The Renaissance 1300s-1600s The transition from medieval times to the early modern world

What was the Renaissance? A time of creativity and great changes in many areas, including: – Political change – Social change – Economic change – Cultural change

Italian Trade Routes

Ancient Greece and Rome Renaissance thinkers reawakened an interest in classical learning –Ancient Greece and Rome They looked to the past to make their lives better and more culturally advanced Latin was the language of the Roman Catholic Church and scholarly works Who read and understood Latin?

The Renaissance Person Explored the richness and variety of the human experience Was a multi-talented individual Supported a spirit of adventure What do you think the Roman Catholic Church thinks of this new outlook on life?

Humanism The intellectual movement at the heart of the Renaissance Humanists studied classical culture from ancient Greece and Rome Humanists focused on worldly subjects

Education Humanists believed education would stimulate the individual’s creative power Humanities- grammar, rhetoric, poetry, history

Notable Renaissance Humanist Francesco Petrarch- early Renaissance Humanists, assembled a library of manuscripts He would study and compare copies of manuscripts How were manuscripts copied?

Francesco Petrarch

Why Italy? Renaissance thinkers had an interest in ancient Rome Italy’s location supported trade Trade made Italian merchants wealthy These wealthy merchants became patrons of their cities

Roman Catholic Church The center of the Roman Catholic Church is the Vatican. The Vatican is located within Rome. The church supported artists and scholars.

Map of Italy

Major Italian Cities Venice Milan Genoa Florence Milan: one of the richest cities in Europe, it controls trade through the Alps. Venice: Sitting on the Adriatic Sea, it Attracts trade from all over the world. Florence: controlled by the deMedici family, Who became great patrons of the arts. Genoa: had access to trade routes Located in the Mediterranean Sea

All of these cities: 1. Had access to trade routes connecting Europe with Middle Eastern markets 2. Served as trading centers for the distribution of goods to northern Europe 3. Became wealthy because of trade

Italian city-states Each city-state was controlled be a powerful family Each city state was dominated by a wealthy and powerful merchant class Wealthy merchants were political and economic leaders Wealthy merchants emphasized the importance of art and personal achievement

Medici family Ruled Florence Among the richest merchants and bankers in Europe Cosimo deMedici- gained control of Florence in 1434

Lorenzo the Magnificent Cosimo’s grandson Clever politician Kept Florence flourishing Patron (financial supporter) of the arts Invited poets and artists to the Medici palace

Florence Medici family wealth transformed Florence Symbolized the energy and brilliance of the Renaissance Produced a number of poets, artists, architects, scholars, and scientists

Renaissance Artists wanted their subjects to be realistic, created realistic art Focused on humanity and emotion Used new techniques: shading and new oil paints Sculptured emphasized realism and the human form Architecture reached new heights of design

New Techniques Frescos Painting done on wet plaster Gave depth to paintings Perspective Making distant objects appear smaller than those close to the viewer Made scenes appear 3-D

Leon Alberti Described architecture as a social art- meant to blend beauty with utility and function. A Dome- The Courthouse

Filippo Brunelleschi Created a dome in Florence- il duomo Modeled after the Pantheon Il duomo Pantheon

Leonardo daVinci Renaissance genius Considered himself a painter, but he was also a sculptor, architect, and engineer Sketched nature, humans, and animals Dissected corpses to learn how the human body works

A sample of daVinci’s anatomy sketches

daVinci’s famous paintings Mona Lisa- portrait of a woman whose mysterious smile has baffled people for centuries Is daVinci Mona Lisa?

The Last Supper A masterpiece of perspective

daVinci’s inventions Inventor, botany, anatomy, optics, music, architecture, engineering.

Michelangelo Buonarroti Sculptor, engineer, painter, architect, poet Called a “meloncholy genius”- his work reflects his many life long spiritual struggles

The David famous statue

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The Pieta Mary and Jesus

The Sistine Chapel Took four years to complete Commissioned by Pope Julius II

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Raphael Admired for his talent and his sweet and gracious nature Studied great masters, but developed his own style Famous work: School of Athens Imaginary gathering of great thinkers and scientists (Plato, Aristotle, Socrates to name a few) He included himself in the picture along with Michelangelo and daVinci

The School of Athens Raphael in the back

Wrote The Book of the Courtier Describes the manners, skills, learning, and virtues that a member of the court should possess. Ideal courtier- well educated, well mannered aristocrat who mastered many fields(poetry, music, sports, etc..) Baldassare Castiglione

Castiglione's Ideal Person Men 1. Athletic 2. Good at games 3. Plays musical instruments 4. Knows literature and history Women 1.Pretty “outer beauty is the true sign of inner goodness”

Wrote “The Prince” a guide for rulers on how to gain and maintain power Did not discuss ideals, but looked at real rulers in an age of ruthless power politics Stressed “the end justifies the means” Urged rulers to use whatever methods were necessary to achieve their goals Niccolò Machiavelli

Machiavelli saw himself as an enemy of oppression and corruption Critics attacked his advice, said it was too cynical Machiavellian- came to refer to the use of deceit in politics Raises ethical questions about government and power Can you give an example of a modern leader who follows Machiavelli’s advice. Machiavelli continued…