The Renaissance Chapter 5 Section 1-2

Middle Ages Time of Feudalism: Kings, Lords, Knights, Vassals and Serfs! Roman Catholic Church is all powerful. Education is very limited: People learned only what the Church wanted them to know, which was very little! Time of great warfare and unrest. Quality of life is poor: Lifespan only 40!

What was the Renaissance? A time of creativity and great interest in (new) political, social, economic, and cultural ideas Renaissance means “rebirth” in Latin Defines how people viewed the new interest in classical learning (such as math, science, history, etc.) After the strict Middle Ages, people were ready to branch out and learn!

How did the Renaissance start? It began in Italy--the home of the ancient Roman Empire. Many Italian cities were trading centers where many cultures mixed This created an air of curiosity in which people wanted to learn new things! Johannes Gutenberg of Germany invented the printing press Gave people access to books and knowledge.

What brought on the Renaissance? 1. The Crusades Mixing of cultures Raised interest in the world and its different people and cultures 2. The Printing Press Made reading possible for poor people Allowed people to learn for themselves and check information they had been taught

Art in the Renaissance Art became realistic & focused on nature & human beings (Human-centered world) Art expressed movement & even portrayed nudity! Art also expressed perspective & proportion by using geometry to make 3-dimensional images

Humanism! Humanism: A movement that focused on worldly subjects and classical learning rather than the religious teachings that characterized the Middle Ages. Humanists believed learning should use a person’s creative powers. Humanists created many new inventions! Grammar, rhetoric, poetry, and history based on Greek and Roman texts was stressed. Greek and Roman texts – the classics

Important Humanist Figures Petrarch Leonardo da Vinci Dante Geoffrey Chaucer Michelangelo Machiavelli Erasmus Sir Thomas More