The people that survived the wars and the plague in the Middle Ages wanted to celebrate life. They began to question institutions, such as the church, that they believe led them to those years of struggle. The Renaissance was a time of creative thinking, expressing through art and writing.

Why do you think the Renaissance means rebirth? What is being reborn?

Art and learning are being reborn from the times of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome (a time where philosophy and thinking were important)

Why was Italy the birthplace of the Renaissance? Large city states (because of trade), while the rest of Europe was mostly rural A wealthy merchant class A high percentage of citizens could be involved in politics Individual achievement became important, which was the cause of the high social rank During the Renaissance, Florence moved from a republican form of government to a government that was ruled by the wealthiest banking family in Europe (The Medici family) Scholars wanted to return to learn about the Greeks and the Romans for information and inspiration Studied manuscripts that had been preserved in the monasteries and also studied the ruins in Rome.

Humanism An intellectual movement that focused on human potential and achievements. Humanist studied classical texts to understand Ancient Greek values Humanists said that instead of wearing rough clothing and eating plain foods in order to not offend God, people should just enjoy life. So the wealthy in Renaissance Italy enjoyed luxuries, music, and fine foods. Renaissance society was secular (worldly and concerned with the present) even though most people remained Catholic

Churches, merchants, and wealthy families spent huge amounts of money on art, which made them patrons of the arts by supporting the artists financially The ideal individual’s goal would be to master almost every area of study. This was the responsibility of the men. The women were expected to inspire art, but rarely ever create it

Renaissance Art Used perspective- 3D on a flat surface Mostly religious, but a different style than medieval art They also painted and sculpted citizens (Michelangelo) Donatello made sculptures more realistic by carving natural postures and expressions.

Leonardo da Vinci Painter, sculptor, inventor, and scientist He was interested in how things worked Painted the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper

Raphael Famous for his use of perspective Known for his painting School of Athens

Anguissola and Gentileschi Sofonisba Anguissola was the first woman artist to gain an international reputation Artemisia Gentileschi was another accomplished artist. She painted pictures of strong heroic women There were only a few well known women painters in Italy

Francesco Petrarch One of the earliest and most influential humanists He was a great poet He wrote in both Italian and Latin

Other known writers Giovanni Boccaccio-Best known for the Decameron, a series of realistic stories, both tragic and comic Machiavelli-The Prince, a political guidebook Vittoria Colonna- published The Courtier, which were a series of personal poems