1. Outcome: Renaissance Writers
The Renaissance
Outcome: Renaissance Writers

2. Renaissance Writers Changes
Many writers followed Dante who wrote in the vernacular
Vernacular (#1): Writers wrote in their native language rather than Greek or Latin
This could include Italian, German, English, and French
Renaissance writers wrote for self-expression or to portray the individuality of their subjects- started trends that modern writers still follow

3. Dante

4. Renaissance Writers Dante (#2.1) Born in Florence, Italy
Italian poet, writer, theorist, philosopher, and political thinker
Born in Florence, Italy
Referred to as the “Father of the Italian language”
Wrote “The Divine Comedy” (2.2)
Epic poem about Dante’s travels through Hell, Purgatory, & Heaven
(2.3 and 2.4)
Broken up into 3 parts: Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradisio

5. For you gamers out there…

6. Petrarch

7. Renaissance Writers b. Petrarch (#3.1)
Sometimes called the father of humanism
Great poet- wrote in both Italian and Latin
Wrote sonnets (#3.2) (14 line poems) about a mysterious woman named Laura
Little is known of Laura other than she died of plague in 1348

8. Sonnet about Laura Sonnet 292
The eyes I spoke of once in words that burn, the arms and hands and feet and lovely face that took me from myself for such a space of time and marked me out from other men;
the waving hair of unmixed gold that shone, the smile that flashed with the angelic rays that used to make this earth a paradise, are now a little dust, all feeling gone;
and yet I live, grief and disdain to me, left where the light I cherished never shows, in fragile bark on the tempestuous sea.
Here let my loving song come to a close; the vein of my accustomed art is dry, and this, my lyre, turned at last to tears.

9. Machiavelli

10. Renaissance Writers Machiavelli (#4.1) Wrote The Prince (#4.2)
Explains how rulers (#5.1) can gain power and keep it in spite of his enemies
Rulers having absolute power (#5.2)
Said most people are selfish, fickle, and corrupt
Not concerned with what was morally right but what was politically effective
This may involve misleading your people
One should do (#6.1) good if possible but if evil (#6.2) is necessary than it can be used
(#6.3)“The End justifies the means”
Machiavelli believe the perfect ruler was one that could be loved by his people and feared by his people at the same time. He recognized that being loved and feared at the same time was very difficult if not impossible.
Therefore rulers had to chose between being loved and feared. Machiavelli believed it was better for a ruler to be feared than loved.
Machiavelli also believed that people were also greedy and selfish creatures. If a ruler was in power because he was loved, his people (who were greedy and selfish) would eventually turn on him and overthrow him to get power for themselves. If a ruler was in power because he was feared, his people would be too afraid to overthrow him.
Machiavelli also believed the ends justify the means. This means that the end results of a situation makes the process of getting there ok. No matter who a ruler must step on to get the final results. Modern day examples of Machiavellian rulers could be Hitler, Sadam, Castro, Mussolini, and Joseph Stalin.

11. Machiavelli in Assassin’s Creed

12. Northern Renaissance Writers
Erasmus
Thomas More

13. Renaissance Writers
Result: Renaissance writers wrote in vernacular and about people and life rather than about God and set many trends that are still used today by modern writers.

14. Johannes Guttenberg (#7.1)
Was an inventor during the mid 1400’s
Invented a printing press with moveable type.
This allowed for books to be published more quickly (#7.2)
Guttenberg used his printing press to mass produce German translations of the Bible.
Spread of literacy and knowledge (#7.3)

15. Guttenberg

16. Johannes Guttenberg This was known as the Guttenberg Bible.
It is important because for the first time more people than ever could get printed copies of the Bible to study for themselves
Now people didn’t need to rely on church/priest for Biblical guidance. (#8.1 and #8.2)

17. Printing Press

18. Northern Europe Renaissance
More religious tone, wanted reforms to eliminate abuses in the Church. Led by Christian Humanists.
Erasmus: The Praise of the Folly 1511 (#9)
This work attacked extravagance of Renaissance popes, stating that they were corrupt and no longer practiced Christianity.
Sir Thomas More: Utopia 1516 (#10)
Friend of Erasmus, wrote a book that criticized society by comparing it to an ideal society, in which all citizens are equal and prosperous.