1. Italian Renaissance

2. Renaissance Means rebirth 1350-1550 Greek and Roman worlds
Power of church declined
Worldly viewpoint developed as wealth increased
Individual ability and well rounded person
Upper classes more than lower

3. Okay but where specifically?
Milan, Venice, and Florence
Prospered from trade with Islam and Mediterranean cultures (Crusades/Black Death)
Francesco Sforza
Cosimo de’Medici
Lorenzo de’ Medici

4. So what happened?
The Medici family “rule” Florence (the first Godfather)
1440 economy declines and Girolamo Savonarola takes over the city
Charles VIII (France) sends army of 30,000 to Italy. 30 years a battleground
1527 Spanish troops sack Rome
Spain now dominates Italy

5. Machiavelli Writes the Prince About political power in Western world
How rulers get and keep power
Power should be based on principle that human nature is self-interested
A prince should not act on moral principle but on behalf of state (country)

6. Society in Renaissance
Three social classes
Nobles
Peasants (85-90%)
Towns people
Castiglione- Book of the Courtier describes what a perfect Renaissance noble does
Arranged marriages father-husband center of family
His authority was absolute