1. European Renaissance

2. Renaissance humanism secular patron perspective vernacular
Words to know
Renaissance
humanism
secular
patron
perspective
vernacular

3. Renaissance
(REHN-ih-SAHNS) means rebirth. In this case the rebirth of art and learning.
During the Middle Ages, Europeans suffered from both war and plague. By the year 1300, they started to question the structures of medieval society.
Educated people started to reject medieval values and look to the classical past for ideas

4. Renaissance Europe

5. Italy- Home of the Renaissance
The Renaissance began in northern Italy around 1300.
Italy had 3 advantages that fostered the Renaissance
Thriving cities
A wealthy merchant class
The classical heritage of Greece and Rome

6. NO! There would be no unified country known as Italy until the late 1800’s.

7. Italian City States

8. New trade routes
New trade routes lead to the growth of large city-states in northern Italy. (a city state is a city which is governed on its own, it is not part of a larger country).
Northern Italy was urban while the rest of Europe was still rural

10. The Bubonic Plague
The bubonic plague struck cities of Europe, killing 60% of the population.
As a result, laborers could demand higher wages and shrank opportunities for business expansion.
With limited opportunities for business expansion, wealthy merchants began to pursue interests such as art.

11. Florence
was one of the most powerful city states. It collected taxes and had its own army.
Because it was relatively small, a large number of citizens were involved in politics

12. Life in Florence
Merchants were the wealthiest, most powerful class in Florence. They dominated politics.
Merchants did not inherit social rank, they had to earn it in business.

13. Cosimo De Medici
The most powerful family in Florence was the De Medici family.
The De Medicis made a fortune in trade and banking.
Cosimo was the wealthiest European of his time.

14. Cosimo de Medici A very good banker.
Gave huge loans to the city of Florence.
Loved to study ancient Greek and Roman books.
Spend much of his money on art and architecture.

15. Lorenzo de Medici He was the grandson of Cosimo
Wanted Florence to be the centre of art and education in Europe.
Paid artists a lot of money to create a beautiful buildings, sculptures and paintings.

16. Return to Classical Style
Wealthy merchants such as the DeMedicis aided the Renaissance by supporting the arts.
Renaissance scholars looked down on the art and literature of The Middle Ages, they wanted to return to the works of the ancient Greeks and Romans.

17. Humanism
The study of classical works led to humanism, which focused on human potential and achievements.
What does that mean?

18. Secular life becomes the norm
Rather than showing their faith by wearing rough clothes or eating plain foods, the church became more worldly or secular.
Instead of salvation, they were concerned with now

19. ABOVE ALL HE SHOULD HAVE SELF CONTROL!!!
The Renaissance Man
A “Renaissance Man” was a man who strove to achieve in every area of study.
A young man should be charming, witty and well educated in the classics. He should dance, sing, play music and write poetry. He should be a skilled rider, wrestler and swordsman.
ABOVE ALL HE SHOULD HAVE SELF CONTROL!!!

20. The Renaissance Woman
Upper class women were expected to know the classics and be charming.
Women were not expected to seek fame. They were expected to inspire art, but rarely to create it.
Women were better educated than women of the Middle Ages, but had less influence than medieval women did.