Chapter 10: Renaissance and Discovery Sec.1.1: The Renaissance in Italy

Introduction Late 15 th century, Europe recovering form three crises 1. demographic 2. political Great loss in population Rulers imposing new political order Patrons of government and education formed Trading of ideas

The Renaissance in Italy ( ) Prototype of the modern world (Burckhardt) Adopted a rational approach to reality Transition from medieval to modern Europe Characterized by growing national centralization Organized commerce

Causes Economics was primary cause Northern Italy: wealthy from the silk trade New banking system Money to support artists Struggles between papacy Governments became stronger Italian cities built on ancient Roman ruins

Renaissance More secular City-life dominated Classical past- Greece and Roman in years between 500 and 476bc Humanist- study of writings and ideals of the classical past (200bc) Individualism: behavior that emphasizes each person as contrasted with community

Cont. Virtu: essence of being a man by the display of courage in speech, art, politics, etc… Platonic Academy: Medici (leading Florentine family; scholars who initially studied the works of Plato in Greek; leading members were Marsilio Ficino and Pico della Mirandola Platonic concepts: perfection of the circle

Cont. Two events that coincide with the Renaissance: death of Petrarch (father of humanism) and Giovanni Boccaccio Decameron (Boccaccio) in 1375 Humanist culture spread Creative expansion stopped when Spain looted Rome in 1527

Petrarch

created the model for modern Italian Petrarch is credited for perfecting the sonnet, making it one of the most popular art forms to date Petrarch was born in Arezzo the son of a merchant, and spent his early childhood in the village of Incisa, near Florence. His father, Ser Petracco, had been exiled from Florence in 1302 by the Black Guelphs father two children by a woman or women unknown to posterity. A son, Giovanni who died of the plague

Italian City-State Merchant cities of late medieval times Always had a cultural advantage over rest of Europe because it was located alone trade routes Venice, Genoa, Pisa Became powerful city-states

Growth of City-States Remained free from kings to expand Assimilating nobility into new and old rich Five major sates formed: Milan, Florence, Venice, Papal, and Naples States Competition for political power

Social Class and Conflict Old vs. new rich for political power Great peasant revolts 1/3 of populations had no wealth Social anarchy from the Black Death

Despotism Cosimo de’ Medici: wealthy Florentine Controlled the city from behind the scenes Council: elected from powerful guilds governed the city Cosimo was able to keep councilors loyal to him Lorenzo (Granson of Cosimo) ruled Florence from ) Brother was assassinated in 1478 by a rival family (Pazzi) plotted with the pope Lorenzo was cautious

Cont. Despotism: hired strongmen to prevent social conflict Hazardous job Most city-states est. resident embassies (1400’s) Became watchful eyes and ears

Humanism Long debated: some say birth of modern times, others philosophy stressed the dignity of human kind, others thought it was an educational program built on ancient rhetoric and scholarly works First humanists were poets Studied classic theologians of Greece and Latin Period between classical civilization and a dark middle age