1. The Renaissance, 1300-1600 Essential Question 2: What were the defining characteristics of the Renaissance?

2. Defining Characteristics 1.Humanism Focus on human/social matters (love, anger, joy, govt. etc.) Emphasizes human potential Focused on values/culture/knowledge of Greeks/Romans

3. Defining Characteristics 2.Secularism Belief that comfort, pleasure, knowledge of worldly subjects I is not sinful Emphasized life in the “here and now,” deemphasized importance of afterlife and the spiritual subjects

4. Defining Characteristics 3. Importance of Artwork Art seen as way of expressing humanist topics/themes a. Greek/Roman subjects (Mythology) b. Individual portraits c. Subjects of the physical world New techniques developed a. Perspective b. More humanist subjects/styles c. use of oils Architecture a. Copies building design of Greeks/Romans (geometric shapes, simplicity, balance, columns, domes)

5. Defining Characteristics 4.New Types of Literature Focused on human concerns, values, problems, self-expression Wrote in the vernacular (local language) Francesco Petrarch= poet/writer; sonnets to Laura (love, human interest); “Father of Renaissance” Niccolo’ Machiavelli= The Prince (1513) a. Sees human behavior “as it really is” b. Advises rulers how to control their people c. Advocates being wise, stern, deceptive, “whatever it takes” in order to achieve the desired result “The ends justifies the means”

6. Defining Characteristics 5. The “Renaissance Man” A Renaissance man is one who has a wide variety of knowledge and skill in a wide variety of subjects Best Example: Leonardo da Vinci Painter, sculptor, inventor, musician, philosopher, scientist, writer Baldassare Castiglione’s The Courtier Be able to speak/read Latin and Greek Knowledge of history, poetry, science

7. Characteristics of the Renaissance Humanism – man is a wonderful creature whose potential is limitless Secularism - importance of worldly knowledge and experiences Art - artwork emphasized human themes, realistic look, classical myths Literature – writers concerned with human concerns: love, anger, friendship; wrote in vernacular The “Renaissance Man”- knows/ does lots of things well