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THE RENAISSANCE
1450- 1600
5 minute Journal
You are experiencing a flux in time and are sent back into the
Early middle ages. Describe what you see.
Feudalism, invaders, Islam…
High Middle ages. Describe what you see.
Kings gaining power through political allies, towns, merchant class, guilds,
inquisition, universities, some chivalry, rise of local government, black plague,
hundred years war
LATE MIDDLE AGES AND THE ORIGIN
OF THE RENAISSANCE
1300-1450
The End of Middle Ages
Indirect causes of the end of the Middle Ages:
Rise of Urban Economy/Local Government
Spread of Literacy
Inexpensive Weaponry
Direct causes:
Crusades, Printing Press, Black Death
The collapse of the Eastern Roman Empire
Nomenclature
Named itself
Vergerio thought that only liberal studies could elevate
humanity
Vasari claimed Italian artists and thinkers restored the lost
perfection of art and philosophy from Greece and Rome
John Ruskin would officially name it positively in the late 19th
century as rationalistic art returning to the ideas of pagan
perfection
Francesco Petrarch: father of humanism
Renaissance
1450-1600 AD
Started in 1300’s in Italy but varied in Europe.
It was characterized by a renewed interest in classical (Greek/Roman) ideas & for great works of art in painting, sculpting, music & literature
Quotes for Contemplation
“Only those liberal arts are worthy of free men; they alone can
help us to attain virtue and wisdom…which the ignorance of
the past…has intentionally created.”
“[classical literature is] the only literature whose study helps us
in the pursuit of virtue and wisdom, and brings forth in us those
most sublime gifts of body and mind that ennoble men’s
spirit…”
Pier Paolo Vergerio
Major Tenets of the Renaissance Classicism:
a reflection into the past and a
focus on the works of Greece
and Rome
A belief that these classics could
refine the barbarism of Middle
Ages
Had its origins in monastic life
Universities incorporated Aristotle,
Ptolemy, Galen, and Euclid
The revived interest in the
“classics” sought out manuscripts
which were not being used.
Humanism
How does this statement reflect humanism: “to us alone
has God given the freedom and ability to be whatever
we want, to become whatever we desire, and to achieve
whatever we wish.”
Was this philosophy an extension of the church or was it
opposed?
Major Tenets of the Renaissance
Humanism:
Develop human potential in all areas of life, sees intrinsic value, and
to assert the inherent dignity of each person
Developed in response to the tumult of the dark ages (crusades, black
death, hundred years war) and the lack of personal value
If life is chaotic, people attempt to bring a sense of order to the world
Seen in scholasticism (focus on order and rationality but without the beauty)
Renaissance: the classics helped to develop an interest in the simple beauty in
life (particulars)
Major Tenets of the Renaissance
Statecraft:
Renaissance scholars separated the concept of a “state” from the people in it.
Looked back on the concepts of democracy and republic as presented in the classics
and tried to apply universal rules.
What kind of rules?
Laws
Taxation
Economic
Diplomatic
Public opinion
When to exert force
Italy
Many small divided kingdoms
Charlemagne considered himself King of the Franks and
the Lombard's (northern Germanic area in Italy)
Lothair, Charlemagne’s grandson, controlled northern
Italy
Germany was highly involved in Italian and Papal affairs
(Charlemagne crowned by pope and Otto crowned king of
Italy)
German bishops saw the king as divinely appointed-they chose
clergy rather than the church
Henry III began to extend more influence over the church
affairs
Italy
Communes
Chartered towns with independent government for protection
Investiture Controversy
Italy began breaking away
Peace of Constance
Holy Roman Empire left Italian communes
The Political Framework After Charlemagne's empire was divided,
Germany rose to prominence and controlled
the northern part of Italy.
During the 13th century, Italy warred among
itself trying to break connections with
Germany.
The Italian nobles who lived in the cities
allied with mercantile families often
instituting an oligarchic type of government.
Most famous of these Italian families: The
Medici
Patronage or the Peacocks of the
Renaissance
Families like the Medici could
support artists and authors
Without these families the
Renaissance would not have been as
successful
Why did they support the arts?
Not only supported the humanist
philosophy but made them look
exceedingly good
Collapse of Eastern Empire
In 1453 the Eastern Empire
Collapsed.
Invaded by Ottoman Turks
and displaced scholars of the
Classical Greek and Roman
tradition.
Those scholars headed west.
The Printing Press
Printing began in 1450 with the
publication of the Bible by
Johannes Gutenberg.
The classics could spread
Helped increase literacy as
literature spread in common
languages
Important Writers
Petrarch: First renaissance
man
Ariosto: “Crazed Roland”
Boccaccio: The Decameron
Machiavelli: The Prince and
“La Mandragola”
The ends justify the means
Ficino: combines Plato and
Christian thought
Castiglione: The Courtier
Northern Renaissance Took longer to develop north of Italy
The independent spirit of those in the
north allowed humanism to develop
differently.
This independent spirit directly
influenced the Reformation
Focused on the individual before God
rather than the community
Rejected scholasticism like Italy but
looked at manuscripts of the New
Testament rather than Greek and Roman
documents
Northern Literature
Erasmus: scholar who sought to satirically
expose vice in everyday life and
hypocrisy of those in authority
The Praise of Folly: satire highlighting
how people enjoy foolish behavior
Julius Excluded: a work pointing out the
hypocrisy of Pope Julius II
A “pre” Martin Luther. Despised
religious formalism and the corruption of
the church
More interested in the divine during the Dark Ages and the High
Middle Ages. Beauty isn’t as important as demonstrating the
order of God.
Inquisition and Expulsions of Moors
Expulsion of Moors
Catholic conversion of the New Worlds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRlsHBNpGso
Age of Exploration
1400’s-1700’s
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