1. The Renaissance A Divide from the Middle Ages

2. Renaissance - Defined ► Describes the cultural achievements of the 14 th century through the 16 th century; those achievements rest on the economic and political development of earlier centuries. ► Translated – “The Rebirth,” but of what?

3. Italy Leads the Way ► Seafaring cities (Venice and Genoa) profited from the Crusades, oversea trade, ship building. ► Milan – Trading crossroads from East to West. ► Florence – became the official bank of the Pope.

4. Italian Society ► Communes or the mercantile aristocracy married the Feudal Nobility and created a new class: The Urban Nobility. ► The Urban Nobility ruled the “popolo” as republics. (only by name) ► “Signori” and “Oligarchies” ruled the city- states (Sforza in Milan, Medici in Florence, merchant aristocrats in Venice)

5. The Sforza Family

6. The Medici’s

7. *Intellectual Changes* ► The New Golden Age, “Revival” of Roman culture ► Individualism: stressed personality, uniqueness, genius, and full development of one’s capabilities and talents. ► Humanism: the study of the literary culture needed by anyone who would be considered educated and civilized. ► Secularism: the concern with the material world instead of with the eternal world of spirit.

8. Individualism ► Renaissance people believed in individual will and genius. ► Underlined the other “isms” of the time period. ► Best example of Individualism: Renaissance Artists (Di Vinci, Michelangelo, Donatello, Brunelleschi…)

9. Humanism ► Collected ancient manuscripts and monuments, and copied the ancient Roman lifestyle. ► Emphasis on Human Beings ► Pagan Authors + Classical Authors + Christian thought = Human understanding. ► ‘no end to human accomplishment’ ► Ancient Latin was better than Mid-Latin

10. Secular Sprit ► Concern with money and pleasure ► Lorenzo Valla: ‘pleasure of the senses as the highest good’ ► The church did little to combat the secular world.

11. ART