The Renaissance Primavera by Botticelli

The Renaissance Essential Questions 1. What were the chief features of the Renaissance? 2. How would you describe the political world that existed in the Italian states and what role did women play? 3. What were the chief characteristics of Italian Renaissance humanism and how did it differ from Northern Italian humanism? 4. What were the chief achievements of Italian and Northern Renaissance painters?

The Italian Renaissance Renaissance means “rebirth” Renaissance means “rebirth” Began in Italy Began in Italy Lasted from Lasted from The classics from Greece and Rome were revived The classics from Greece and Rome were revived Spread throughout Europe Spread throughout Europe Palazzo Della Signoria in Florence, Italy

Characteristics of the Italian Renaissance Urban society Urban society Secular-worldly Secular-worldly Recovery from the disasters of the 14 th century Recovery from the disasters of the 14 th century Black Death Political disorder Economic recession New view of human beings and individual ability New view of human beings and individual ability Siena, Italy Piazza del Campo

The Italian States During the Middle Ages, Italy had failed to develop as a monarchy During the Middle Ages, Italy had failed to develop as a monarchy Lack of single ruler made it possible for a number of city-states in northern and central Italy to remain independent Lack of single ruler made it possible for a number of city-states in northern and central Italy to remain independent Prospered from trade Prospered from trade Exchanged good with the Byzantine and Islamic civilizations, England, and the Netherlands Exchanged good with the Byzantine and Islamic civilizations, England, and the Netherlands Obtained silks, sugar, and spices to take back to Italy Obtained silks, sugar, and spices to take back to Italy

The Italian States: Milan 14 th century-Visconti family established themselves as dukes of Milan and extend power all over Lombardy 14 th century-Visconti family established themselves as dukes of Milan and extend power all over Lombardy Last Visconti dies in 1447 Last Visconti dies in 1447 Francesco Sforza (condottiere-leader of a band of mercenaries) conquers Milan and becomes duke Francesco Sforza (condottiere-leader of a band of mercenaries) conquers Milan and becomes duke Built a strong, centralized state Built a strong, centralized state Efficient tax system Efficient tax system Duomo in Milan, Italy

The Italian States: Venice Grown wealthy from trading Grown wealthy from trading Small group of merchant- aristocrats ran the government on behalf of their own interests Small group of merchant- aristocrats ran the government on behalf of their own interests Trade empire brought enormous revenues Trade empire brought enormous revenues Became an international power Became an international power San Marco in Venice, Italy

The Italian States: Florence Dominated the region of Tuscany Dominated the region of Tuscany In 1434, Cosimo de’ Medici took control of the city In 1434, Cosimo de’ Medici took control of the city The Medici kept the republic form of government, but ran it behind the scenes The Medici kept the republic form of government, but ran it behind the scenes Cosimo and Lorenzo put supporters in offices to carry out their policies Cosimo and Lorenzo put supporters in offices to carry out their policies Florence was the cultural center of Italy Florence was the cultural center of Italy Duomo in Florence, Italy

The Italian States Rest of monarchial Europe was attracted to the riches of Italy Rest of monarchial Europe was attracted to the riches of Italy Italians turn to Spain for help Italians turn to Spain for help Southern Italy (the Kingdom of Naples) became a battleground for French and Spanish dominance Southern Italy (the Kingdom of Naples) became a battleground for French and Spanish dominance Spanish sack Rome in 1527 because they are not being paid Spanish sack Rome in 1527 because they are not being paid Ends wars and Renaissance in Italy Ends wars and Renaissance in Italy

Machiavelli and the New Statecraft Wrote The Prince Wrote The Prince Concerned with political power and how to get it and keep it Concerned with political power and how to get it and keep it Rejected the Middle Ages view that rulers ought to behave on Christian moral values Rejected the Middle Ages view that rulers ought to behave on Christian moral values Must be based on an understanding of human nature Must be based on an understanding of human nature A ruler acts on behalf of the state, therefore, he should let his own conscience sleep A ruler acts on behalf of the state, therefore, he should let his own conscience sleep Had a profound influence on political leaders in the Western world Had a profound influence on political leaders in the Western world Machiavelli

The Making of Renaissance Society: Nobility Around 3 % of the population Around 3 % of the population Held political posts and advised Kings Held political posts and advised Kings Castiglione describe the perfect noble in his work The Book of the Courtier Castiglione describe the perfect noble in his work The Book of the Courtier Born, not made Born, not made Work to be a warrior Work to be a warrior Have a classical education Have a classical education Standards of conduct Standards of conduct Serve his prince in an effective and honest way Serve his prince in an effective and honest way Isabella d’Este Pietro Medici

