The Renaissance and Reformation
Essential Questions How can new ideas, such as those during the Renaissance, lead to changes in governments, religion, etc.? How can personal beliefs, such as religion, influence what a person says or how they act? How can differences in religious beliefs lead to conflict and violence? How did the formation of new religion help shape modern Europe? Why does the Renaissance mark the beginning of the modern world?
Beginning of the Renaissance What? - “rebirth” of classic art and learning When? – 1600 Where? - Initially Northern Italy
Why in Italy? 1. Classical Heritage Inspired by ancient Roman ruins also had ancient Greek manuscripts
Why in Italy? 2. Urban Centers Trade from the Crusades leads to large city- states in N. Italy (Venice, Milan, Florence) Northern Italy becomes urban, rest of Europe is rural Lots of people = exchanges of new ideas Black Death Businesses put money into arts
Why in Italy? 3. Merchants Most powerful class - dominated politics Felt they deserved power because they obtained wealth on their own achievements Florence – Medici family
The Godfather – Cosimo de Medici Had power for 30 years – public office for only 6 months Controlled Florence in 2 ways Economic devices Public relations
Economic Devices Largest employer in Florence Bribery (beneficium-officium) Taxes Income tax to favor friends/punish enemies Manipulated city economic records Invented double-entry banking (city’s $ and Medici $ same thing)
Public Relations Patron of the arts 1 st Public Library Paid people to make copies of books Bought art collections of those owing a lot of taxes Sponsored Church council (World’s Fair) with his own money Put art in public (more in private)
Other Medici Piero (maintained power – that’s about it) Lorenzo “the Magnificent” ( ) Magnificent proboscis? Patron of the arts Poet Arthritic Lucky
Lorenzo’s Luck Ran afoul of the church Pazzi Conspiracy to kill all Medici Italian politics in action Lorenzo’s death (duhn duhn duhn)
Some results of Renaissance 1. Humanism – focus on human potential and achievement 1. Study history, literature, art, philosophy (humanities) 2. Secularism – worldly/concerned with here and now 1. Middle ages – wore plain clothes, ate plain foods to prove humility 3. Renaissance Man 1. Charming, witty, well-educated, dances, sings, poetic, good fighter/swordsman, and self-control
Christian Humanists Erasmus - The Praise of Folly (attacked Catholic clergy) Thomas More - Utopia – “No Place” - No greed or corruption, no need for money
Renaissance Men Cosimo de Medici Petrarch Leonardo
Not everyone thought humanism and secularism were the proper way to do things. There was one man…
Girolamo Savonarola Essential Question - How can personal beliefs, such as religion, influence what a person says or how they act?
Retentive Man -Born 1452 (about same time as Leonardo) -Dominican Friar -Hated humanism – wanted religious revival -Didn’t like money or Greek and Latin literature -Insulted business community -Spoke against palaces, interest, buying luxuries, gambling, fine clothing, use of cosmetics
More… -Didn’t like Renaissance Art -Luxuries led to effeminacy -Office for Investigation for Nocturnal Traffic (50 florin fine if caught – avg. income = 300 florins) -Wanted death penalty (stoned nearly to death and then burned alive) Not good at public speaking until…
He has a vision (suddenly becomes very interesting to hear)
Savonarola’s Salvation 250 people join Dominican Convent in Florence Organized “Bands of Hope” to enforce morality Medici flee from Florence Bonfire of the Vanities Makes pope very nervous, invites Savonarola to dinner
Savonarola’s Salvation Public opinion turned against Savonarola (they blamed him for French capture of Pisa – Florence port to sea) Challenged to “ordeal” End of Savonarola (charged w/ treason) – Medici return to power Results – had Florence in his power for years because of religion