The Renaissance 1300-1650

What was the Renaissance? What was the Renaissance, and where did it begin? Renaissance = “rebirth” of classical Greek and Roman culture and learning Italy Cities Urban Societies Major Trading Centers Secular Moved away from life in the church Focuses more on material objects and enjoying life

The Crusades 1095-late 1200s

How did the Crusades contribute to the Renaissance? • Increased demand for Middle Eastern products • Stimulated production of goods to trade in Middle Eastern markets • Encouraged the use of credit and banking

How did the Crusades contribute to the Renaissance? • Church rule against usury  the banks developing practices of finagling interest, this helped to secularize northern Italy. • Letters of credit served to expand the supply of money and expedite trade. • New accounting and bookkeeping practices (use of Arabic numerals) were introduced.

Marco Polo 1271-1291 Made Europeans aware of Chinese inventions

Ottoman Turks Capture Constantinople 1453 – End of Byzantine Empire The university is closed and scholars flee to Italy bringing manuscripts of Greek and Roman literature and law preserved by the Byzantines

Why Italy? Merchant Republics – similar to city states Oligarchies Wealthy merchant rulers became important patrons of the arts and sciences Location, Location, Location!

Location, Location, Location! Why Italy? Location, Location, Location!

Location, Location, Location! Why Italy? Location, Location, Location!

emphasized the dignity and worth of the individual • Celebrated the individual emphasized the dignity and worth of the individual • Stimulated the study of Greek and Roman literature and culture Humus – EARTH or GROUND Humanism (idea or belief in) – Humanities (state or condition of) - Humanist (person who practices/concerned with something)

Optimism about human potential RENAISSANCE HUMANISM Optimism about human potential Virtu: “the quality of being man” Artists try to compete with great art of classical past

Humanists were laymen rather than clergy and had ‘literary occupations’ Teachers of humanities in universities Advisors or secretaries in courts of Princes, popes, and chancelleries of Italian city-states

The Emergence of Humanism Petrarch (1304-1374) First to characterize the Middle Ages as a period of darkness (how arrogant!) Promoted mistaken belief that medieval culture was ignorant of classical antiquity (hard to do when Roman ruins are sticking out of the ground across one’s farmland) Gathered forgotten Latin manuscripts from monasteries throughout Europe

PETRARCH Apollo (who wore a laurel wreath) embodied; victory, achievement and status Victors of ancient Greek poetic meets = Laurel Wreaths Symbols of graduated student; having master’s degree

Giovanni Pico della Mirandola Age 23 claimed all human knowledge in 900 theses On the Dignity of Man (1486) Man posses great dignity b/c made as Adam in God’s image B/C of the divine image, there’s no limits to what he can accomplish Thus = retains a Christian perspective There’s an underlying tone of optimism –Also reflects enthusiasm for learning in his day

Humanism in 15th C. Italy Humanism became tied to community spirit and pride New side called Civic Humanism Modeled on Cicero, a Roman statesman & intellectual A life of involvement was prized

Civic Humanism, cont. Leonardo Bruni Florentine chancellor Saw the past as clearly the past, introduced new division of historical periods The New Cicero Inspiration for Renaissance ideal that “an individual grows to maturity both intellectually and morally through participation in the life of the state” Humanists believed their services should be used by the state

Humanism in Education Human beings could be profoundly changed by education Founded secondary schools Taught liberal arts & phys. ed. History, philosophy, rhetoric, grammar, logic, poetry, math, astronomy, music Javelin, archery, dancing, running, wrestling, hunting, swimming Wanted to produce individuals who were virtuous & wise, could convince others to be the same

painting of Massimiliano Sforza, the son of the duke of Milan, attending to his lessons.

RENAISSANCE MEN Leonardo da Vinci Michaelangelo --men with driven, passionate, and compulsive personalities --men who are highly accomplished in a variety of endeavors Leonardo da Vinci Michaelangelo --engineering, painting, sculpting, writing, designing, inventing --architect, engineer, painter, sculptor, poet