The Making of Renaissance Society: Peasants and Townspeople About 90% of the population About 90% of the population Serfdom declined and more peasants were becoming free Serfdom declined and more peasants were becoming free Townspeople were divided also Townspeople were divided also Patricians-wealthy traders, industry, and banking- dominated communities Patricians-wealthy traders, industry, and banking- dominated communities Burghers-shopkeepers, artisans, guild members- middle class Burghers-shopkeepers, artisans, guild members- middle class Impoverished-unemployed, pitiful wages, 30-40% pop. Impoverished-unemployed, pitiful wages, 30-40% pop. Moneychanger and his Wife by Quentin Massys

The Making of Renaissance Society: Family and Marriage Parents carefully arranged marriages to strengthen business or family ties Parents carefully arranged marriages to strengthen business or family ties Details were worked out when children were 2 or 3 years old Details were worked out when children were 2 or 3 years old Legally binding Legally binding Dowry-sum of the money given by the wife’s family to the husband upon marriage Dowry-sum of the money given by the wife’s family to the husband upon marriage Father was the center of family Father was the center of family Children became adults when they were legally freed Children became adults when they were legally freed Mother’s role was to supervise the household Mother’s role was to supervise the household The Marriage of the Virgin by Raphael

Italian Renaissance Humanism Humanism was an intellectual movement based upon the study of the classics Humanism was an intellectual movement based upon the study of the classics Humanists studied the liberal arts- grammar, rhetoric, poetry, philosophy, and history Humanists studied the liberal arts- grammar, rhetoric, poetry, philosophy, and history Petrarch is considered the father of humanism-used pure classical Latin Petrarch is considered the father of humanism-used pure classical Latin Reflected the values of urban society Reflected the values of urban society Put to the service of the state Put to the service of the state

Education in the Renaissance Humanists wrote books and opened schools based on their ideas Humanists wrote books and opened schools based on their ideas History History Philosophy Philosophy Rhetoric Rhetoric Poetry Poetry Astronomy Astronomy Music Music Mathematics Mathematics Some women did attend humanists schools, but were not taught rhetoric and mathematics Some women did attend humanists schools, but were not taught rhetoric and mathematics Johannes Gutenberg Gutenberg’s Printing Press

Vernacular Language Vernacular-language spoken in their own regions Vernacular-language spoken in their own regions Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales English Dante’s Divine Comedy Dante’s Divine Comedy Italian Began to compete with Latin Began to compete with Latin Eventually replaced it

The Artistic Renaissance in Italy Self Portrait by Leonardo da Vinci Dome of the duomo in Florence by Brunelleschi Branccaci Tributo fresco by Masaccio

The Artistic Renaissance in Italy Fresco-painting done on fresh, wet plaster with water based paints Fresco-painting done on fresh, wet plaster with water based paints Figures had the illusion of being three dimensional Figures had the illusion of being three dimensional Two major achievements Two major achievements Perspective Perspective Moverment and human anatomy Moverment and human anatomy Architects were inspired by the buildings of ancient Rome (San Lorenzo) Architects were inspired by the buildings of ancient Rome (San Lorenzo) School of Athens by Raphael Interior of San Lorenzo by Brunelleschi

The Artistic Renaissance in Italy Mastery of techniques for a realistic portrayal of the world Mastery of techniques for a realistic portrayal of the world Da Vinci dissected human bodies to study anatomy Da Vinci dissected human bodies to study anatomy Move from painting realistic forms to ideal forms Move from painting realistic forms to ideal forms Glorified the human body Glorified the human body Pieta By Michelangelo Rome, Italy Ospedale degli Innocenti Designed by Brunelleschi Florence, Italy

The Artistic Renaissance in Italy The Last Judgement By Michelangelo Sistine Chapel Rome, Italy

The Artistic Renaissance in Italy The Sistine Chapel Ceiling by Micelangelo

The Northern Artistic Renaissance Skilled in painting details Skilled in painting details Did not fully understand perspective Did not fully understand perspective Jan Van Eyck from Flanders Jan Van Eyck from Flanders Albrecht Durer from Germany Albrecht Durer from Germany Jan Van Eyck Albrecht Durer