1. BIRTHPLACE OF THE RENAISSANCE

2. RENAISSANCE  Means “rebirth” and refers to the revival of art and learning following the Middle Ages.  It began in Italy and was based on Greco-Roman Culture.

3. CITY-STATES  Trade created by the crusades resulted in the growth of large and powerful city-states in Italy.  The Bubonic Plague hit these cities hard and they were forced to seek new ways of economic success.

4. MERCHANTS AND THE MEDICI  A wealthy merchant class developed in the Italian city- states as a result of the increased trade.  The Medici were a wealthy merchant family in Florence who came to dominate all parts of Florence’s society.

6. GRECO-ROMAN INFLUENCE  Scholars looked down on Medieval literature and instead learned from the Ancient Greeks and Romans.  They studied ancient texts found in monasteries and examined the ruins of the Romans and Greeks.

7. HUMANISM  It is an intellectual movement that focused on human potential and achievements.  Instead of trying to apply ancient texts to Christian thought, humanists accept Ancient material for what it is.  Promoted subjects that are today called the Humanities.

8. SECULAR  During the Renaissance, people began to view the world in a present rather than a spiritual way.  In other words they interpreted the world more simply and literally.

9. PATRONS  Church leaders and wealthy merchants who spent massive amounts of money on art, literature, and architecture in order to beautify city-states.  It became a way of the wealthy demonstrating their importance.

10. THE RENAISSANCE MAN AND WOMAN  Men an women who excelled in many fields were considered Renaissance Men and Women.  The idea was that an individual should not limit themselves and should strive to attain skills in all parts of life.

11. PERSPECTIVE  Renaissance began to change the way the depicted the world.  Perspective was the idea and practice of creating paintings that were multi-dimensional and realistic.

12. LEONARDO DA VINCI  A painter, sculptor, inventor, and scientist who was interested in how things worked.  Some of his famous paintings include the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper.

14. RAPHAEL AND MICHELANGELO  Both are famous artists, sculptors and thinkers well known for their drive to depict the world realistically.  Michelangelo is most known for the Sistine Chapel and the Statue of David and Raphael for his portraits of Renaissance figures.

15. ANGUISSOLA AND GENTILESCHI  Two of the first female artists of the Renaissance who were both well known for their paintings of various royalty.

16. MACHIAVELLI  He was a philosopher and political thinker.  One of his most famous works is The Prince. In it, he examines how a ruler can gain and keep power in the face of their enemies.  He believed an effective leader must be intelligent and crafty in order to outwit his opponents.

17. VITTORIA COLONNA  A female writer who was well known for her poetry and work for various noble families.

18. VIDEO CLIPS  The Medici: 55 Minute Documentary Clip The Medici  The Renaissance Song: 3 Minutes The Renaissance Song  Humanism: 2 Minutes Humanism  Machiavelli: 5 Minutes Machiavelli