2. RENAISSANCE
The time from about 1400 to 1600 in which Europeans entered an age of thought, learning, art, and science; a French word meaning “rebirth”.

3. Fall of Rome
Today
Ancient Times
Modern Times
Middle Ages
Renaissance

4. End of the Middle Ages
Black Plague killed one quarter to one third of the population of Europe
Wars between European kingdoms killed many others
Widespread destruction led to great changes– END OF FEUDALISM
Peasants were no longer held by feudal lords, they moved to cities for work
People began to question how things were

5. Rebirth
Around the time of the Plague, an Italian scholar named Petrarch re-discovered Ancient Roman texts
He and others began searching for Ancient writing to learn about
This rediscovery led many people to try to recreate the writing and art of the Ancient Greeks and Romans
Emphasized reason, a questioning attitude and free inquiry, in contrast to the medieval concern with faith, authority and tradition

6. During the Middle Ages, the Earth was believed to be flat and small
Example of Rebirth
About 200 BC, Greek scholar Eratosthenes correctly calculated the size & shape of the Earth
During the Middle Ages, the Earth was believed to be flat and small
The rebirth of Ancient learning showed people that the Earth was really round
Columbus and Magellan used that information to find a western route to Asia

7. Humanism
Scholars like Petrarch liked the Ancients' emphasis on the individual rather than the church
Focused on the study of grammar, rhetoric, literature, philosophy and history like the Ancients had studied
Became known as humanism--
A philosophy that all people should strive to be educated and learned in the classical arts, literature, and science and not only look to religion
Brought back curiosity, which had been seen as sinful

8. The Renaissance started in Italy-- Why?
Trade had led to large city states - & large cities.
Italy was urban while most of Europe was still rural

9. The Renaissance started in Italy-- Why?
Plague killed 1/3 of the population so there were fewer laborers – survivors could choose to leave and move to cities
Make more money to spend on art, literature etc.
Italy had many patrons

10. Patrons The Medici Family
Powerful banking family that ruled Florence during the Renaissance
Cosmo de Medici
Lorenzo de Medici– “Il Magnifico” (his son is Pope Leo X)
Giovanni de Medici (Pope Leo X)
Huge patrons of the arts – spent their money to pay for artists and writers

11. Art
Artists were held in a higher regard than they had been during the Middle Ages
Artists used the scientific method and studied human anatomy
Patrons began supporting art and beautifying their buildings and churches
Brunelleschi– dome
Donatello-- sculpture
Botticelli-- paintings
Leonardo da Vinci-- paintings and inventions
Raphael-- paintings
Michelangelo-- paintings and sculpture

12. Science More and More people began asking the question Why?
Scientists like Nicolas Copernicus, and Galileo Galilei sought answers to the world’s mysteries
Many new discoveries and inventions changed the way people saw the world
Leonardo da Vinci (Italy)
Copernicus (Poland)
Galileo (Italy)
Johannes Kepler (Germany)
Francis Bacon (England)
Robert Hooke (England)

13. Literature
Literature-- stories, poems and plays-- were inspired by humanist and Renaissance ideas
Deal with human ideas as well as religion
Dante Alighieri (Italy)-- “The Inferno”
William Shakespeare (England)-- “Romeo & Juliet,” “Hamlet,” & “Midsummer Night's Dream”
Miguel Cervantes (Spain)-- “Don Quixote”

14. Religion
The Church ceased to be the only institution providing education
Society became more secular, or more independent of the church
The Church was challenged by the work of Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation
King Henry VIII of England split from the Catholic Church and started the Church of England
Scientific discoveries challenged many Church and Biblical claims

15. Exploration
Increased curiosity and rediscovery of past knowledge led to exploring the world
Many lands previously unknown to Europeans were discovered during this period, though most were already inhabited
From the perspective of many non-Europeans it marked the arrival of settlers and invaders from a previously unknown continent
Magellan (Spain)
Columbus (Italy/ Spain)

16. Ordinary People
The Black Plague had ended and medical techniques improved
More people had access to education. What made this possible?
Trade increased as merchants sold goods from far-away places
More people moved into cities. How would that improve lives?
Nobles and the middle class could afford art and luxuries
Most people were peasants, however, and their lives changed very little