1. The Italian Renaissance

2. “Renaissance” = REBIRTH
Rebirth of
An interest in and knowledge of Classical Culture
Creativity in art and literature
A general interest in increased knowledge of the world

3. Origins of the Renaissance
Rediscovery of Greek and Roman ideas
Through Crusades, trade, fall of Constantinople
Urban centers of Italy
Centers for the exchange on new ideas
Effected economically and socially by the plague of the 1300s
Merchants (the new rich of Europe)
Enhanced political power through patronage of the arts

4. 1300s – the beginnings of the Renaissance
1. Giotto di Bondone
Painted figures that looked lifelike and real
Sought to create an illusion of depth

5. 2. Dante Alighieri Wrote the Divine Comedy - written in the vernacular
- included real people in the story
- full of political comments

6. 3. Francesco Petrarch Wrote sonnets in Italian
wrote letters to influential people in classical latin
-strove for the simplicity of classical poetry

7. New Values of the Renaissance
Love of Classical (Greek and Roman) learning (humanism)
2. Celebration of the individual
3. Enjoyment of worldly pleasures (secularism)