1. Mrs. McDonough, Mrs. Hendricks, & Mrs. Thomas
The Renaissance
Mrs. McDonough, Mrs. Hendricks, & Mrs. Thomas

2. EQ What changes in society stimulated the Italian Renaissance?
Why the Renaissance began in Italy?

3. Objective:
Students will be able to explain what the Renaissance is and how Humanism changed Europe’s way of thinking.

4. What is the Renaissance?
A time in Europe from the 14th to the 17th century where there was a revival in art, literature, and learning.
It marked the transition from the medieval to the modern world

5. Before the Renaissance, what was life like?

6. The Medieval Period (Dark Ages)
Period between the Roman Empire and the Re-Birth of Europe.
Not very many new ideas about art or literature.
People did NOT think for themselves, and followed strict social structures and beliefs.

7. Let’s Remember Medieval Cities
Space was limited:
Crowded within the walls
Narrow streets
Second and third stories of buildings reached over the streets

8. Let’s Remember Medieval Cities
They burned. A lot.
There was great danger because:
Buildings were made mainly of wood
Candles and wood fires were used for light and heat

9. Let’s Remember Medieval Cities
They were also a little gross.
The smell was unpleasant
Human and animal waste in the streets
Wood fires polluted the air

10. The Black Death
By the early 1300s, more goods were being shipped across central Asia than ever before.
This allowed the Black Death to spread rapidly through caravans infested with rats that traveled from city to city.

11. Economic Impact of the Black Death
Financial business was disrupted.
Debtors (people who borrow money) died, so creditors (people who loan money) could not get their money back.
Construction projects stopped because there was no labor force.
Whole families died, leaving empty homes and no heirs to the family name.

12. The Black Death changed the way people lived.
The formerly poor and currently healthy were suddenly in demand!
They could be paid and were no longer serfs
The Plague, like the Crusades, helped to weaken the Feudal System
European society was changed forever!

13. The Black Death Affects
The Black Death marked an end of an era in Italy, its impact was profound and it resulted in wide-ranging social, economic, cultural and religious changes.
These changes, directly and indirectly, led to the emergence of the Renaissance, one of the greatest epochs for art.

14. Let’s get to the Renaissance

15. The Renaissance Defined
The Renaissance was a time of renewal
Renaissance means “Rebirth”
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.
The Renaissance took place in Europe between 1350 and  

16. The Renaissance: A Turning Point in History
The Renaissance (13th-16th centuries) is considered a turning point in history because of how much the world changed. Art changed. Science changed. Medicine changed. People's views on life, government, and politics changed. Education changed.

17. Where was it? Mainly in Italy Characterized by:
Society becoming urban (more city-like)
City-states were extremely powerful
A more secular view of the world, where religion did not have as prominent of a role in everyday life.

18. Why Italy? Wealth from trade supported art learning.
Modern capitalism was born here
Private individuals or companies, not the government, owned businesses.
The main goal was profit.
Republican governments arose in most cities, where the citizens could participate.

20. Renaissance Advancement
The Renaissance advanced three main disciplines—Architecture, Sculpture and Painting.

21. The Italian-City States
There was no centralized kingdom in Italy, so the city-states that developed in ancient history were still around.
Three major city-states:
Milan
Venice
Florence

22. Milan One of the richest Crossroads of the Italian trade routes
Rulers created a tax system that made money for the government

23. Venice On the trade route between Asia and Europe
Groups of wealthy merchants were in charge
As a trade port, it made a lot of money and became an international power.

24. Florence Wealthy merchants controlled the state
A struggle between religious rule and merchants developed.
This led to the downfall of religious leaders (REFORMATION!)

25. Renaissance Society

26. Renaissance Society
The wealthy class made up less than 10% of the population.
They embraced new ideas
Knowledge of the arts was a way to display wealth
The poorer classes saw and accepted ideas

27. Renaissance Society
Peasants (85-90% of the population) saw the end of serfdom after the decline of feudalism
Townspeople were split into three groups:
Patricians – trade, banking, and industry
Burghers – shopkeepers or belonged to a guild
Workers – very poor and made up % of the city

28. Family and Marriage Family was important
Used to strengthen ties
Arranged as early as the age of 2 or 3
Father or husband was the center of the family, while mothers supervised the house
Fathers were also able to decide when a child was considered an adult, especially in court.

29. Art and Patronage
Wealthy Italians were willing to spend a lot of money on art.
Buyers of art, or patrons, were the wealthy, government officials, or members of the Church
In Florence, the Medici family provided money to artists and intellectuals
Consumption of art was used to compete for social and political status!

30. Humanism

31. Humanists formed a belief in the
What is Humanism ?
An outlook or system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters.
Humanists formed a belief in the
importance of the individual. The ability of human beings to determine for themselves truth and falsehood.

32. Fill out the graphic organizer for the rest!

33. Humanism Humanists believed in the importance of the individual
Humanism also valued classical culture.

34. Petrarch Considered the father of humanism
Found and studied forgotten Latin texts
Loved books and believed that people could learn by reading
Liked to be in solitude

35. Humanism > Feudalism
Humanists believe that people have the ability to think for themselves and create their own life.
People can do this apart from social class or family.
King
Nobles.
Lords
Knights
Peasants

36. Humanism vs The Church Humanists: - Focused on the present
- Believed people should use their own minds and question everything.
The Church
- Focused on the afterlife
- Believed people should follow its teachings without question to save their souls