1. The Beginning of the Renaissance
Essential Question: What factors led to the beginning of the Renaissance in Italy?

2. The Plague 1350-1450 the bubonic plague (aka the black death)
Killed one half of the population of Europe (est. 25 million)
Spread rapidly in cities
Why?

5. In the cities people lived in close contact
People tried to avoid disease by fleeing to the countryside
Not everyone could afford to flee to the countryside

6. Population decrease led to an economic depression
Merchants had fewer people to sell their goods to
Those who dealt with merchants and tradesmen also lost revenue
As the plague died out in the late 1400s, a new middle class emerged

7. New Middle Class
As the economy grew, merchants, bankers and tradespeople had a surplus of income
Desired bigger homes, more expensive clothing
This too stimulated the economy
newly acquired leisure time was used for education and entertainment
Education was important to middle class jobs
Bankers and accountants needed to know arithmetic
Traders needed knowledge of foreign money and language
Reading was important for understanding contracts

8. Merchants commissioned art and built universities in their cities
Men and women enjoyed reading for pleasure, learning to play musical instruments
Merchants commissioned art and built universities in their cities
Turned cities into centers of learning and culture

9. Resurgence of cities
Many coastal Italian cities became centers for trade
One of these cities was Florence
The Medici family was a important noble family who made their wealth through banking and trade

10. Trade was important to the beginning of the Renaissance
Trade with the East allowed for the re-awakening of classical art
Trade with the East brought new art and food to Europe
Venice was the connection between East and West