Italy Italian Cities Urban Societies Major Trading Centers Secular Moved away from life in the church Focuses more on material objects and enjoying life

The Renaissance was a time of renewal Renaissance means rebirth and Europe was recovering from the Dark ages and the plague. People had lost their faith in the church and began to put more focus on human beings.

Increased demand for Middle Eastern products Stimulated production of goods to trade in Middle Eastern markets Encouraged the use of credit and banking Church rule against usury and the banks’ practice of charging interest helped to secularize northern Italy. Letters of credit served to expand the supply of money and expedite trade. New accounting and bookkeeping practices (use of Arabic numerals) were introduced.

Italy failed to become united during the Ages. Many independent city-states emerged in northern and central Italy that played an important role in Italian politics and art. Milan Venice Florence Milan One of the richest cities, it controls trade through the Alps. Venice Sitting on the Adriatic, it attracts trade from all over the world. Florence Controlled by the De Medici Family, who became great patrons of the arts. Genoa Genoa Had Access to Trade Routes

All of these cities: Had access to trade routes connecting Europe with Middle Eastern markets Served as trading centers for the distribution of goods to northern Europe Were initially independent city-states governed as republics

Lessening of feudalism –Church disrespected –Nobility in chaos –Growth of Middle Class through trade Fall of Constantinople –Greek scholars fled to Italy Education Nostalgia among the Italians to recapture the glory of the Roman empire

Florence – Medici's—family of physicians (plural for medical doctor) – Money in banking – Financed wool trade – Became de facto rulers of Florence

At the end of the 14 th century, Florence was ruled by a merchantile elite. Costly, continuous wars enlarged the territory of the city-state by conquering Arezzo, Cortona, Prate, Pistoia and Pisa. Pisa’s ports made the Republic of Florence a sea power and major economic power of the West

Pre-Medici Florence – The Arts The Palazzo Davanzati is a good example of the transition from the medieval tower house to the Renaissance palace. Churches and public buildings, and houses constructed with Romanesque or Gothic architecture. Utilitarian and aesthetic purposes, because these mercantile elite needed to rebuilt the city from disasters (a flood in the late 1300s) but they wanted to be impressive as well.

Giovanni di Bicci de’Medici Considered founder of Medici family fortune Giovanni is considered to be the first prominent patron of the arts Giovanni was a leader not concerned with politics, but rather the family fortune and the arts Giovanni died in 1429 and his son Cosimo became head of the Medici family

In the 1420’s Giovanni di Bicci and Cosimo commissioned Brunelleschi to do extensive renovation, and it became the first church since Roman times to use the classical style.

He became banker to the pope, and his bank also spread to all the important financial markets throughout Europe. Cosimo was very interested in a rebirth of classical ideas recreated Plato’s ancient academy in Carregi. Cosimo was also a very religious man Cosimo spent a considerable portion of his wealth on the arts Amassed the largest library in Europe Supported artists such as Ghiberti, Brunellechi, Donatello, Alberti, Fra Angelico, and Ucello Florence became cultural center of Europe

The Nativity, Fra Angelico

Santa Maria Novella, Leon Baptista Alberti

St. Mark, Donatello

Grandson of Cosimo Lorenzo, know also as Lorenzo the Magnificent, was is said to be the most brilliant of the Medici Lorenzo was also respected as a very talented Latin poet, and like his family members was very interested in texts of antiquity Lorenzo is considered to be the greatest patron of the arts Commissioned such artists and musicians as Michelangelo,Botticelli and Verrocchio Discovered the talented Michelangelo when the artist was only 15 years old Lorenzo de Medici, Andrea del Verrocchio

Tomb of the Medici, Michelangelo

Post-Medici – The Initial Fall From Power Girolamo Savonarola was a preacher who settled in Florence in He attacked the tyranny of the Medici family in his sermons, and when in 1494, Charles VIII of France invaded Italy, the Medici’s lost power, and Savonarola took control, putting Florence under extremely rigid control. Eventually, Savonarola’s followers turned on him, and he was killed. More on Savonarola: Girolamo Savonarola

Cardinal Giovanni de Medici (Pisaro’s uncle) regained control of Florence in 1512 for the lineage. In 1569, Cosimo III became the “Grand Duke” of Tuscany, after taking over many of the surrounding areas. He ruled with a heavy hand, not very popular.His heirs were far weaker. In 1737, Gian Gastone and Anna Maria Luisa die childless. The Medici line has died out, and Florence is inherited by the Lorraine Dynasty. Post-Medici – The Final Fall…

Large Italian cities won independence from nobles Communes (Merchant controlled cities) Nobles move to city, marry merchant families Oligarchy Property laws set up for citizenship Popolo (commoners) rebelled, set up Republics Failed to create civic control Condottieri (military leader) Signori (Paternal ruler) Courts (Palace) – all business and play

City patriotism and competition = Fragmented Italy One gains power, others band together Creates the beginning of modern diplomacy Ambassador End of 15 th Century Florence and Naples vs. Milan Calls on France for support, Italy becomes a battleground (Habsburg-Valois) Sack of Rome by Charles V (HRE) Renaissance carried to rest of Europe

Niccolò Machiavelli The Prince Machiavelli believed: “One can make this generalization about men: they are ungrateful, fickle, liars, and deceivers, they shun danger and are greedy for profit” Machiavelli observed city-state rulers of his day and produced guidelines for the acquisition and maintenance of power by absolute rule. He felt that a ruler should be willing to do anything to maintain control without worrying about conscience.

Better for a ruler to be feared than to be loved Ruler should be quick and decisive in decision making Ruler keeps power by any means necessary The end justifies the means Be good when possible, and evil when necessary