1. The Italian Renaissance
Mr. Meester
AP European History
Chapter 10
Pages

2. The Renaissance in Italy
Renaissance means “rebirth” in French
Considered the transition period from the middle ages to the modern world
Occurred in Italy from 1375 to 1527

3. Rise of the Italian City-States
The merchant controlled city-states in Italy had a cultural and economic advantage over the rest of Medieval Europe.
Warfare and conflict helped lead to the rise of five major city-states
Political conflict and clashing social classes were common in most Italian city-states
Florence is a great example

4. The Medici Family
The Medici family was able to seize power in Florence
Cosimo de Medici controlled the Signoria
Lorenzo de Medici was more totalitarian

5. Despots & Diplomacy
Oligarchies within city-states would hire despots (Podesta) to run the city-state
They used mercenaries known as condottieri for their military
The use of diplomats was also vitally important when dealing with other city-states
Condottieri

6. Humanism
Humanism was the main philosophy and educational program of the Renaissance.
They advocated the Studia Humanitatis when it can to learning.
Humanists in the Italian Renaissance tended to be more secular than their middle age predecessors
Humanists studied religion differently than their earlier rivals who practiced Scholastism.

7. Early Writers Francesco Petrarch: The Father of Humanism
Dante Alighieri: The Religious Humanist
Giovanni Boccaccio: The Racy Humanist

8. Education in Renaissance Italy
One of the most subjects to study was ancient languages.
The goal of humanist studies was, “Both the knowledge of the good and ability to move people to desire it.”
The Education of the Orator, became the classical guide to humanist curriculum
Baldassare Castiglione’s Book of the Courtier
Noblewomen like Christine de Pisan also promoted education for women

9. The Florentine Academy
One of the most important discoveries of the Renaissance was the rediscovery of classical Greek works.
Humanists were especially attracted to the philosophy of Plato. This led to the creation of the Florentine Academy.
Platonism took a flattering view of human nature.
Pico Della Mirandola’s, Oration on the Dignity of Man

10. Lorenzo Valla
Is an excellent example of how the humanists were willing to challenge long held traditions and beliefs
Using his knowledge of classical languages he proved the Donation of Constantine to be a fraud.

11. Civic Humanism
In Florence, a new style of Civic Humanism emerged that stressed not only individual virtue, but public service
Several Civic Humanists became Chancellor of Florence.
Toward the end of the Renaissance, humanism started to become elitist
Leon Battista Alberti