Jacob Burckhardt: The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy (1860) Created the modern concept of the Renaissance 14 th – 15 th c. Italy was the birthplace of the modern world Distinguishing features of the period…  revival of antiquity  “perfecting the individual”  secularism (“the worldliness of the Italians”) Represents a sudden & dramatic cultural break w/ the Middle Ages

The Italian City-States: Most were economic powerhouses (shipbuilding, foreign trade, banking & manufacturing) Organized as communes…  Efficiently managed cities  Associations of free men who won independence from local nobles  Powerful local oligarchies wrote constitutions & declared them republics (the popolo were disenfranchised)  Some oligarchies brought in military leaders (condottieri) or handed the gov’t over to one man (signori) Competed constantly with each other  Invented modern diplomacy  Created concept of the balance of power

The 5 Major City-States of Renaissanc e Italy

The City-State of Florence Type of Government…  Republic controlled by small merchant oligarchy Most powerful family…  Medici family Most famous ruler(s)…  Cosimo de’ Medici  Lorenzo de’ Medici Economy based on…  Banking  Textiles (cloth & wool)  Artistic & cultural center of Early Renaissance

Built between Architect Filippo Brunelleschi Architectural Landmark: The “Duomo”

The City-State of Milan Type of Government…  Duchy (rule by dukes) Most powerful family…  Visconti  Sforza (after 1447) Most famous ruler(s)…  Francesco Sforza Economy based on…  Efficient tax system  Thriving cloth industry  Controlled trade route through Alps

Milan’s Architectural Landmarks Castello Sforzesco (Sforza Castle) Church of Santa Maria della Grazie

The City-State of Venice Type of Government…  Maritime Republic controlled by a small oligarchy of merchant aristocrats Most powerful group…  Great Council, Senate & Council of Ten Most famous ruler(s)…  Doge = elected leader Economy based on…  Commercial trade empire  Shipping industry

Architectural Landmarks : St. Mark’s Square St. Mark’s Cathedral Doge’s Palace

Venice: A City with NO STREETS!!!

Rome (a.k.a. Papal States) Type of Government…  Ruled by the pope  Most powerful group …  High ranking officials of Catholic Church Most famous ruler(s)…  Pope Alexander VI  Pope Julius II  Pope Leo X Economy based on…  Religious pilgrimages  Church funds & taxes  Artistic center of High Renaissance

St. Peter’s Basilica ( ) Architectural Landmark: The Vatican

Kingdom of Naples Type of Government…  Backward Monarchy  Most powerful family …  House of Aragon Most famous ruler(s)…  Alfonso of Aragon (the Magnanimous) Economy based on…  A feudal system consisting largely of poverty-stricken peasants dominated by unruly nobles

1. Humanism Originated with Petrarch (14 th c. poet) Derived from the term studia humanitates (“liberal studies”) Important Characteristics…  Study of Latin & Greek classics  Goal = revive the art of rhetoric & lively dialogues of the Platonic Academy  Use of vernacular language  Emphasized the abilities, achievements & greatness of humans Humanists were intellectual celebrities admired beyond the borders of their city-states

Pico della Mirandola On the Dignity of Man 1486

2. Individualism “Man is the measure of all things.” A Sense of power and greatness of the human being replaced religious awe Individual Ambitions & accomplishments were celebrated Can easily be seen in Renaissance literature (autobiography) & visual arts (portrait)

3. Virtù “The Quality of Being a Man” Means living up to one’s highest potential & excelling in all endeavors L’uomo universale Vitruvian Man (1492); Leonardo da Vinci

Self-Portrait –Leonardo da Vinci, 1512 Self-Portrait –Leonardo da Vinci, Artist Sculptor Architect Scientist Engineer Inventor

Baldassare Castiglione by Raphael, Castiglione represented the humanist “gentleman” as a man of refinement and self-control. The Courtier (1528)

4. Secularism Focus on the earthly world, not the heavenly one Enthusiastically adopted by new wealthy elites who patronized the arts & sought more pleasurable lives Examples:  Lorenzo Valla, On Pleasure  Boccaccio, Decameron  Machiavelli, The Prince

5. Historical Consciousness Humanism provided a new periodization, or chronology, to history Classical Age Dark Ages Renaissance Secularized the writing of history Examples:  Leonardo Bruni, History of the Florentine People  Francesco Guicciardini, The History of Italy and his History of Florence