1. The Renaissance Begins Daily EQ: Why did the Renaissance begin in Italy?

2. What is the Renaissance? Rebirth of art and learning Looking to classics for inspiration and understanding: Greece and Rome

3. Why? People have lived through chaotic/depressing Middle Ages Ready for a change The Silk Road –Marco Polo (maybe) traveled and brought back items and stories of Asia that made people curious

4. Fall of Constantinople 1453 – the city of Constantinople is taken over by the Ottomans Ends the Byzantine Empire (Roman)

6. Return of the Classics Migration of scholars, poets, artists, scientists, etc… from Constantinople to Italy and France –Bring Greek and Roman ideas, writings, and artifacts with them

8. Growth of Trade Ottoman Empire links Europe with Asia/ME Trade will also go through Italy because of its location (peninsula)

9. Ideas Ideas and cultures spread because of trade –Classics – Roman/Greek, ME

10. Italy’s trade carried the Renaissance ideas to the rest of Europe

11. Wealthy Merchant Class Wealthy families emerge in city-states of Italy because of trade. Very powerful; controlled politics/govt

12. Patrons Many of these people became patrons and used their money to support artists, sculptors, poets etc…

13. Peace There was a period of peace in Italy. –People could focus on trade and the arts

14. Bubonic Plague Didn’t hit Italy as hard as rest of Europe Allowed many peasants to move away from farm life Lead to increase in wages and standard of living – rise of a new Middle Class

15. Home to Classics Italy is the home of the Roman Empire Leftover artifacts from Rome to study