Renaissance 1300-nearly 1600
What does “Renaissance” mean? Time of creativity and great change Political Social Economic Cultural Shift from agricultural to urban society Trade became more important Creative thinking and new technology allowed people to comprehend and describe their world more accurately
Major Themes of the Renaissance Importance of classical learning Emphasis on the individual Adventurous spirit and willingness to experiment Focus on realism in art and literature Questioning of traditional religious ideas
A. Began in the cities of Northern Italy Florence, Venice, Genoa, Rome (Italian Renaissance/High Renaissance in Rome) - - why does the Renaissance begin here? 1. Wealthy families supported the arts (Medici of Florence) 2. Location for trade (florin)
B. It spread to France, England, the Netherlands, Low Countries (Benelux) Northern Renaissance 1. wars increased contact 2. Italian traders 3. travel to Italy to study 4. printing press (Johann Gutenberg/Johann Fust/Peter Schoffer) (Bible)
C. Many types of art, architecture, literature and thinking (less romantic, more realistic) 1. painting (Giotto, Leonardo, Masaccio, Raphael) – frescoes 2. sculpture (Michelangelo, Donatello, Ghiberti) 3. architecture (Brunelleschi) 4. literature and thinking…
Agree/Disagree Exercise
The ideal man in American society today is close to that of Castiglione’s description during the Renaissance: A young man should be well educated (in the Greek and Latin classics). He should be charming, polite and witty. He should be able to dance, write poetry, sing and play music. In addition, he should be physically graceful and strong, (a skilled rider, wrestler, and swordsman).
The ideal woman in American society today is close to that of Castiglione’s description during the Renaissance: A young woman should be well educated (in the Greek and Latin classics). She should write well, paint, make music, dance and be charming. She should not expect to seek fame. She should inspire poetry and art but not create it.
From Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Prince, these political statements are made: “The end justifies the means.” “a prince (king, president…) … must if necessary be prepared to do evil.” “From this arises the question whether it is better to be loved rather than feared, or feared rather than loved. It might perhaps be answered that we should wish to be both: but since love and fear can hardly exist together, if we must choose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved.” Agree/Disagree: Dictatorships are always a bad form of government.
a. Baldassare Castiglione 1. ideal man: well-educated in the Greek and Latin classics, charming, dance, write poetry, physically strong… 2. ideal woman: well-educated too, write well, but not seek fame, inspire but not create poetry…
b. Niccolo Machiavelli 1. The Prince: addressed how a ruler could stay in power in a “monarchy” where people are not active in political life 2. Discourses of....: how to preserve the liberty and independence of self-governing citizenry [in a democracy/republic] 3. today to be Machiavellian implies a person manipulates others in an opportunistic or deceptive way
c. Thomas More Utopia
d. William Shakespeare
e. Christian Humanists 1. Girolamo Savanarola: criticized the worldly ways of the Ren. and wanted people to turn back to the church, a strict church 2. Desiderius Erasmus: The Praise of Folly, attacked the Cath. Church and Popes who were too worldly/corrupt/advocated study of Christ’s life and ideas
Art and Artists Most glorious expression in paintings, sculpture and architecture Portrayed religious themes Set religious figures such as Jesus with classical Greek and Roman backgrounds Realism Rules of perspective allowed artists to create realistic art Scenes could appear three-dimensional A “Social Art” Rejected gothic architecture of the Middle Ages Adopted columns, arches and domes from Greece and Rome
Leonardo Da Vinci Thought of himself as an artist Botany, anatomy, optics, music, architecture, engineering Made sketches of flying machines and undersea boats centuries before actually built The Mona Lisa and The Last Supper
Michelangelo Buonarroti Sculptor, engineer, painter, architect, and poet Work reflects life-long spiritual and artistic struggles David and the Pieta Sistine Chapel in Rome Dome of St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome
Raphael Sanzio Artistic talent and “sweet and gracious nature” Blended Christian and classical styles Tender portrayals of the Madonna (mother of Jesus) The School of Athens
Exploration emerges during the Renaissance as an adventurous spirit and willingness to experiment continues…
From Heath book. Page 330 – perspective Page 336 – exploration Page Utopia