Renaissance
The Renaissance “Rebirth” 14 th – 17 th century (1300s – 1600s) Began in Italy in the mid-1300s; spread throughout Europe Reached its height in the 1500s
Why Italy? Reawakened interest in the culture of Ancient Rome Italian city-states survived the Black Death (Florence, Milan, Venice, Genoa, Rome, and Naples) Wealthy, powerful bankers and merchants Florence gifted poets, artists, scholars, and scientists The Medici Family – became the richest bankers and merchants in Europe – gained control of Florentine government in 1434 – money translated into cultural and political power
Lorenzo de Medici clever politician held Florence together during difficult times generous patron (financial supporter) of the arts Poets, artists and philosophers frequently visited the Medici palace
Leonardo da Vinci
Michelangelo
Galileo Galilei
Johannes Gutenberg
Raphael
Donatello
Jan Van Eyck
Albrecht Durer
Andreas Vesalius
Nicolaus Copernicus
Johannes Kepler
Tycho Brahe
Martin Luther
Pope Paul III
Thomas More
John Calvin
William Shakespeare
Dante Alighieri
Petrarch
Niccolo Machiavelli
Henry VIII (England)
Elizabeth I (England)
Louis XIV (France)
Peter the Great (Russia)
Hernan Cortes
Francisco Pizarro
Amerigo Vespucci
Francis Drake