1. Key Terms – The Renaissance and Humanism
The Medicis
Patrons
Secularism
Leonardo Da Vinci
Michaelangelo Buonarroti
Andrea Palladio
Humanism
Dante Aligheri
William Shakespeare
Miguel de Cervantes
Niccolo Machiavelli

2. Background
The flow of wealth from trade and the new sights seen through exploration brought a flood of new ideas into Europe during the 14th and 15th Centuries.
People began to focus more on themselves rather than what could happen in the future or the afterlife.
Considering this period occurs after the Plague, many view it as the rebirth of Europe or a Renaissance.
Renaissance → term used to describe the renewed interest in classical culture and the surge of creativity that occurred in Europe.

3. Italy in the 15th Century
Italy was controlled by three different groups during the 15th Century.
The popes controlled the Papal States, the traders and merchants in essence ran the Italian City-States and the Holy Roman Empire controlled Northern Italy.
All of these territories rivaled each other and forced a change in lifestyle for many to be able to compete for wealth.

4. The Medicis and Patronage
Most of the city-states had their own governments.
One of which, Florence, was run by a prominent banking family known as the Medicis.
The Medicis would use their wealth to fund the ventures of artists, inventors, and scientists.
Since they would usually end up buying what is produced, they are considered patrons.

5. Changes in Thinking
Art was initially reserved for the Church as artists made stained glass paintings, sculptures, and murals based on religious figures and events.
Under the patronage of others, artists began to focus on worldly aspects for their inspiration.
Secularism → the focus on what can be experienced here and now.
Artists now drew the human form, historical events and other aspects of the world creating brilliant new forms of art.

6. Leonardo da Vinci
Da Vinci → famous sculptor, architect, painter, scientist and engineer during the Renaissance.
Da Vinci would paint two famous masterpieces; The Last Supper and the Mona Lisa
He would also leave behind many blueprints for items that would not be seen for many years to come such as a flying machine and a machine gun.

7. Leonardo da Vinci

8. Michaelangelo
Michaelangelo → poet, sculptor and artist from the Renaissance.
He was supported by the Medicis and is most known for his painting within the Sistine Chapel of the Dawn of Man
He is also known for building the dome on St. Peter's Church.

9. Michaelangelo

10. Andrea Palladio
Palladio → famous architect from the Renaissance period.
Was an architect greatly influenced by Roman architecture which greatly influenced his construction of the Church of San Giorgio among other buildings throughout Italy.

11. Humanism
Just like art managed to move away from religion and become more secular, as did literature.
Writers began to turn away from just living and reading the Bible and began to study the ancient Greek and Roman writings.
They believed that it was time for man to focus on himself and the now instead of worrying what will happen in the afterlife.
This belief is known as humanism.

12. Dante Alighieri
Dante → famous writer during the 14th Century, responsible for the Divine Comedy.
The Divine Comedy is used by many as the basis for what eternal punishment could be like.
The work focused on the movement of man through the circles of hell.

13. William Shakespeare
Shakespeare → playwright responsible for assisting in a cultural rebirth in London.
Known to have written many famous plays.
Helped contribute to a new dialect of English known as Shakespearean or Elizabethan English

14. Miguel de Cervantes
Cervantes → Spanish writer who contributed to the Renaissance period.
Wrote Don Quixote, a story about an old man who fashioned himself as a knight and went on many misadaventures.

15. Niccolo Machiavelli
Machiavelli → political writer who spoke how one should govern.
Wrote the Prince which was used as the basis for absolute monarchy.
“It is better to feared, than loved.”