Florence: The Cradle of the Renaissance EQ: What advances were made during the Renaissance?

The City of Florence It was a leading cultural center during the Renaissance. Its location on the Arno River made it an important center for commerce. It was the hub for woolen-cloth and most importantly: banking. It was dominated by the Medicis for nearly 300 years.

Advances in Architecture and Engineering Renaissance buildings were modeled on ancient ruins. They had Greek and Roman-inspired features such as arches, columns, and domed roofs. Filippo Brunelleschi solved the problem of the Florence cathedral by studying Greek and Roman ruins and creating a dome using 8 stone arches that leaned against each other. The arches were supported by hoops of iron, wood, and brick. He created hoists to raise the materials.

Advances in Painting Renaissance art was often secular (non-religious). Renaissance figures were more realistic than figures in previous art, with lifelike poses and emotions. Renaissance art used more realistic backgrounds, giving a sense of depth, or space.

Advances in Painting (cont.) Renaissance painters discovered new ways to use geometry to divide space, perspective to make scenes more realistic, and oil paint to redo work and show new details and textures.

Advances in Painting (cont.) Sandro Boticelli painted The Adoration of the Magi placing the Medici family, and their allies, in the portrait; also painted La Primavera.

Advances in Sculpture Renaissance sculpture was often secular. Renaissance sculptures were different from Medieval sculptures because the Renaissance sculptures were three-dimensional, freestanding, looked like real people and showed emotions.

Advances in Sculpture (cont.) Donatello’s “David” was a life-size nude that showed personality and mood and was very natural and lifelike. Michelangelo’s “David” was enormous, beautiful, and showed complex emotions.

Advances in Literature Renaissance literature was often secular. Medieval literature was usually about religious subjects and was written in Latin and in an impersonal style. Renaissance literature included works about nonreligious subjects and was written in local dialects (or languages) and in a more personal style. Dante was the first well-known writer to create literature in his native language; wrote The Divine Comedy.

Advances in Science and Mathematics During the Renaissance, people used a new approach: they questioned old ideas, made careful observations of nature, performed experiments, and analyzed the results. Leonardo da Vinci, the ideal Renaissance man, explored geometry, engineering, anatomy, circulation, motion, sound, architecture, and more.

Florentine Politics The Medicis ruled Florence because they kept a strong military, built palaces, sponsored art, and defeated their enemies. Machiavelli’s, The Prince, is a realistic description of politics, government, and how rulers can make their states strong. Machiavelli wrote: rulers should be feared rather than loved, and that the ends justify the means.

Florence Commerce and Trade The woolen-cloth and banking industries helped Florence become the center of the Renaissance. Florence’s Old Market was crowded and smelly and had food and household goods. Florence’s New Market was orderly and clean and was where cloth was sold and banking was done.