1. Unit #1 – Renaissance and Reformation Lesson #1 – Impact of the Middle Ages & of new Renaissance ideas

2. What WAS the Renaissance?
Started in 1400s
Technically, it’s a “rebirth” of something
Petrarch called the “middle ages”: DARK AGES
He said the GREEKS (500 BC – 300 BC) and ROMANS (300 BC – AD 500) were more civilized
He said humans needed a “Renaissance” of their values to be truly human
Thus, the birth of Humanism
Petrarch: the “father of Humanism”

3. GREEKS Gave us a good example of culture: Theater Democracy
Government “for the people”

4. ROMANS Exceptional builders, inventors, and civic involvement
Respected law and order, service to fellow man

5. AFTER ROMANS…
They fought
They farmed
They died
They prayed

6. Why did Petrarch call his era “dark”?
Why did almost nobody notice his issue, or him during his time?

7. Culture of the Middle Ages
90% of people lived like animals
Life was short
Married young
Women had MANY pregnancies
“Little Ice Age” ( )
Rivers froze, crops never ripened
Torrential rains ruined crops
Poor harvest == mass starvation => poor birth rates
– “the Great Famine” – peasants forced to sell land to rich nobles
Fiefs and Vassals
Middle Ages society based on system of loyalty sold for protection
Nobles walled in property (FIEFS)
Knights swore allegiance to higher nobles (VASSALAGE)
Created a hierarchy – king at pinnacle

8. Homes in the Middle Ages
Um… what is that…
a barn?!

9. Renaissance looked back for inspiration

10. The Power of the Church Power led to corruption
Formed in 4th century before fall of Rome
Combined Christian beliefs & Roman customs
HIGHLY symbolic and impressive image
Powerful influence on all lives:
Controlled calendar of holidays
Officiated most events
Crusades
Sale of INDULGENCES
4m doc
Go up to 2:30
WHY WILL ALL THAT POWER MATTER?
Power led to corruption
Abuses of power; living well & immoral
Simony (selling relics)

11. Early challenges to the Church
John Wycliffe (English)(~1375)
Issues:
Papal infallibility
Sale of Indulgences
Transubstantiation
Adding “truth” to scripture
Followers:
Lollards
Encouraged clerical poverty
Was discredited after a peasants revolt
Luther would remember this
Jan Huss (Czech)(~1405)
Continued Wycliffe’s work in HRE
Hussites
Excommunicated 1410
Outlawed 1414
Executed 1415

12. Black Death Cause: 1347 – ship from Asia – crew mostly dead
Disease spread across continent FAST
Within 100 years, 40% of population was dead
No known cause
No known cure
No known defense
Church was expected to find answers – had none
4m doc
Bring out your dead
Results:
HOW WILL THIS EFFECT THE POWER OF THE CHURCH?
Church prestige damaged
Villages abandoned
Value of peasants grew

13. Renaissance Italy

14. Communes and Republics
City-states became “Communes” (sworn associations led by merchant guilds)
WHO IS IN CHARGE IN A COMMUNE?
Challenged by Popolo (commoners)
HOW COULD THE RABBLE EFFECTIVELY CHALLENGE MECHANT GUILD LEADERSHIP?
could be violent (if taxed too much or disenfranchised too much)
WHAT WOULD THE MERCHANT GUILD LEADERSHIP NEED TO CONTROL THE POPOLO?
Would lead to a need for Machiavellianism
WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT IS?

15. Communes and Republics
Usually, republics were outwitted by a single clever one man (Signori), or Oligarchies
Some became to powerful the took over government and formed elected bodies – above the “elite”
Signori lived like kings – developed beautiful Courts
WHY WOULD THEY FEEL A NEED TO HAVE FANCY OSTENTACIOUSNESS SURROUND THEM?
A show of power – palaces and elaborate ceremony
Would look for ways to display power and wealth and culture
WHAT WILL THIS LEAD TO?

16. City States and Balance of Power
The “big five”
Milan –Sforza (Signori)
Florence –Medici (banking) Family
Papal States
Naples
Venice – huge trade empire
Big ones controlled smaller ones
Balance of Power – worked until the Italian Wars of
PEACE OF LODI (1454)
Milan, Naples and Florence

17. Trade and Prosperity Each city-state was like its own country
Venice and Genoa – rich from sea trade
Developed trade monopolies
Florence – location is everything!
FLORENTINE
BANKING (crossroads)
Led to wealth for more individuals (ex: Medici)

18. Shattering of Lodi Italian independence would come to an end
Sforza family of Milan wanted to diminish the financial (and military) power of Venice
Invited Charles VIII of France to Invade and beat on Venice (never intended for them to stay!)
Invasion: 1494 (25,000 man army)
French army plundered most of Italy… unopposed
Venice formed LEAGUE OF VENICE (1494)
Venice, Milan (ha!!), Spain and HRE
Later included Papal States and Florence
United, they cut off Charles and pushed him out of Italy
Problem:
this became all about Spain vs. France