1. The Reniassance

2. What was the Renaissance?
A “rebirth” and rediscovery of classical Greek & Roman thinking.
A transition from medieval times to the Early Modern times.
Began in the 1300’s and reached its peak in the 1500’s.

3. What was the Renaissance?
New Worldviews
Focus on Humanism
Worldly subjects rather than religious issues
Emphasized the Humanities
Art, science, history, writing

4. What was the Renaissance?
A new spirit of curiosity & adventure
Trade assumed a greater role than before
Navigators sailed across oceans
Scientists viewed the universe in new ways
Writers & artists used new techniques

5. Italy: Cradle of Renaissance
Italy’s central location in Mediterranean encouraged trade
Banking, manufacturing & merchant network provided wealth.
Trade routes carried new ideas from Asia & China

6. City-States had wealthy families who supported the arts.
Known as “Patrons.”

7. Florence
Medici family in Florence were among the richest bankers & merchants.
Lorenzo d’Medici invited poets, philosophers, and artists to the city.

8. Humanism Human advancement, creativity and education were emphasized.
Artists continued to portray religious themes, but did so against classic Greek and Roman backgrounds.

9. Humanism in Art Styles Realism Perspective
Perspective allowed more realistic art.
Humanism in Art Styles
Distant objects appeared smaller.
Realism
Perspective
One new technique was perspective, credited to Filippo Brunelleschi.

10. Humanism in Art Styles Realism Perspective
Shading and shadows gave 3-D look
Donatello created a life-size soldier on horseback

11. Multi-talented Artists
Leonardo da Vinci was an artist and inventor. He studied botany, optics, anatomy, architecture, and engineering.
Michelangelo Buonarroti was a sculptor, engineer, painter, architect, and poet.

12. Humanistic Writers
Baldassare Castiglione’s Book of the Courtier described the manners and behavior of the ideal aristocratic man and woman.
Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Prince was a guide for rulers to gain and maintain power.