1. The Renaissance
The Renaissance was a time of great change, creativity and innovation politically, socially and economically. Renaissance is a French word meaning rebirth; it refers to the rebirth of classical Greek and Roman information that formed the foundation of new ideas in this period.

2. How did we get there?? Key features of the Middle Ages
How did these begin to change?
Renaissance predictions: How did they continue to develop?
Manors
Feudalism
Castles
Knights/ chivalry
Church/ crusades
Plague/ revolts
Towns develop and gain power – middle class
Declines – nobility decreases/ kings get more power
War technology makes castles & knights obsolete
Gains incredible power but is starting to be questioned
Demand better quality of life – less competition/ more social mobility

3. Renaissance characteristics:
Individuality: sense of unique self, ideas and abilities
Independence: freedom from control or influence of others
Well-roundedness: interest and education in many different fields
Humanism: value of humanity/ its achievements and the ability to choose one’s own destiny
Inquiry: curiosity and the desire to learn
Skepticism: questioning/ doubting attitude – reason over faith
Classicism: interest in the classical age (Greek/ Roman)
Secularism: value of worldly things opposed to religious things
Wealth: value of money over land – money provided you with the free time to pursue other things
Civic responsibility: active participation in society and government
*People who embodied these qualities were highly valued in society and referred to as Renaissance Men.

4. Why Italy? - geography Good harbours: developed into trade centres
Mountains: made it difficult to develop many trade centers so their was less competition and existing ones were very successful
Mild climate: weather did not disrupt travel, trade and commerce; also made food available all year so people could have more time for other activities
Closer to Africa & Middle East: technologies and trade goods received / trade was easier and cheaper as a result
Trade = wealth = art

5. Why Italy? - History
Most of Italy still used Roman Law – unified legal code made commerce and trade easier between different regions
Remainders of Roman artwork and architecture located in Italy: classical inspiration
Muslims ruled Sicily at one point
(introduced science, medicine, astronomy, oranges, lemons, coffee, sugar)

6. Trade & City States
The Renaissance did not come out of a great empire.
Independent City-States became wealthy as a result of trade and business.

7. Prosperity of the Arts
Wealthy merchants and bankers became patrons of the arts.
These people supported the works of artists because they wanted to be known for their generosity.
They hired painters to paint portraits, create statues, and make their cities more beautiful.

8. The Medici Family
The richest and most powerful family in Renaissance Italy (300 years)
They were wool and silk merchants, as well as bankers.
Built alliances with other wealthy families
Lorenzo the Magnificent sponsored artists like Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci

9. Giovanni Pico della Mirandola
The Oration on the Dignity of Man
“You who are confined by no limits, shall determine yourself your own nature, in accordance with your own free will, in whose hand I have placed you. I have set you at the centre of the world, so that from there you may more easily survey whatever is in the world… You may fashion yourself in whatever form you shall prefer”
What is he saying?
How does this compare to what people in the Middle Ages believed?
How does this compare to what you believe?

10. What is humanism?
Humanists were more concerned with the goals of humans than with spiritual matters
Believed in the power of reason to find truth instead of relying on the Bible or other religious teachings
Believed each person had the ability to choose and create his or her own identity
This represented a great change from the medieval beliefs, where God decided fate
However, Renaissance humanism did not mean rejecting religion!
They believed humans possess great dignity because they were made in the “image of God”

11. Francesco Petrarch
obsessed with studying the classics. Wanted to emphasize beauty in art.
Believed the truly cultured person made an effort to read good books, see great works of art, and travel widely.
A well-rounded person who was skilled in many different areas became the true “Renaissance Man”

12. Girolamo Savonarola some Church leaders lived in wealth and luxury
Savonarola was a friar in the Dominican order and spent his life trying to end corruption
Arrived in Florence in 1490 and began attacking the luxuries people surrounded themselves with.
They built huge bonfires and burned their wigs, makeup, books, etc. These were known as “bonfires of the vanities”
When Savonarola spoke out against Pope Alexander VI, however, the crowds who had once admired Savonarola turned against him. He was sent to prison, tortured and then hung and burned.

13. Niccolo Machiavelli
Was frequently sent on diplomatic missions to foreign courts where he saw first-hand the treachery and dishonesty of Italian politics
Believed in RESULTS – taught people how best to win and hold onto power (not how to be an honourable ruler)
The term “Machiavellian” has come to refer to the use of dishonesty
Machiavelli vs. Savonarola

14. How Machiavellian are you?
“It is better to be feared than loved”
“By no means can a prudent leader keep his word”
“A man forgets more easily the death of his father than the loss of his money”
“If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared.”
“The end justifies the means. If you have a good purpose, any way you go about accomplishing it in all right”