AND REFORMATION The Renaissance
Why Italy Italy had been center of Roman Empire Cities survived the Middle Ages Wealthy & powerful merchant class--Medicis
What was the Renaissance? Political, social, economic, & cultural changes Change in the way people viewed themselves Ideal: person of talents in many fields Adventure & curiosity Humanism: focus on worldly subjects rather than religion Humanities: grammar, rhetoric, poetry, history
Art Geniuses Leonardo: Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, scientist, inventor, engineer
Michelangelo: statue of David, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Cathedral, engineer, poet
Raphael: Christian & classical styles, Madonnas, The School of Athens
Writers Rise in “how-to” books Castiglione’s Book of the Courtier; manners, skills, learning, & virtues court members should have; man is athletic but not overactive, woman is a balance to men, graceful & kind, lively but reserved; “She is beautiful, for outer beauty is the true sign of inner goodness.”
Machiavelli’s The Prince; a guide to rulers on how to gain & maintain power The end justifies the means! Use whatever methods necessary to achieve their goals Getting results are more important than keeping promises Machiavellian—use of deceit in politics Writers
Northern Renaissance Began later in North due to the effects of the Black Death Began in Flanders Dürer brought techniques home; known as “German Leonardo”
Thinkers & Writers Erasmus: Greek edition of the New Testament, translated Bible into vernacular, The Praise of Folly Thomas More: social reform, Utopia, none are idle, all are educated, justice is used to end crime, not eliminate the criminal Utopian—ideal society
Cervantes: Don Quixote; mocks romantic notions of chivalry Shakespeare: wrote 37 plays; Richard III, Romeo & Juliet, MacBeth, Hamlet First appearance of 1700 new words, including: bedroom, lonely, generous, gloomy, heartsick, hurry, & sneak Thinkers & Writers
Printing Revolution Johann Gutenberg: movable metal type printing press; 1456 Effects: Books became cheaper and easier to produce More people learned to read & write Helped the spread of new ideas