Renaissance Essential Question: What characteristics distinguish the Renaissance from the Middle Ages?

THE RENAISSANCE Renaissance means “rebirth” – centered in Italy in the 15th century –the Quattrocento – a new era of thought and feeling. Transition between “medieval” and “modern” world The Renaissance introduced a purely secular (worldly rather than spiritual) attitude. Age of recovery from the calamitous fourteenth century, a time for the slow process of recuperating from the effects of the Black Death, political disorder, and economic recession. Medieval Europe was a fragmented feudal society with and agricultural based economy. Thought and culture was dominated by the church. 14th century painting of Florence, the great symbol of the Renaissance.

“Rebirth” Renewed interest in classical antiquity Humanism Greco-Roman Civilization Humanism Individualism Occurred mainly in the wealthy upper classes, But also effected ordinary people Historians describe classical Greek and Romans times as burst of creativity in a short span of time. The Renaissance can be described in a similar way. “The Birth of Venus” Botticelli

Europe in the Renaissance

Italian City-States Milan, Venice, Florence, Papal States, Kingdom of Naples, Genoa, Sicily No Political Unity Competition Alliances shifted all the time Oligarchy-ruled by a few powerful individuals Balancing of power After 1494 Italy a battleground

Italian City-States Secular Wealthy Non-religious Strategic location between East and West TRADE benefits merchants Banking Medici Family New wealth=new possibilities for worldly things Patron Wealthy supporter of the arts Medici family started in cloth production and expanded into commerce, real estate and banking. Greatest bank in all of Europe in the 15th century. At one time they were the principle bankers to the pope (gained them enormous profits and influence)

The Arts Mostly still religious BUT… Style Becomes more secular, classical (ancient Greece and Rome Style Painting and Sculpting Naturalistic Realistic Human body glorified Perspective, Chiaroscuro

Humanism Petrarch Humanism Father of Humanism Intellectual movement Study of Classical literary works Studia humanitatis (the studies of humanities Grammar, rhetoric, poetry, moral philosophy or ethics, history Rhetoric-the study of effective speaking and writing Petrarch 1304-1374

Civic Humanism Developed in Florence Moral, social and political philosophy that required Active, patriotic citizenship Ethics Emphasis on education Based on Ideas of Cicero Duty of an intellectual to live an active life for one’s state The New Cicero Biography of Cicero by Leonardo Bruni Promoted individual virtue and public service. Used rhetorical speech to rally Florentines against the aggression of Naples and Milan. Towards the end of the Renaissance, many humanists became snobby, more concerned with narrow scholarly interests than in reviving civic and social life. Machiavelli was a reaction to this (wrote in Italian NOT Latin) Leonardo Bruni (1370-1444)

Education in the Renaissance Liberal Studies History, moral philosophy, rhetoric, grammar, logic, poetry, math, astronomy and music Physical Education Education geared towards the ruling elite Females largely absent from these schools Greek idea-sound mind in a sound body. Vittorino da Feltre founded a school in 1423 in Mantua to provide a humanist education for the ruler’s children

Education in the Renaissance Education geared towards the ruling elite Females largely absent from these schools Baldassare Castiglione (1478-1529) Book of the Courtier Book of Etiquette Greek idea-sound mind in a sound body. Middle Ages adults acted like big children; they spat, belched and blew their noses without inhibition, snatched at food with their fingers, bawled at each other when aroused, or sulked when their feelings were offended. The “courtier” according to Castiglione, should be a man of good birth, but is chiefly the product of training. His education in youth, and his efforts in mature years, should be directed toward mixing agreeably in the company of his equals. His clothes should be neat, his movements graceful, his approach to other people perfectly poised. He must converse with facility, be proficient in sports and arms, and know who to dance and appreciate music. He should know Latin and Greek. With literary and other subjects he should show a certain familiarity but never become too engrossed… Translated into numerous languages and hundreds of editions printed before 1600. Its ideal was inculcated for centuries by private tutors and in the schools. Vittorino da Feltre founded a school in 1423 in Mantua to provide a humanist education for the ruler’s children

Humanism and Philosophy Florentine Platonic Academy Informal discussion group Dedicated to translating Plato’s works into Latin Sponsored by Cosimo de’ Medici Led by Marsilio Ficino and Pico della Mirandola Neo-Platonism A revival of Platonic philosophy associated with Marsilio Ficino, who attempted to synthesize Christianity and Platonism Close-up of Plato “The School of Athens” Raphael