1. The beginning of the Modern Period A period of transition
The Renaissance
The beginning of the Modern Period
A period of transition

2. “renaissance” means rebirth
The Renaissance began a period of renewed interest and engagement with “classical” (Ancient Greece and Rome) learning, culture, literature, art, style, etc.

3. How did the Renaissance change thought?
Before
Focus on Afterlife
The Individual not important
Little focus on learning and
the arts
“Dark” Ages
Age of “Faith”
After
Focus on this life
The Individual is important
Focus on learning the “Classics” (The Iliad, Aristotle) to inspire learning and the arts
“Rebirth”
Age of Reason

4. Two Major Divisions of the Renaissance

5. The Italian Renaissance
The Italian Renaissance (occurred first)
Focused on the city-states of northern Italy and Rome
The Italian Renaissance tended to be more worldly with a great emphasis on secular pursuits, the humanities, and the arts
Wealth and power
Knowledge was the key

6. Renaissance: Italy
Major trading cities: Milan, Florence, Genoa, Venice
Florence wealthy from wool and banking
Medici family were bankers with political power
Hired artists and architects to make Florence great

7. Often called the “Father” of Renaissance humanism
The Italian poet, Petrarch

8. Renaissance: People
Focus on humans and their abilities and actions (humanism)
Machiavelli wrote The Prince
Said rulers should be mean instead of nice
“End justifies the Means”

9. Humanism Really an old idea from Ancient Greece and Rome9
Humanism
Really an old idea from Ancient Greece and Rome
Based on the Socratic and Platonic ideas of observation and reasoning
Idea that man, not God, was the center of the universe
Man controls his own destiny
Man can learn about and understand his world by observation and reason without God’s help
Helped spark a new age of secular learning and the development of early modern schools and universities such as Oxford and Cambridge
Led many to question both governments and the institutional Church 9 9

10. The Northern Renaissance
The Northern Renaissance occurred later
Involved the regions of Northern Europe
England
Spain
France
Germanic regions (Holy Roman Empire)
The Netherlands

11. Northern Renaissance
The spread of the Renaissance was delayed in Northern Europe
War and political unrest
Hundred Years’ War
War of the Roses in Britain
Plague and famine

12. Major Themes of the Renaissance
Humanism (both secular and religious)
Human potential, human progress, expansion of human knowledge
Secularism-greater emphasis on non-religious values and concerns
Individualism-focus on the unique qualities and abilities of the individual person

13. Major Historical Events of the Renaissance Period
Age of Exploration (Period of European Expansion)
Protestant Reformation and the Religious Wars
Scientific Revolution- Rise of Modern Science
The Rise of the Modern Nation-state

14. Background of the Renaissance- High and Late Middle Ages
Increased trade and commercial activity during the High Middle Ages
Urbanization-growth of cities and towns
Commercial and business developments (banking)
Middle class merchant elite developed
Decline in feudalism
A decline in the Church’s hold and control on society and government
Growth in vernacular literature/growing literacy
Rise of universities and the expansion of learning

15. The Birthplace of the Renaissance
The city-states of Northern Italy
Florence was the center of the Renaissance
Italy was politically fragmented and the city-states often fought for power and control
City-states came to be ruled by wealthy and powerful business people (not necessarily nobility)
Signori- (despots) and oligarchies (group of individuals) maintained order

16. Major center of trade, banking, cloth production, and the arts
Florence
Major center of trade, banking, cloth production, and the arts

19. The Medici family of Florence
The most powerful family of the Italian Renaissance
Came to power through business dealings and banking
Bank of the Vatican and the papacy
Spent tremendous amounts of money supporting the arts and cultural development (patrons)
Medici power often involved corruption and intrigue

20. The Medici Family

21. Medici Pope

22. “The Adoration of the Magi” depicts the Medici family in procession -Celebration of Medici power and influence

23. Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) The Prince
Machiavelli was from Florence
Well educated in the classics
Career was in public service and he eventually served as the ambassador to France
Favored republican rule over despotism
Machiavelli was tortured and imprisoned for a time when Medici rule was reinstated after a conflict with a Spanish mercenary army
He retired to the country and wrote The Prince

24. The Prince Written in Italian (not Latin)
Observations and commentary on political rule and power (Medicis)
Addressed the issue of effective rule
How to gain and maintain order and control
Stressed the practical (pragmatic) over the ethical or moral
More secular and humanistic
Challenged the idea of a social order based on God’s will
Political science- Politics was to be governed by its own laws
“…it is safer to be feared than to be loved…”

26. The Courtier by Castiglione 1528
Written in Italian
Treatise on the training of young men in the courtly ideal of a Renaissance gentleman
Stressed the value of education and manners
Influenced social mores and norms during the period

28. The Renaissance spread to Northern Europe

29. Focus of the Northern Renaissance
The focus of the Renaissance in Northern Europe was more religious
Many sought religious reform and a return of the Church to its true mission and spirituality
Many were highly critical of the worldliness and corruption in the Church and papacy
Northern Renaissance figures believed that education and literacy were key to social and religious reform
Advocated the translation of the scriptures into the vernacular languages

30. Major figures of the Northern Renaissance

31. Desiderius Erasmus –scholar and theologian
The Praise of Folly
Criticism of the abuses and worldliness of the Church and papacy

32. Sir Thomas More
Lord Chancellor of England during the reign of Henry VIII- highest political office in England
Lawyer and scholar
Wrote Utopia – explored the idea of a “perfect” society
Eventually executed by Henry VIII for refusing to agree to the king and Parliament’s Act of Supremacy

34. Utopia

35. Martin Luther Associated with the Protestant Reformation
Critical of Church corruption and abuses
Sought reform
Wrote the first translation of the Bible in German

36. Renaissance Art A reflection of Renaissance ideals and values
Emphasis on the classical style and classical themes
Humanistic - with an emphasis on the individual
Religious art remained very important

37. Characteristics of Renaissance Art
Realism
Three-dimensional
Balanced and ordered
Portraits
Landscapes and attention to depictions of nature
Classical style
Depiction of classical themes and stories

38. Humanism: The School of Athens by Raphael - a celebration of classical learning

39. Individualism –Portraits -portraits celebrated the unique qualities and personality of the individual person (two examples by Leonardo da Vinci)

41. Secularism-non-religious Renaissance art often depicted stories and scenes from classical literature

42. Religion remained a major focal point of Renaissance art -The Sistine Chapel-Michelangelo

43. Michelangelo’s Pieta

44. Northern Renaissance Art

45. Albrecht Durer

48. Hans Holbein

49. Bruegel

51. Major innovations of the Renaissance

52. Printing Press 1455 Moveable type printing Developed in Germany
Associated with Gutenburg
1456 the first Gutenburg Bible was printed
Printing press allowed for the spread of knowledge and ideas throughout Europe

55. The Clock The idea of quantification developed
The universe came to be conceived in more quantifiable terms (measurable terms)
Allowed for more precise measurements
Changed the focus of daily life which had been guided by the rhythms of the Church

57. The Renaissance brought a new way of thinking and living to Europe
A new worldview was emerging
The medieval Christian worldview was giving way to a more MODERN (secular and humanistic) view of the world and humanity