A Reawakening of Culture

Middle Ages became marked with political tensions, plague, and decline of Church

Growth of cities/trade led to a sharing of ideas, culture, language

The Church no longer rules way of life, science, math, art from ancients flourish again

Renaissance- French word meaning rebirth

Period from 1350-1550Began in Italy, but spread

throughout EuropeGeneral interest in Greek/Roman

way of life, art, architecture, intellect

What events caused the Renaissance to begin?

What does Renaissance mean?What was the general interest in the

Renaissance?

Italy lacks a strong central monarch like England and France

City states rule territoriesPowerful families become leaders

Ex. Medici family in FlorenceMany were ruled by a small number of

wealthy merchants Venice, Florence (until Medici)

What were the political system/s of the Renaissance?

How are they different from the Middle Ages?What impact will this have on Europe?

Money economyNo more barter systemMoney exchanged for goods

The Crusades allowed new trading posts in the EastGoods such as silk, spices, sugars could be

taken back to Europe

Great Schism ended in 1417Even though reunited, the Church had major

problems dealing with heretics and reformReligion was no longer center of life for many

people in ItalyPopes became leaders of papal states, using

force and war to spread territoryRenaissance popes were patrons of art,

making Rome a leader in culture

What happened to the Church in 1378?What did it do to people’s faith?How did that affect the Renaissance?How do the Renaissance popes differ from

Middle Ages popes?

Social structure: Three estatesFirst: The ClergySecond: Nobility

Born not made: Renaissance ManCastiglione, Book of the Courtier, 1528

Third: Townspeople/Peasants85-90% of populationPatricians-wealthier from trade, industryBurghers-shopkeepers, artisans:

goods/servicesPeasants- property less workers

30-40% of city population

Humanism-based on the study of the classics from Greece and Rome

Rhetoric, grammar, poetry, philosophy, ethics, and history=Humanities

Fresco-painting done on a fresh, wet plasterArt was to imitate nature, reality in paintings

was an objectFamous painters:

Raphael, Michelangelo, Durer, van Eyck

What was a Renaissance Man?How does this image effect life in the

Renaissance?What class are most people in? Why?How has humanism changed the intellectual

atmosphere?What is unique about Renaissance art?