Lecture 9.7 The foundations of the Italian Renaissance

Click me Renaissance men?

 The Italian Renaissance (“rebirth”) occurred between 1374 to 1605 CE/AD.  The renaissance was a cultural, scholarly and socio-political movement that stressed the rediscovery and application of texts and thought from classical antiquity.  The underpinnings of the Renaissance can be traced to western religious scholars and the flight of eastern scholars from Constantinople after the Ottoman conquest. Click me This is all cool Italian Renaissance stuff (more to come)

 Three Italian city-states (Florence, Venice, and Genoa) are focal points.  These cities have the following attributes ◦ access to multiple land and sea trade routes ◦ accumulation of wealth amongst ruling families ◦ Direct connection between Europe and the Middle East via sea trade ◦ Distribution points for goods into northern Europe  These cities are independent city-states and act as republics (mini-countries)  Wealthy merchants in each city are active civic and cultural leaders Click here

 Crusaders generally made multiple stops on the Italian Peninsula on their way to the holy land  Venice becomes a focal point for increased trade for new eastern products, as well as the use of credit/banking, and the stimulated production of goods to trade with the East Click here Yes … that Venice!

 New banking practices include bankers charging interest and letters of credit to expand the money supply  Bankers use new accounting and bookkeeping practices (using Arabic numerals), and the church regulates against using/charging interest.  All of this encourages secularism (the separation of government and economic institutions from religious institutions) in northern Italy Click here

 The Renaissance makes certain families in Italy wealthy and powerful.  One such family is the Medici family of Florence (1434 to 1737 CE/AD) who supported and sponsored the works of art. Literature and music  Much of Renaissance culture and achievement will occur because of the economic and political support of wealthy patrons Click here Niccolo Machiavelli is going to teach his wealthy Medici patrons how to act like modern rulers