1. Connecting Hemispheres: 1450-1750
The Renaissance
Students will explain the political, intellectual, artistic, economic, and religious impact of the Renaissance
c. Jarrett, Zimmer, Killoran

2. What was the Renaissance?
Renaissance Latin for “Rebirth” - Began in 1300’s Rebirth of what? = Revival of art and thought The Renaissance was a time after the middle ages of creativity and change in many areas (political, intellectual, artistic, economical). Perhaps most important, however, were the changes that took place in the way people viewed themselves and their world
The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo
Example of Renaissance art
Wait! Watch this:

3. Renaissance Begins Begins in Italy Around 1300’s
Due to location on Mediterranean
Due to wealth from trade and Rome (Pope)
Independent Wealthy City States: Milan, Florence, Siena
Wealthy and powerful merchant class acted as patrons supporting artists, writers, & scholars
Patron: Financial Supporter
Heart of the Italian Renaissance
Medici Family: financial backers who paid for everything, controlled all of Florence, patrons of Michelangelo & Da Vinci

4. ITALIAN CITY-STATES DURING THE RENAISSANCE

5. The Renaissance Begins
Secularism (non-religious) : Increases as people began to show greater interest in this world than in the life hereafter.
People used observations & experience to explain the world, instead of the words of the Church
Renaissance thinkers believed in the power of HUMAN REASON to explain the world
Humanists: Place great emphasis on the dignity, worth, & uniqueness of each person – WORLDLY SUBJECTS
Renaissance Emphasized:
artistic expression
the study of Greek and Roman cultures

6. THE ARTISTIC IMPACT of the Renaissance
Perspective
Using guidelines to calculate how things recede in the distance until they reach a vanishing point
Realistic Art
Use shading to show 3-D on a 2 dimensional surface.
Shift from art being flat and unlife-like
Went away from the Gothic style back to Greek & Roman Architecture
More about art tomorrow in class…

7. THE INTELLECTUAL IMPACT: Scholarship
New methods of criticizing texts led some, like Erasmus, to question the Church.
Other Renaissance authors wrote on secular subjects.
Renaissance humanists studied classical Roman and Greek literature, poetry, and philosophy.
The Italian scholar Petrarch, the “Father of Humanism,” collected and studied ancient texts.
Puh-leez
Stylin’
c. Jarrett, Zimmer, Killoran

8. THE INTELLECTUAL IMPACT: Literature
Many wrote in the vernacular, or local language instead of Latin, including in:
France: Rabelais
England: Shakespeare
Spain: Cervantes
Renaissance writers focused on:
Describing the dignity of man
Celebrating the pleasures of the senses
Instructing nobles in how to behave at a prince’s court
Click here to watch this. Bonus: What famous event is this clip about?
c. Jarrett, Zimmer, Killoran

9. THE POLITICAL IMPACT
The wealth of the Italian city-states, the weakening of the Church, and the reasoning of writers like Machiavelli contributed to the Renaissance concept of “reason of state” and strengthened nations
Renaissance rulers:
Justified whatever means necessary to strengthen their state
Collected taxes and raised armies
Exchanged ambassadors, creating modern diplomacy
Rulers in larger states followed
c. Jarrett, Zimmer, Killoran

10. THE ECONOMIC IMPACT
Renaissance ideas and products quickly spread all over Europe, encouraging:
An increase in trade
An increased demand for luxury goods
Greater variety of products:
Clothes, foods, & furnishings
Growth of cities
c. Jarrett, Zimmer, Killoran