Began in Italy

Spread north through Europe

Arrived late in England

What was the What was the Renaissance?Renaissance?

What What waswas the Renaissance, and where did it begin? the Renaissance, and where did it begin?

•Italy

•Italian Cities

•Urban Societies

•Major Trading Centers

•Secular

•Moved away from life in the church

•Focuses more on material objects and enjoying life

Renaissance = “rebirth” of classical Greek and Roman culture and learning

The Renaissance World

Small cities and villages

Class status and rank important

Insecurity – plague, fire, disease

The CrusadesThe Crusades

How did the Crusades How did the Crusades contribute to the contribute to the

Renaissance?Renaissance?• Increased demand for Middle Eastern products

• Stimulated production of goods to trade in Middle

Eastern markets

• Encouraged the use of credit and banking

How did the Crusades How did the Crusades contribute to the contribute to the

Renaissance?Renaissance?• Church rule against usury and the

banks developed practices of finagling interest helped to secularize northern Italy.

• Letters of credit served to expand the supply of money and expedite

trade.

• New accounting and bookkeeping practices (use of Arabic numerals)

were introduced.

Marco Polo 1271-1291Marco Polo 1271-1291

Ottoman Turks Capture Constantinople1453

The university is closed and scholars flee to Italy with the majority of extant manuscripts of Greek and

Roman literature and law

Why Italy?

Merchant Republics – similar to city states Oligarchies Wealthy merchant rulers became important patrons of the arts and sciences Location, Location, Location!

Why Italy?

Location, Location, Location!

Why Italy?

Location, Location, Location!

• Celebrated the individual

emphasized the dignity and worth emphasized the dignity and worth of the individualof the individual

• Stimulated the study of Greek and Roman literature and culture

Humanism (idea or belief in) – Humanities (state or condition of) -

Humanist (person who practices/concerned with something)

RENAISSANCE HUMANISM

Optimism about human potential

Virtu: “the quality of being man”

Artists try to compete with great art of classical past

►Humanists were laymen Humanists were laymen rather than clergy and had rather than clergy and had ‘literary occupations’‘literary occupations’ Teachers of humanities in Teachers of humanities in

universitiesuniversities Secretaries in chancelleries of Secretaries in chancelleries of

Italian city-statesItalian city-states Advisors or secretaries in courts Advisors or secretaries in courts

of Princes or Popesof Princes or Popes

The Emergence of The Emergence of HumanismHumanism

►Petrarch (1304-1374)Petrarch (1304-1374) First to characterize the Middle First to characterize the Middle

Ages as a period of darknessAges as a period of darkness Promoted mistaken belief that Promoted mistaken belief that

medieval culture was ignorant of medieval culture was ignorant of classical antiquityclassical antiquity

Gathered forgotten Latin Gathered forgotten Latin manuscripts from monasteries manuscripts from monasteries throughout Europethroughout Europe

PETRARCHPETRARCH

Humanism in 15Humanism in 15thth C. Italy C. Italy►In the 14In the 14thth C, Humanists lived in C, Humanists lived in

solitudesolitude Rejected family & community lifeRejected family & community life

►Humanism became tied to community Humanism became tied to community spirit and pridespirit and pride

►New side called New side called Civic Humanism Modeled on Cicero, a statesman & Modeled on Cicero, a statesman &

intellectualintellectual

Civic Humanism, cont.Civic Humanism, cont. Explained inExplained in The New Cicero The New Cicero by by

Leonardo BruniLeonardo Bruni Inspiration for Renaissance ideal Inspiration for Renaissance ideal

that “an individual grows to maturity that “an individual grows to maturity both intellectually and morally both intellectually and morally through through participation in the life of participation in the life of the statethe state””

Reflected values of urban societyReflected values of urban society Humanists believed their services Humanists believed their services

should be used by the stateshould be used by the stateDoes this humanistic ideal still exist in our society today? If so, where?

Humanism in EducationHumanism in Education► Human beings could be profoundly Human beings could be profoundly

changed by educationchanged by education► Founded secondary schoolsFounded secondary schools► Taught liberal arts & phys. ed.Taught liberal arts & phys. ed.

History, philosophy, rhetoric, grammar, History, philosophy, rhetoric, grammar, logic, poetry, math, astronomy, musiclogic, poetry, math, astronomy, music

Javelin, archery, dancing, running, Javelin, archery, dancing, running, wrestling, hunting, swimmingwrestling, hunting, swimming

►Wanted to produce individuals Wanted to produce individuals who were virtuous & wise, who were virtuous & wise, could convince others to be could convince others to be the samethe same

►painting of Massimiliano Sforza, the son of the duke of Milan, attending to his lessons.

RENAISSANCE MEN--men with driven, passionate, and compulsive personalities

--men who are highly accomplished in a variety of endeavors

Leonardo da Vinci

--engineering, painting, sculpting, writing, designing, inventing

Michaelangelo

--architect, engineer, painter, sculptor, poet