1. Humanism and the Italian renaissance
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2. The renaissance French for “rebirth” High Renaissance 1450-1527
From re (again) and nascere (to be born)
High Renaissance
Art flourished most during this period
Renaissance transition from Medieval to Modern Europe
Awakening of human spirit- feelings and thoughts
Not religious or scientific but rather moral and personal
Growing lay and secular control of thought and culture, including religion

3. Growth of Italian city-state
Five major city-states evolved:
Milan
The republics of Florence and Venice
The Papal States
Kingdom of Naples

4. City-state
Renaissance society took shape within the merchant cities of late medieval Italy
During the 13th and 14th centuries, trade-rich cities became powerful city-states, dominating the political and economic life of the surrounding countryside
By 15th century, great Italian cities were the bankers of much of Europe
A unique urban rich emerged in Italy comprised of the local nobility and new rich
The city-states had become independent and prosperous because of the expansion of commerce during the 11th and 12th centuries
The Italian peninsula formed a natural point of exchange between East and West

5. Social class and conflict
Florence was an example of social division and anarchy
Four social groups of Florence
Grandi – the old rich, or nobles, and wealthy merchants who traditionally had ruled the city
Popolo grosso (“Fat people”)- the newly rich merchant class, capitalists, and bankers, who began to challenge the old rich for political power
Middle burgher ranks of guild masters, shop owners, and professionals, the smaller business people- tended to side with the new rich
Popolo Minuto (“little people”)- the lower economic classes
Paupers – in 1457, 1/3 of the population of Florence – no wealth at all
Ciompi Revolt- great uprising of the poor that occurred in Florence in 1378
Life was unbearable for the lower classes b/c—
Feuding between the old rich and new rich
Social anarchy created when the Black Death cut the city’s population in half
The collapse of great banking families- Bardi and Peruzzi
Stability does not return until the Medici family rises in 1434

6. Florence and the Medici family
Florentine banker and statesman, Cosimo de’ Medici takes control in 1434
Family was wealthy from banking and the manufacture and commerce of textiles
Cosimo banished prominent members of the most powerful rival clans
Florentine nobles generally accepted Medici rule because stability contributed to prosperity
Signoria- a council of first six and later 8 members governed the city- these men were chosen from the most powerful guilds, mainly those representing the major clothing industries (cloth, wool, fur, and silk) and such other groups as bankers, judges, and doctors

7. Despotism in Renaissance Italy
Cosimo’s grandson- Lorenzo the Magnificent- ruled Florence in a totalitarian fashion during the last quarter of the 15th century
Oligarchies hired strongmen or despots known as Podesta to maintain law and order
Condottieri- military brokers who sent mercenary armies who were hired by the despots of the different city-states
Lorenzo’s brother had been assassinated by a rival family, the Pazzi, who had plotted with the pope against the Medicis which made Lorenzo a cautious ruler
* since the despots could not rely on the loyalty of their divided populace, they relied on mercenaries who were contracted through the condottieri
Whether within the comparatively tranquil republic of Venice, the strong-arm democracy of Florence, or the undisguised despotism of Milan, the disciplined Italian city proved congenial climate for an unprecedented flowering of thought and culture. Italian Renaissance culture was promoted as vigorously by despots as by republicans and as enthusiastically by secularized popes as by the more spiritually minded. Such widespread support occurred because the main requirement for patronage of the arts and letters was the one thing Italian cities of the High Renaissance had in abundance – great wealth

8. Understanding the renaissance
The Values: Humanism Individualism Secularism

9. Humanism
“the study of humanity”
Scholars debate on meaning of humanism
Humanism is the birth of modernity, driven by an anti-Christian philosophy that stressed the dignity of humankind, individual, and secularism
Humanists as the champions of Catholic Christianity, opposing the pagan teachings of Aristotle
Humanism is a form of historic scholarship adopted to promote a sense of civic responsibility and political liberty
Some historians believe that humanism was not a philosophy or value system, but an educational program built on rhetoric and scholarship

10. Humanism Humanism emphasized: a) human beings b) human achievements
c) human capabilities
From studia humanitatis
Coined by Cicero- to describe the education of a cultivated human being
Cicero considered this important for anyone who considered himself civilized

11. Humanists
Humanists turned their backs on medieval scholasticism— they believed it was irrelevant
Proclaimed the writers of antiquity to be heroes worthy of emulation
Humanism stood as an alternative approach to knowledge and culture
Teach the “art of living”
Believed the period between themselves and classical civilization was a “dark middle age”

12. Humanism
First humanists were orators and poets, wrote literature in classical languages and vernacular, taught rhetoric and grammar at universities, and worked at princely courts as secretaries, speechwriters, and diplomats
Early humanists-
Petrarch- father of humanism
Dante Alighieri
Boccaccio

13. Petrarch – father of humanism
Celebrated ancient Rome in his Letters to the Ancient Dead
Wrote letters to Cicero, Livy, Vergil, and Horace
Most famous contemporary work- collection of love sonnets to Laura a married woman he admired
Classical and Christian values coexist uneasily in his work
However he was far more secular than his counterpart– Dante (Divine Comedy)
Boccaccio was his student and friend and also a pioneer of humanist studies

14. Educational reforms and goals
Humanists were innovative educators
Kept constantly looking for new sources of information
In this search they assembled magnificent manuscript collections, treating them as potent medicines for the ills of society, capable of enlightening the minds of anyone who read them
Goal:
Wisdom eloquently spoken, both knowledge of the good and the ability to move others to desire it
Learning is not supposed to be abstract or unpracticed
Learning ennobled people

15. Humanistic studies not confined to classroom….
Baldassare Castiglione’s Book of Courtier
Illustrates that the rediscovered knowledge of the past was a model and challenge for the present
Wrote a practical guide for nobility
The successful courtier is one who knows how to integrate knowledge of ancient languages and history with athletic, military, and musical skills, while at the same time practicing good manners and exhibiting a high moral character

16. Noblewomen
Privileged, educated, noblewomen also promoted new education and culture
Christine de Pisan – Italian born, astrologer of French king Charles V
Became an expert in classical, French, and Italian languages
The Treasure of the City of Ladies – chronical of accomplishments of great women

17. Florentine Academy and Platonism
Renaissance scholars embraced the Greek scholar Plato
Platonism appealed to Renaissance scholars due to its flattering view of human nature
Pico’s Oration on the Dignity of Man is influenced by Platonism
Perhaps the most famous Renaissance statement on the nature of humankind
Depicts human beings as the only creatures capable of controlling their own destiny- capable of rising to the level of angels but also just as quickly wallowing with pigs
Cosimo de Medici provided the patronage to create the Florentine Platonic Academy
Not an actual school, but rather an informal gathering of Renaissance humanists devoted to Plato

18. Civic humanism
Idea that education should promote individual virtue and public service
Idea of being well-rounded
Best examples in Florence- three humanists served as chancellors of the city
Leonardo Bruni- an intellectual and statesman