1. RENAISSANCE – “REBIRTH”
A period of great intellectual and artistic creativity

2. Introduction
The Renaissance is often considered one of the great “turning points” in the history of Western Civilization.
It featured a new interest in learning about the classical civilizations of Greece and Rome.

3. The Big Questions: What was the Renaissance and why did it happen?
What were some of the new ways of thinking during the Renaissance?
Who were some of the key people and contributions of the Renaissance?

4. Background – The Renaissance began in Italy
Location – centrally located in the Mediterranean Sea region
As trade increased, Italian cities became centers of banking, commerce, and industry
Merchants and nobles acted as patrons
Supported artists, writers, and scholars
Powerful leaders (because no single ruler had united the Italian peninsula)

5. Characteristics of the Renaissance
Secularism (non-religious) – increased as people began to show greater interest in this world rather than the “here after”
Reason – used observation and experience to explain the world rather than Christian teachings
Humanism – emphasized dignity, worth, and uniqueness of individuals. (man is the focus of all things)
Christian Humanism – a movement in northern Europe that promoted reason through Christian teachings

6. Impacts of the Renaissance
Artistic
Intellectual
Political
Economic
Science and Technology

7. ARTISTIC:
Art before the Renaissance was greatly influenced by Byzantine styles
Highly decorative
Flat and not life-like
Figures floated in space without shadows
Sized of figures were based on importance, not where it was placed in the picture
Renaissance art featured new depth, dimension, and perspective

8. Painting and Sculpture
Early Renaissance Artists
Giotto ( ) – used scenes with figures in lifelike space, realistic shading, showed emotion and gestures, and figures receding in space grew smaller
Massacio ( ) – used perspective (guidelines to calculate how things recede in the distance) and other realistic effects

9. Masters of the “High Renaissance”
Leonardo Da Vinci
Michaelangelo
Rafael
Donatello
AKA: NINJA TURTLES

10. Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519) The epitome of the “Renaissance Man”
Painter, sculptor, inventor, scientist
Dissected human bodies
Kept a notebook of designs (machine gun, helicopter, etc.)
Last Supper, Mona Lisa

12. Michaelangelo (1475-1564) Sculptor and artist
Paintings and statues were startlingly realistic
David, Pieta, ceiling of the Sistine Chapel

14. Rafael Donatello

15. Architecture Studied ruins of buildings from ancient Rome
Abandoned Medieval styles (pointed arches, ornamentation)
Used columns and circular arches of the classical period
Demonstrated technical achievements of applying reason
One of the most famous architects was Filippo Brunelleschi

16. Intellectual Impact Scholarship and Literature
Petrarch – the “Father of Humanism”: collected and studied ancient texts
Erasmus – questioned the Church and used satire to criticise
More authors wrote on secular (non-religious) subjects
Boccaccio wrote in the Italian vernacular (local language, not Latin)
Rabelais (French), William Shakespeare (England), and Cervantes (Spain) also wrote in their native languages
Writers described the dignity of man, pleasures of the senses, and instructed nobles in how to behave at court

17. Intellectual Impact continued...
Science and Technology
Copernicus – a polish scientist, concluded that the Earth orbited the sun. His work was banned by the Church (Church taught that Earth was the center of the universe)
Galileo Galilei ( ) – Italian scientist, studied motion and laid the foundation for modern physics. Observed the heavenly bodies with one of the first telescopes and wrote about his belief in Copernicus’ theory. Was charged by the Catholic Church, ordered to appear before the Inquisition in Rome, was found guilty and confined to his home

18. Gutenberg and the printing revolution
Johann Gutenberg (German printer)
Developed a printing press with moveable type
Moveable type, a special press, and oil- based inks allowed the mass production of printed books
Encouraged the spread of new ideas
Increased literacy

19. Political Impact Machiavelli – a courtier and politician in Florence
Wrote “The Prince” – a guidebook in how to secure and maintain political power
Argued that the most successful rulers were not those who acted according to laws or conscience, but those who were willing to do whatever was necessary to hold power (the end justifies the means)
Wealthy Italian city-states, weakening of the Church, and reasoning of writers led to the concept of “reason of state”
Rulers collected taxes, raised armies, hired professional soldiers, and exchanged ambassadors

20. Economic Impact People wanted to improve their material conditions
Wealthy accumulated luxury goods
Increased trade in a greater variety of products (clothes, foods, wines, and furnishings)
Continued growth of cities

21. LEFT SIDE ACTIVITY
Pretend you are an Italian Doge (noble leader of a city-state). You are wanting to become a patron.
Create an advertisement seeking an artist, architect, etc. to work for your family. Be specific about what you want this person (or people) to accomplish.