The Renaissance, It means rebirth in French. It is a period of time in Europe from marked by tremendous artistic, literary, and scientific breakthroughs.

Major events leading to the Renaissance in Europe The Plague, or the Black Death, in Europe ( ) The Crusades to the Holy Land, ( ) Rise of powerful merchants in Italy

The Crusades,  Pope Urban II asked nobles in Europe to take back the holy city of Jerusalem from Islamic invaders.  Crusaders were able to take Jerusalem, but could not hold it.  Because of the Crusades, trade was reestablished with Asia through the Middle East and Italy.

The Black Death,  In 1347, there is an outbreak of the bubonic plague at Messina on the island of Sicily.  Most likely got there by following trade routes from Asia  In the course of a few years, plague will wipe out 1/3 of the population of Europe

The Black Death,  This leads to several changes in society  Fewer people meant workers could demand more money (Supply and Demand)  Fewer people also meant that peasants gained more power over their lords  The suffering led people to lose faith in the Catholic Church.

Rise of powerful merchants in Italy and Europe  New trade with Asia went through Italian ports.  Merchants became extremely wealthy controlling this trade  Medici’s in Florence  Hanseatic League in Germany

Rise of powerful merchants in Italy and Europe  These merchants used their money to support artists, writers, and architects. This led to a rebirth, or “Renaissance” of art and culture first in Italy, then in Germany (Northern Renaissance)

Effects of Renaissance in Europe  New interest in classical learning from Rome and Greece  Increased science and technical knowledge

New interest in classical Roman and Greek culture  The Islamic world were the keepers of Ancient Greek and Roman culture while Europe was in the Dark Ages.  Trade from the Crusades not only brought goods, it also brought these ideas back to Europe.  As faith in the Church dropped off due to the Black Death, many people sought learning from these Greek and Roman sources  Humanism, or the study of the humanities, replaces more traditional religious teaching

Increased science and knowledge  The new focus on humanism freed people to explore new areas of science.  Trade also brought new science and technology to Europe from Asia  Astronomy, Engineering, and Algebra from the Islamic World  Moveable Type from China

Increased science and knowledge  We see many great writers and scientists who challenge the traditional teachings of the Catholic Church  Galileo and Copernicus first suggested that the Earth rotated around the Sun.  Machiavelli writes “The Prince” which later becomes the blueprint for absolute monarchs  Guttenburg uses movable type to develop the first printing press.