1. Why Italy?

2. The Renaissance… dictionary definition - a “rebirth” or revival
historical definition - time period of revival in art, science, literature, and learning
time period – 1000 A.D. to 1500 A.D. in Europe

3. Geography - Italy lies between Europe, Africa and Asia
- lies in the Mediterranean Sea
- Italy is a peninsula with a long coastline
- lots of harbors, shipbuilding, and trade

4. Religion - Rome was the center of the Christian religion
- called the “Roman Catholic Church”
- Roman Catholic Church controlled by the “Pope”
- politically powerful
- “crown” rulers
- “excommunicate” you
- Catholics believed they should spread Christianity to others

5. The Crusades…
A.D. Pope Urban II called for a “holy war” or crusade to expel Muslims from the Middle East
- protect and control the land where Jesus lived
- the Crusades were a series of wars lasting over years

6. Economics
- Europeans traveled through Italy on their way to trade with Muslims or to fight in Crusades
- Crusaders took Asian products from the Middle East back to their European families
- Europeans wanted products such as: spices, jewels, silks, medicines, foods, etc.

7. More Economics
- Italian merchants became “middlemen” sold supplies and Asian products to Europeans and became very wealthy:
- Italy’s economy “boomed” (improved); towns grew larger
- the “middle class” grew larger… merchants, craftsmen, moneychangers, sailors, etc
- Italians and Moslems controlled the trade routes between Europe and Asia; they also controlled the prices of products

8. Culture - wealthy Italians could spend money on:
- essential items food, shelter, clothing
- non-essential items… art, music, education, architecture, travel, etc.
- wealthy Italian “patrons” hired artists, teachers, musicians, athletes, etc.

9. History
- Italians lived among the old Roman Empire
- Surrounded by art, roads, libraries, coliseums, bathhouses, stadiums, etc.
- Italians researched and revived the old Greek and Roman ideas – “classical” cultures
- Italians wanted Italy to return to the “glory days” of the Roman Empire

10. Leap Frog Theory…
- Renaissance ideas “jumped” from market to market, town to town, country to country by Crusaders, merchants, and travelers
- Renaissance spread to other parts of Europe
- universities were built all over Europe
- Italian artists were hired to work for other European rulers in other countries

11. The Results…
Three reasons drove men such as Christopher Columbus to go exploring…
- desire for fame and fortune
- to spread Christianity
- to learn more about the earth