1. Causes of the Renaissance
During the Late middle ages, Europe suffered from both war and plague.
Those who survived need something to live for, to make them happy again.
They wanted to celebrate the life and the human spirit

2. The Renaissance means “rebirth” European Renaissance (1300-1600s):
rebirth of ideas and culture reminiscent of Greece & Rome
Started in Italy
The Renaissance followed the Middle Ages
Primary development in urban centers (cities)

3. Why Italy? Thriving cities A wealthy merchant class
Classical heritage of Greece and Rome

4. Florence, Italy
main Italian city-state (a city and its surrounding lands functioning as an independent political unit) where Renaissance began
Became wealthiest city-state
Renaissance ideas spread from Italy to other European locations
Venice used its coastal location for international trade
Crusades opened up trade in the Mediterranean Sea

5. Renaissance… POLITICAL IMPORTANCE
-society was mainly run by wealthy merchant families
-ex: The Medici- powerful banking family in Florence
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE
-these families traded w/ many other countries and spread Renaissance “ideas”
-traded w/ Byzantine & Islamic Empires, England & the Netherlands

6. Renaissance… Social Importance:
time of recovery from Black Plague & political instability
Italian thinkers emphasized humanism
Humanism: focus on importance of the individual & positive human qualities
More emphasis on the work and worth of the individual

7. Looking to Greece and Rome
The artists and scholars of Italy drew inspiration from the ruins of Rome that surrounded them.
Western scholars studied ancient Latin manuscripts that had been preserved in monasteries.
Christian scholars in Constantinople fled to Rome with Greek manuscripts when the Turks conquered Constantinople in 1453.

8. Humanists Focus on human potential and achievements
Instead of trying to make classical texts agree with Christian teachings, as medieval scholars had, humanists studied them to understand ancient Greek values.
Made popular the study of subjects such as history, literature, and philosophy. These subjects are called the humanities.

9. Petrarch “The father of Humanism”
Believed God gave people intelligence & talents that should be used to the fullest in all aspects of life
Credited with perfecting the sonnet (14 line poem)
Known for being one of the first people to refer to the Dark Ages

10. “Renaissance Man”
During this period, the idea was introduced that all people should create art. In fact, the individual should strive to excel in almost every area of study.
Someone who excels in multiple fields/ has many talents is considered a ‘Renaissance Man’
He should be charming, witty, and well educated in the classics. He should dance, sing, play music, and write poetry. In addition he should be a skilled rider, wrestler, and swordsman!
Modern Day examples??

11. Is it better to be FEARED or LOVED?
Machiavelli
“Renaissance Man” from Florence
Political Importance:
He wrote The Prince
Most writers emphasized the importance of monarchs ruling according to Christian ethics and principles
He believed monarchs should rule according to what was best for everyone, not according to Christian beliefs
A king or prince might have to trick his enemies and even his own people for the good of the state
Machiavelli was not concerned with what was morally right, but with what was politically effective.
Is it better to be FEARED or LOVED?

12. Dante
Wrote humanist literature in common everyday language of the time
Widely considered to be “father of the Italian language” b/c of the local language he used…what is this called?????— VERNACULAR
Wrote the Divine Comedy
On the surface the poem describes Dante's travels through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven; but at a deeper level it represents the soul's journey towards God. His search for Salvation
Dante’s inferno

13. Erasmus Best known Christian Humanist
Believed in reforming Catholic Church from within and ending corruption
Wrote the Praise of Folly. This book poked fun at greedy merchants, heartsick lovers, quarrelsome scholars and pompous priests.
Taught that obedience to the Bible and sincere devotion to God were more important than religious rituals

14. Focuses of Renaissance Art
Classical art- through paintings that admired classical art through their use of columns
Religion- images of infant Jesus with mother Mary-known as Madonna (medieval Italian for ‘My Lady’); shows importance of religion during the Renaissance
The individual- portrayed the importance of individuals not just kings and Jesus
Beauty- detailed designs, scenery, shading, use of light and shadows

15. Donatello Raphael Considered the greatest sculptor before Michelangelo
Made sculptor more realistic by carving natural postures and expressions that reveal personality.
Considered the greatest sculptor before Michelangelo
Younger than Michelangelo and Leonardo
Famous for his use of perspective—shows
3 dimensions on a flat surface

16. Leonardo da Vinci Original “Renaissance Man”
Expert in painting, sculpting, engineering, physics, anatomy, etc.
Interested in how things worked
He studied the human body and how it works and then incorporated his findings into his art.
Thought of many inventions that couldn’t actually be built until the 20th century

17. Leonardo da Vinci… Most famous works of art:
Mona Lisa
The Last Supper
The Vitruvian Man

18. Michelangelo Renaissance artist
Best known for idealized paintings & sculptures of the human form
Created human images to reflect the “divine beauty of God”
David
The Sistine Chapel