1. The Renaissance

2. Origins of Italian Renaissance
Preconditions
Growth of trade brings about spreading of ideas.
Plague allows for wages and social mobility.
Began with the fall of Constantinople in 1452
Scholars from Constantinople fled to Italy.
Brought with them Ancient Greco-Roman texts.

3. Origins (Continued) Why Italy? Changing Social Classes
The Italian City-State
Center for Eurasian Trade
Wealth and prosperity
Center for exchanging of ideas and culture.
Changing Social Classes
See next slide.

4. Changing Social Classes in Florence

5. Impact of Ideas on Art, Culture, Politics, Religion, and Values
Revival of the study of the Humanities
Included history, rhetoric, philosophy, Greco-Roman culture, and politics.
“Renaissance Man”: Familiar with all of the humanities.

6. Impact of Ideas on Art, Culture, Politics, Religion, and Values
Humanism: Belief that all people have the ability to contribute to the betterment of society.
Religious and Secular
Believed education and knowledge will lead to the greater good.
Logic + Reason
Civic responsibility
Free will + Individualism
Key Contributors:
Petrarch + Dante

7. Francesco Petrarch
This is one of Petrarch’s most famous works called Secretum, which means “My Secret Book”.
This book is written in Latin and in this book he evaluates his faith.
Petrarch is considered one of the “Fathers of Humanism”.

8. Dante Alighieri
One of Dante’s most famous works is an epic poem called The Divine Comedy.
This work described Dante’s journey through hell, paradise, and purgatory.
Dante is also considered one of the “Fathers of Humanism”.

9. Impact of Ideas on Art, Culture, Politics, Religion, and Values
Secularism
Excluded religion from society.
Not anti-religious yet.
Also called “civic humanism”

10. Impact of Ideas on Art, Culture, Politics, Religion, and Values
Renaissance Art
Major advancements in method and subject
Proportional, realistic, lifelike
Linear perspective, shadowing, depth
Individual identities, emotional
Bright colors, oil prints
Free-standing statues
Religious subjects, daily life, mythology, heroes.
Obsession with the “perfect human”
Examine the following works of art, and identify these characteristics.

11. “Vitruvian Man” Leonardo da Vinci

12. “The School of Athens” Raphael

13. “David” Michelangelo

14. Political Challenges Disorganization of Italian City State.
Despotism.
Fragile balance between major city-states. (Often in conflict)
France invades Italy at Milan’s request 1490
France quickly invades most of Italy.
Creates chaos for over 50 years.
Tension throughout Europe due to Spanish-French conflict.

15. Political Challenges Continued
Rise of the New Monarch
Standing Army
Consolidation of Power
Growth of bureaucracy
Ongoing challenges to that power
New national powers
England
Spain
France
Holy Roman Empire

16. The Northern Renaissance
Stimulated by influx of Italian Renaissance ideas.
Differed from Italian Renaissance in that it was mainly religious humanists and committed to religious reform.
While the Italian Renaissance is based on Greek influence, the northern renaissance focused more on religion.
Sponsored by the traditional authority, Princes, Nobles and Church.
Broadly influenced by print culture

17. Art from the Northern Renaissance
Virgin and Child with Saints and Donor
Gerard David
Albrecht Durer. Self-Portrait

18. Modern Devotion Religious movement
The meshing of Humanism and Christianity
Supported the studying of the scripture to help build a relationship with God.
Focus on churches earliest writings
Modern Devotion contributed to Lutheranism and Calvinism.

19. North vs. South

20. The Printing Press Invented by Johann Gutenberg. Rise of the pamphlet.
Response to expanding literacy and heightened demand for books.
Rise of the pamphlet.
Erasmus
Wanted religious reform.
Printed bibles in original
form (Latin)
Later translated into German by Luther.
His reformist ideas gave reformers ammo in the Reformation.
Erasmus

21. Exploring the New World
Portuguese lead; Africa and Asia
Attempt to circum navigate the Venetian Ottoman monopoly to the east
Brazil
The Spanish Emerge
Settle South and Central America
Influx of Bullion
Decimation and Exploitation of native populations (Slavery)

22. Impact/Summary
The rediscovery of ancient ideas led to a rebirth of culture and education.
Growing middle class embraces cultural innovation.
Study of the humanities led to religious and civic humanism
Humanism influenced an expansion of art, literature and challenged traditional authority
There was the rise of new monarchies which centralized power.
The printing press sped up the exchange of ideas.
This was the catalyst for the downfall of feudal society.