European Renaissance

1300-1600

Words to know

•Renaissance•humanism

•secular•patron

•perspective•vernacular

Renaissance• (REHN-ih-SAHNS) means rebirth.

In this case the rebirth of art and learning.

• During the Middle Ages, Europeans suffered from both war and plague. By the year 1300, they started to question the structures of medieval society.

• Educated people started to reject medieval values and look to the classical past for ideas

Renaissance Europe

Italy- Home of the Renaissance• The Renaissance began in

northern Italy around 1300.

• Italy had 3 advantages that fostered the Renaissance– Thriving cities– A wealthy merchant class– The classical heritage of Greece

and Rome

Does it say ITALY anywhere on this map?

•NO! There would be no unified country known as Italy until the late 1800’s.

New trade routes• New trade routes lead to the growth of

large city-states in northern Italy. (a city state is a city which is governed on its own, it is not part of a larger country).

• Northern Italy was urban while the rest of Europe was still rural

• Where did these new trade routes come from?

• What is the difference between urban and rural

The Bubonic Plague• The bubonic

plague struck cities of Europe, killing 60% of the population.

• As a result, laborers could demand higher wages and shrank opportunities for business expansion.

With limited opportunities for business expansion, wealthy merchants began to pursue interests such as art.

Florence• was one of the

most powerful city states. It collected taxes and had its own army.

• Because it was relatively small, a large number of citizens were involved in politics

Life in Florence• Merchants were

the wealthiest, most powerful class in Florence. They dominated politics.

• Merchants did not inherit social rank, they had to earn it in business.

Cosimo De Medici• The most

powerful family in Florence was the De Medici family.

• The De Medicis made a fortune in trade and banking.

Cosimo was the wealthiest European of his time.

Classical Heritage• Wealthy merchants such as the

DeMedicis aided the Renaissance by supporting the arts.

• Renaissance scholars looked down on the art and literature of The Middle Ages, they wanted to return to the works of the ancient Greeks and Romans.

Humanism• The study of classical works led to humanism, which focused

on human potential and achievements.

• What does that mean?

Secular life becomes the norm• Rather than

showing their faith by wearing rough clothes or eating plain foods, the church became more worldly or secular.

• Instead of salvation, they were concerned with now

The Renaissance Man • A “Renaissance Man” was a man

who strove to achieve in every area of study.

• A young man should be charming, witty and well educated in the classics. He should dance, sing, play music and write poetry. He should be a skilled rider, wrestler and swordsman.

•ABOVE ALL HE SHOULD HAVE SELF CONTROL!!!

The Renaissance Woman• Upper class women were expected to

know the classics and be charming. • Women were not expected to seek

fame. They were expected to inspire art, but rarely to create it.

• Women were better educated than women of the Middle Ages, but had less influence than medieval women did.