici family came to power, and Machiavelli needed a new post in the government. He wrote The Prince to attract the attention of Lorenzo di Medici.

Patronage of the Arts Starting with Cosmio deMedici, the wealthy Italians began supporting the work of artists, architects, and engineers.

Renaissance Art Northern Renaissance Italian Renaissance 1400-1600 1330-1550 Starts in Florence Focuses on humanism, secularism, but much of the paintings are of religious subjects. When not religious subjects, classical mythology is the focus. Focus on mathematical precision, proportions of human body and physicality. 1400-1600 Starts in Flanders Focuses on the life of everyday people. Religious in thought but not necessarily in subject. Uses oil paint and is brighter No nudes

Innovations Italian Northern Linear perspective Dome Sfumato Stable triangular composition Naturalism in sculpture Oil painting Printing press Print making Increased realism and fine details Hidden symbolism

DaVinci, Madonna and Saint Anne, 1503 Masolino & Masaccio, Virgin and Child with Saint Anne (c. 1424), Uffizi

The Birth of Venus, Sandro Boticelli, 1485, Uffizi, Florence

Ghent Altarpiece 1430-1432 for St Ghent Altarpiece 1430-1432 for St. Bavo Cathedral in Ghent by Hubert and Jan van Eyck

Netherlandish Proverbs, 1559, oil on oak wood, Pieter Brueghel the elder