Italian Renaissance

Contributions to the end of Medieval Europe

• The Crusades– Brought new goods from the East to Europe, stimulating a

rebirth in trade, weakened the Byzantine Empire• Black Death

– Between 1347 to 1351, 1/3 of population died– Labor shortage: ending of feudalism

• Hundred Years’ War– 1337-1453– War between England/France for claim to French throne

• Great Schism– Split of the Catholic Church– Weakened the Church’s authority

Begins in Italy• French for “Rebirth”

• Growth in the arts and learning.

• Began in Italy around 1300 (Florence became the center)

• 1. Thriving Cities– Trade from Crusades created a large

merchant class– Disease killed 60%-few survivors-

demanded high wages• 2. Wealthy Merchant Class

– Italy-city states-run own city-state– Merchants dominated politics

• 3. Classical Heritage– Middle ages-no education– Near Roman remains-Art

City States

CosimoDe Medici

LorenzoDe Medici

Richest

Grandson

• Milan• northernmost – crossroads of main trade routes• Visconti family controls until 1447

• Venice• main link to Asian ports (international

power)• controls salt trade• 1st bank

• Florence• north-central area• de Medici family controls (1434)• Ruled through appearance of a government• Supported the arts of the time

Humanism

• Intellectual movement in which thinkers studied classical texts and focused on human potential and achievements

• Focused on the secular and not the religious.

• related to concerns of the world .

• Made “the humanities” popular (history, literature, philosophy)

• Believed in enjoying the luxuries in life.

• Became patrons of the arts to demonstrate the importance of the arts and themselves.

• Petrarch: “Father of Humanism” He was important in the recovery of works by writers of ancient Rome and Greece

• Erasmus: concentrate on social problems and the reform of the Church, expose the inappropriate behavior of people including the clergy

Renaissance Art

• Changed from trying to express a religious idea to using a realistic classic style.

• Revived old artistic style of Classical Realism, the use of perspective, shadows, more life like

• Artists were often painters, sculptors, poets, architects, and inventors.

DaVinci

Leonardo da Vinci was a “Renaissance man” because of  his many  talents and interests. He studied art, music, architecture, math and science.

Mona Lisa1503-1506

Musee du Louvre, Paris

Last Supper1494-1498

Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan

Michelangelo• Michelangelo was

a sculptor,  painter and architect.

• Among his famous works are the statue of David and his mural on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican.

Pieta, 1498-1499, St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City

Raphael

• Raphael's art came to represent an ideal of perfection, grace, and harmonious balance.

• Raphael produced more than 30 paintings of the Madonna as well as frescos including the “School of Athens.”

School of Athens1509-1511, Apostolic Palace, Vatican City

Who is in the School of Athens? Click on link to find out

Architecture

Notre Dame Cathedral1163- 1345Paris, France

St. Maria Degli Angeli Cathedral1012-1434Florence, Italy

Medieval Renaissance Era

Renaissance Ideas

• Expressed humanist ideas, scientific knowledge, realistic experiences, and social conditions.

• Niccolo Machiavelli’s book The Prince said

People are selfish, fickle and corrupt.

It is better to be feared than respected.

Political effectiveness was more important than morals

The end justifies the means

Northern Renaissance

• Ideas were spread to Northern Europe through trade, travel, and print.

• The Renaissance inspired social reform.

• Artists studied in Italy and would bring the Renaissance style back with them to Europe.

Science and Technology

• Nicolas Copernicus 1473-1453– Earth orbited the sun

• Galileo Galilei 1564-1642 – Observations with

one of the first telescopes strengthened Copernicus’ Theory

– Charges brought against Galileo by the Catholic Church

• Johann Gutenberg, 1450

• Effects of Printing Press– 1. produce hundreds of

copies and circulate– 2. books are now

cheaper– 3. 1st book printed was

the Bible– 4. Learning and literacy

rose significantly.

Printing Press

Elizabethan Age

• Renaissance in England also known as the Elizabethan Age.

• Queen Elizabeth I spoke 4 languages, wrote poetry, patronized writers and artists.

• Created a strong, centralized monarchy based on national unty and a sharing power between monarchy & Parliament