1. The Renaissance Rebirth of Western Europe

2. Why “Rebirth”? The word Renaissance means rebirth.
Used to describe the time that followed the Middle Ages
The Renaissance was a time of new thought and advancement.
New ways of thinking developed in the areas of art, architecture, science, philosophy, and politics.

3. Italian City-States
During the Renaissance, Italy was a collection of city-states, each with its own ruler—the Pope in Rome, the Medici family in Florence, the Doge in Venice, the Sforza family in Milan, the Este family in Ferrara
Among the ruling families of these city-states there was conflict and intense rivalry—either by open
warfare or through economic and artistic
competition.

4. Renaissance Trade Routes

5. The States of Italy during the Renaissance, c.1494

6. Medici Family Medici Family: Bankers from Florence
Florence: center of the Renaissance movement (because of the Medici family support)

7. Patrons:
Patron: Someone who provides support to a specific cause and/or person/people
For example:
The Medici Family funded many Renaissance Artists.
The Pope was also a patron of Renaissance art.

8. In Renaissance Italy Money Could Buy You a lot of Things
                                                                                                                     
Fine Clothing
Expensive Things
Good Food
But most importantly, it could buy you RESPECT
Glorify God That's the way to get a rich rascal like yourself into heaven
Glorify your city That's the way to get ahead in politics and power
Glorify yourself and your family That's the way to real immortality

9. Can art buy my way into heaven?
Why Patrons Gave
In Renaissance Italy, making money and getting rich was considered sinful—the Catholic Church even banned banks from charging interest on loans!
That didn't stop anyone from trying to get rich…
Those who got rich usually felt an obligation to give something back to society. A work of art became a popular item for rich bankers and merchants to commission on behalf of their family, their city, or their God.
Can art buy my way into heaven?

10. The Printing Press Invented by Johann Gutenberg in 1455
How did it work?
Block letters were held together by a wooden form. Ink was rolled over the raised surfaces and then pressed against a sheet of paper.
How were books made before the invention of the printing press?

11. “What gunpowder did for war the printing press has done for the mind”
Books could be produced quickly and with relatively little effort
Bookmaking became less expensive
More people could afford to buy books
People began demanding books that were printed in the vernacular
Literacy rates went up
People start to learn about Humanism
Vernacular: the native language of a place (Italian, French, German, etc)

12. HUMANISM
During the Middle Ages, scholars had been guided by the teachings of the church, and people had concerned themselves with actions leading to heavenly rewards
SPIRITUAL
During the Renaissance, Western Europeans rediscovered the classics of Ancient Greece and Rome and became more focused on humans, their intellect and life here on earth
SECULAR