The Renaissance

Renaissance--Some basics Means “rebirth” (of Greek ideas, culture, etc.) Means “rebirth” (of Greek ideas, culture, etc.) Where? Italy: city-states Where? Italy: city-states When? When? Characteristics? Characteristics? Secular Secular Humanism Humanism Classical ideas Classical ideas Classical Architecture & Arts Classical Architecture & Arts Beauty of nature valued Beauty of nature valued Dignity and potential of man valued Dignity and potential of man valued Idea of individual Idea of individual

Origins Begins in the Italian City -States Begins in the Italian City -States Italy’s geographic location (Point of exchange East/West) Italy’s geographic location (Point of exchange East/West) Thriving Economy (Wealthy Merchant Families) Thriving Economy (Wealthy Merchant Families) Banking and finance come to the fore in Italy (Usury) Banking and finance come to the fore in Italy (Usury) Capitalism usurping Feudalism Capitalism usurping Feudalism Rich families benefited from recession in Europe Rich families benefited from recession in Europe Printing Press widely used in Italy for secular works Printing Press widely used in Italy for secular works Hegemony of the Papacy waning Hegemony of the Papacy waning Northern Europe consolidating under strong Monarchies Northern Europe consolidating under strong Monarchies Major States Major States Milan, Venice, Florence, Genoa, Naples, Papal States (Think North as opposed to South) Milan, Venice, Florence, Genoa, Naples, Papal States (Think North as opposed to South) City is the center with control of surrounding lands City is the center with control of surrounding lands Oligarchies, despots & republics Oligarchies, despots & republics

Question Time What might cause the end of the Renaissance in Italy? What might cause the end of the Renaissance in Italy?

Class Divisions in Northern City-States Classes Classes Grandi (Nobles & Old Wealth) Grandi (Nobles & Old Wealth) Popolo Grasso (New Wealth) Popolo Grasso (New Wealth) Medocri (Mid-Burgher level) Medocri (Mid-Burgher level) Popolo Minuto Popolo Minuto Who ruled? Who ruled? Rich merchant families Rich merchant families Signori (Merchant family) Signori (Merchant family) Podesta (Republic) Podesta (Republic) Condottieri (Mercenaries) Condottieri (Mercenaries) Names to know: Names to know: Medici, Borgia, Sforza Medici, Borgia, Sforza

New Attributes Individualism Individualism Portraiture & biography Portraiture & biography Secularism Secularism Literacy, wealth, knowledge Literacy, wealth, knowledge From Scholasticism to Humanism From Scholasticism to Humanism Begins with notaries Begins with notaries What makes a “good” citizen? What makes a “good” life? What makes a “good” citizen? What makes a “good” life? Petrarch as first major thinker looking closely again at the classics Petrarch as first major thinker looking closely again at the classics Humanism= rhetoric, Latin, history, grammar, poetry and moral philosophy Humanism= rhetoric, Latin, history, grammar, poetry and moral philosophy Humanism is not a new philosophy replacing Christianity Humanism is not a new philosophy replacing Christianity

Question Time What might be some problems faced by those involved with Humanism? What might be some problems faced by those involved with Humanism?

New Virtues Castiglione, in The Courtier, best describes the new virtues of the “universal man” Castiglione, in The Courtier, best describes the new virtues of the “universal man” Men: Well educated, charming polite, witty, dance, write poetry, sing & play music, physically strong and graceful, a skilled rider, wrestler & swordsman Men: Well educated, charming polite, witty, dance, write poetry, sing & play music, physically strong and graceful, a skilled rider, wrestler & swordsman Women: Know the classics, write well, paint, make music, dance and be charming (not expected to seek fame as men did) Women: Know the classics, write well, paint, make music, dance and be charming (not expected to seek fame as men did)

New Politics Machiavelli as originator of new (real) diplomacy & ruling Machiavelli as originator of new (real) diplomacy & ruling Machiavelli the Florentine, diplomat and advisor until removed from office. Machiavelli the Florentine, diplomat and advisor until removed from office. Advice: Better to be feared than loved (but never hated). A good prince is crafty & shrewd....in politics the ends justify the means Advice: Better to be feared than loved (but never hated). A good prince is crafty & shrewd....in politics the ends justify the means A despot is a transition not the ultimate A despot is a transition not the ultimate

Question Time How did Machiavelli’s political theory reflect the times in Italy? How did Machiavelli’s political theory reflect the times in Italy?

New Art Increase in Quantity Increase in Quantity Technical proficiency (perspective, chiaroscuro) Technical proficiency (perspective, chiaroscuro) Change in subject matter Change in subject matter Religious monopoly broken Religious monopoly broken Hierarchy of arts change (to stand alone) Hierarchy of arts change (to stand alone) Artist is known Artist is known Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Donatello, Raphael, Titian Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Donatello, Raphael, Titian

Masaccio, Expulsion – 1426 Botticelli, Birth of Venus– 1485

Donatello’s David, 1430 Botticelli’s Venus and Mars, 1485

Madonna and Child, 1500’s

Michelangelo’s, David, 1504

Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, 1507

Tintoretto, Christ at the Sea of Galilee, 1575

Raphael, Pope Leo X, 1518 & The Prophet Isaiah, 1511

Titian, Bacchus and Ariadne, 1522

Durer, Venetian Woman, 1505

Question Time Was the Renaissance truly an era of rebirth? Was the Renaissance truly an era of rebirth?

Downfall As Italian states stop backing each other up when encountering foreign invaders and continually attack each other, Spain and France lead armies in to reoccupy or take over As Italian states stop backing each other up when encountering foreign invaders and continually attack each other, Spain and France lead armies in to reoccupy or take over By this time, the Renaissance has spread outside of Italy to areas like Holland with Erasmus and England with Thomas More By this time, the Renaissance has spread outside of Italy to areas like Holland with Erasmus and England with Thomas More

Other things going on.... Scientific inquiry and medical discoveries Scientific inquiry and medical discoveries Guttenberg’s Printing Press Guttenberg’s Printing Press Exploration Exploration

Question Time What are some of the legacies of the Renaissance in our own times? What are some of the legacies of the Renaissance in our own times?