1. Renaissance

2. The Renaissance begins in Italy
The Renaissance begins in Italy and
spreads north to the rest of Europe.
• Italy was the center of trade between
northern Europe and Africa.
• It was the center of Greco-Roman
culture.
• It was the center of the Catholic
Church.
• The Renaissance runs between 1300
and 1650.

3. The Beginning The term Renaissance means “rebirth” in Latin.
• It was the rebirth of art and learning.
• It was influenced by very powerful families
such as the Medici family.
• The Medici’s were bankers out of
Florence.
• The families gave support to various
artists.

4. Characteristics of the Renaissance
Humanism
• Individualism
• Questioning Attitude
• Interest in Secular, or non-religious worldly
matters.
• Rise of the middle class (Disposable
income)
• Great achievements in the arts.

5. Humanism Humanism is the idea that is focused on
human achievements and potential rather
than religious themes.
• Focused on the man and his world.
• Concentrated on everyday human
problems and relationships.
• Humanists focus on pleasure rather than
morality.

6. Humanism The secular nature of humanism, as well
as it’s questioning attitude, often brought it
into conflict with the traditional teachings
of the Catholic Church and Medieval
thinking.

7. Medieval Art Artists depicted subjects in an unrealistic two
dimensional
style
to indicate the
importance of
the soul over the
body.

8. Renaissance Art Use of oil paints • 3-D and realism were the new
techniques of
the
Renaissance.

9. Characteristics of Renaissance Art
Three dimensional
• Realistic
• Lifelike
• Influenced by
Greco-Roman
culture

10. Renaissance Artists • Leonardo da Vinci • Michelangelo • Raphael
• Donatello

11. Leonardo da Vinci • Da Vinci was considered the “Renaissance Man”
• Was a painter,
sculptor,
inventor, and a
scientist.

12. Renaissance Writers • Began to use the vernacular (vernacular =
the native language) instead of classical
Latin.
• Machiavelli, who wrote The Prince a
handbook for behavior.

13. Machiavelli • Machiavelli was a political philosopher
• The Prince advised kings how to rule.
• In Machiavelli way of thinking, there
are no means in which the end does
not justify (The end justifies the means)

14. The Renaissance Moves North
• Because of the plague, it was
not until 1450 did northern
Europe enjoy the economic
growth that helped support
the Renaissance in Italy.
• Northern artists and writers
imitated Italian styles while
adding new methods and
ideas of their own.
• As a result of the printing
press, books became more
available and people became
more literate.

15. Humanism in Europe Northern Humanists stressed education and classical
learning, however,
unlike the Italian
humanists, they
emphasized religious
themes.
• They believed that
the revival should be
used to bring about
religious and moral

16. Shakespeare • The best known Renaissance writer was William
• Between 1590
and 1613 he
wrote 37 plays
that are still
preformed
around the world.