1. The Renaissance
1350 C.E. – 1600 C.E.

2. The Italian Renaissance
Term Renaissance literally means rebirth
Period of European History that began in Italy and spread to rest of Europe
Three (3) main characteristics
Urban Society – powerful city-states became centers of Italian political, economic, and social life
Secular – more worldly view point, less religious
Age of recovery – disasters of 14th century included Black Death, political instability, decline in church power
Rise of Humanism – new view of humans and their abilities
Leon Battista Alberti – “Men can do all things if they will.”

3. A Renaissance Man Painter Sculptor Architect Inventor Mathematician
Responsible for: Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, Vitruvian Man

4. Mona Lisa
Leonardo da Vinci – Circa

5. The Last Supper
Leonardo da Vinci – Circa C.E.

6. The Vitruvian Man
Leonardo da Vinci – Circa 1490 C.E.

7. Rise of Italian City-States
During Middle Ages, Italy failed to have a single, centralized, monarchy
City-States developed independently in Northern & Central Italy
City-States: Milan, Florence, & Venice
Expanded and played important roles in Italian politics
Trade stimulated economic growth
Increased trading because of Crusades
Goods from the East; silks, sugar, & spices

8. Early Trade Routes

9. Renaissance Italy Circa 1500 C.E.

10. Powerful Italian City-States
Milan
Venice
Francesco Sforza
Leader of Mercenary band
Strong centralized state
Very efficient tax system
Elected leader called Doge
Trade empire was extremely profitable
International Power
Location, Location, Location

11. Florence Ruled by the Medici Family
Ruled behind the scenes with influence and wealth
Cultural center of Renaissance Italy
Experience period of decline
Focus on manufacture and trade of cloth
Increased competition from English and Flemish cloth makers

12. The Italian Wars 1494 C.E.
Growth of strong monarchial states in Europe led to problems for Northern Italy
French king, Charles VIII leads army into kingdom of Naples (southern Italy)
Northern Italian city-states seek help from the Spanish
Spanish and French turned Italy into battleground for 30 yrs
Turning Point = 1527 C.E. Spanish king, Charles I’s army along with mercenaries from other countries sack Rome

13. Renaissance & Politics
Niccolo Machiavelli – wrote The Prince, one of the most influential works on political power in the Western world
Central Theme – how to acquire and keep political power
Continues to be read & studied today

14. Renaissance Society Divided into 3 estates, social classes Nobility
Peasants
Clergy
Each class had a set of ideal traits & characteristics
Nobles = Baldassare Castiglione wrote The Book of the Courtier
Described the “perfect” noble

15. Peasants & Townspeople
Made up the largest estate, 85 – 90%
Decrease in number of serfs, many moved to cities once they became free
Townspeople had a hierarchy
Patricians
Wealth from trade, industry, banking gave them power & influence
Burghers
Shopkeepers, artisans, guildmasters
Workers & unemployed
Poverty rose dramatically during 13th & 14th centuries

16. Family & Marriage Family unit was very important to society
Father/Husband was head of household
Many arranged marriages
Dowry – sum of money paid to husband by wife’s family upon marriage
Father had to formally free children

17. Impact of the Printing Press
Johannes Gutenberg of Germany
1455 C.E. prints the Gutenberg Bible
Allows information and ideas to spread extremely fast

18. On a separate sheet of paper…
What does the term Renaissance mean?
What are the 3 characteristics of the Italian Renaissance?
What does it mean to have a secular view?
Name one of Leonardo’s great masterpieces.
What were the main 3 city-states discussed in class?
What is a mercenary?
What 2 countries turned Italy into their battlefield?
Who wrote the book The Prince?
What was The Prince about?
What were the 3 estates of Renaissance society?
Name the book that described the ideal noble.

19. Continued…
In 1455 C.E., what book was printed by Johannes Gutenberg and had a major impact on European society?
Who was at the top of the social ladder in urban society?
What is a dowry?
Who was in charge of the family unit during the Renaissance period?