Warm-up You are a 35 year old adult. You’ve been working your whole life since school ended, doing okay, but usually too busy to enjoy life during the weekdays. Suddenly, a wealthy citizen from Austin offers you a paycheck to produce something beautiful and/productive for your city: art, a building, a daycare cooperative, a new type of school… you decide. You no longer have to go to your regular job, have funding for the project, and have a year to complete your project. What would you create? Why?

The Renaissance Today’s Goal: Describe the major causes & effects of the Renaissance This includes political, intellectual, artistic, economic, and religious effects

What was the Renaissance? A cultural movement that was a great rebirth of Classical Era Roman & Greek art

What was the Renaissance? Resurgence of sculpture, painting, beautiful architecture, literature, poetry, music, singing, drama Began in Italy in the Late Middle Ages Spread north throughout Europe Time of culture! Learning! Art! Music! Enjoying life! Beauty!

How did the Renaissance start? Italian city-states prospered due to trade flowing through Italy Central Mediterranean location in middle of trade routes People came from all over Europe to buy, sell and do banking ($$!) merchants & bankers became quite wealthy prosperous cities emerged Competition between city states Because they were independent, there were no kings often led by elected council or family, typically quite wealthy Wealthy families became patrons of artists: people that pay artists and architects to create art or buildings

Some Italian city-states developed specializations Some Italian city-states developed specializations. Florence became a center for cloth making and banking. Milan produced metal goods and armor. The port city of Genoa was a trade center for ivory and gold from northern Africa. Venice, the most powerful city state, had hundreds of ships that controlled the trade routes in the Mediterranean Sea. Silk, spices and perfume from Asia flowed into Venice.

What caused this amazing Renaissance? The Crusades/Increased Travel In the Late Middle Ages, Merchants and Crusaders brought back goods & learning from the East Classical learning that had been preserved in the Byzantine Empire and by Muslim scholars, Marco Polo… The End of the Dark Ages Life after feudalism, invasions, war, slaughter, plague, the Crusades…

Life in the Middle Ages (aka the Dark Ages, aka the Medieval Era)

What caused this amazing Renaissance? Increased Trade Safer trading across the Silk Road (Pax Mongolica) Wealthy Italian city-state could afford to spend money on luxuries like art Increased Educational Opportunities Scholars started collecting & reading ancient manuscripts (books) preserved in Catholic monasteries Influence of Greco-Roman Works Artists and architects studied classical statues/buildings

What effects did the Renaissance have? Stunning new art & architecture More secular & less religious; focused on people’s existence on earth New focus on reason & logic How did this impact the power of the church? New ideas about life! Individualism – focus on the individual person Philosophy of Humanism Ideal of a Renaissance Man: a well-rounded person who is skilled in many areas More advanced hospitals & universities created Encouraged invention & innovation

What was the philosophy of Humanism? When the focus is on humans, rather than divine or supernatural matters. Focus on the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasize common human needs, and seek solely rational ways of solving human problems. Overlaps with individualism

Now, lets look a some art to identify Classical Influence in Renaissance Art

Classical Art

Medieval Art

Renaissance Art

No need to write any notes on this!

Side by Side Comparison Classical Medieval Renaissance Purpose of the Art Shows importance of ordinary people, civic leaders, gods and goddesses Teach religion to people who were illiterate Show importance of people and nature Style Characteristics Detailed and realistic Minimal details No background Halos used to indicate who was holy Not realistic Realistic Emphasis on individual

Classical, Medieval, or Renaissance? As a class determine which piece of Art is from which period. A – Renaissance B – Medieval C – Classical

Art, Literature ,Architecture Protestant Reformation Art, Literature ,Architecture Scientific Revolution The Enlightenment Celebrate Rational Man Growing Secularism Trade Note how Achievements in Art, Literature and Architecture as well as The Enlightenment, Scientific Revolution, Protestant Reformation coincide with learning goals of unit.