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Introduction to the Renaissa

nce

RenaissanceA cultural awakening, or rebirth, that signaled the beginning of the modern

era.Rebirth of classical ideas:

art, architecture, philosophy, literature, finance, views of the

world, etc.

Inspired by . . .

Renaissance Years: 1400-1600 (approximately) Began in Italy

Florence Spread to Northern Europe Never hit certain countries like

Holy Roman Empire Baltics Poland Russia.

Setting the Stage

Went through war and plague

Want to celebrate life

More about the individual

Start to question previous institutions

Church

Why Italy?

One of the first effected by the plague = first country to return to health and city life Less work force, Increase wages Low business, pursue other interests

Church weakened by plague and closest to Italy (Vatican) = more secular approach, more concern for the arts

Why Italy

Warm more foodmore specialization

\Loose confederation of states

much easier to change one or two parts, like Venice or Florence than a whole country, like England

Breeding ground for intellectual revolution

The City States of

Italy

Merchants

Rich merchants or traders emerged in city-states dominate politics

They didn't inherit positions like nobles, so to be successful, they used their brains felt they deserved riches because of

their individual merit Individual achievement becomes

a cornerstone of Renaissance

Medici

Florence falls under control of a rich banking familythe Medici’s

Cosimo de Medici rules Florence by using his wealth to loan money and create debt

Dictator of Florence for 30 years

Philosophy: Humanism

Intellectual movement focused on secular, or worldly, themes. God-centric people-centric

Strong belief in the individual Enjoy life, not to worry about

offending God Wanted to use classical beliefs to

renew society Focus of Humanities

The Renaissance Man

A man who excelled in many fields was praised as a “universal man”

The ideal individual tried to master almost every area of study—WELL EDUCATED

Young men should be charming, witty and well educated

Dance, sing, write poetry, also a skilled athlete

The Renaissance Woman

Upper class should know the classics as well as be charming

However, not to seek fame

Should inspire art, but not create it

Art

Art becomes everything

Wealthy people become patrons of art Financially supporting artists Would have their own portraits painted and

displayed in public – huge ego boost

Change in style Medieval: religion to show spiritual idea Renaissance: religion to show realistic style

copied from Greeks and Romans Perspective: three dimensions on a flat surface

Human Measurements Activity

Duccio-November 1308

Danse Macabre

School of Athens by Raphael, fresco, St. Peter’s Basilica, 1510

Art

Leonardo Da Vinci

Painter, sculptor, inventor and scientist

The ultimate renaissance man

Had a large number of notebooks filled with his creations

Mona Lisa, The Last Supper

Raphael Sanzio

Studied from the best

Famous for use of perspective

Renaissance Writing

Works often reflected the time

The use of vernacular

Self-expression or individuality

New trends begin – still used today

Petrach and Boccaccio

Wrote sonnets – 14 line poems

Decameron

Realistic and off color stories

Tragic and comic views of life

Machiavelli

Imperfect human conduct

The Prince

Political guidebook

People are selfish and corrupt

The Northern Renaissance

After war and plague the cities grew rapidly and the new culture idea begin to spread

Artistic ideas spread

People visited Italy and brought the ideas back home

Focus on realism

Albrecht Durer

Hans Holbein

Jan Van Eyck

Oil paintings

Peter Bruegel

Writers spread reform

Critical about the failure of the Church

Christian Humanism movement

Education became the most important

Desiderius Erasmus & Thomas More

The Praise of Folly

Utopia

Writings become translated into multiple languages

William Shakespeare

Inspired by the classics

Dramatic conflict

Human flaws

Known as one of the greatest playwright

The Printing Press

Chinese invented block printing

Brought to England, but process was too slow

Johann Gutenberg created the printing press

Books could be produced quick and cheap

The Gutenberg Bible was the first book

Everyone could now afford books

A copyist would take up to five months

Press could make 500 books in the same time

Renaissance Legacy

Artistic and social change

Gradual rise in democratic ideas – individual

Secular ideas rather than religious

Vernacular even more popular

Increased desire for learning

All these idea will lead to the Reformation