1. The Renaissance

2. What was the Renaissance? It was an era of renewed interest and remarkable developments in art, literature, science, and learning in Europe beginning in 1300’s Italy. It was driven by humanism and further enabled by the invention of the Printing Press in the 1400’s. It was a rebirth of ancient Greek and Roman literature and thought.

3. The Renaissance v. the Medieval Period Bayeux Tapestry (Medieval) “School of Athens” (Renaissance)

4. Further Comparison of Medieval v. Renaissance Medieval Mindset: Life is not going to be pleasant. We live day to day, we are not educated, and the only purpose is to work towards salvation and to glorify God. Renaissance Humanism: Our lives are full of possibilities, as human beings have limitless potential. The ideal man is someone educated in many subjects. Why not embrace this view? It is what the Ancient Greeks and Romans thought.

5. Humanism It was the body of thought or philosophy that drove the Renaissance. Though religion was still important, the Renaissance movement was more secular (worldly). Humanism emphasized the achievements of individuals rather than glorifying God.

6. Petrarch He is considered the father of the Renaissance. He collected Ancient Greek and Roman manuscripts. He wrote in vernacular (everyday language of the people) instead of Latin (what the church used).

7. Dante He also wrote in vernacular. He is most famous for his book The Divine Comedy, a fictitious narrative of his journey through heaven, hell, and purgatory. A portion of The Divine Comedy is known as The Inferno.

8. Machiavelli Employed by the ruling family of one of Italy’s great city states, he got to see first hand how they ruled and wrote a book about it, The Prince. The book advises rulers to do whatever it takes to keep their power, even if they must do terrible things. “It is better to be feared than loved.”

9. Leonardo daVinci He’s thought of as not just any man from the Renaissance but the “Renaissance Man,” because he was talented in many areas. – Painting (The Last Supper and Mona Lisa to name two) – Architecture – Engineering – anatomy

10. Mona Lisa (daVinci)

11. The Last Supper (daVinci)

12. Michelangelo SculptorPainter

13. Sistine Chapel (Michelangelo)

14. David (Michelangelo)

15. Raphael Painted The School of Athens and much more to include numerous paintings of Madonna, the mother of Jesus.

16. School of Athens (Raphael)