Download - The Renaissance Rebirth of Western Europe
The Renaissance
Rebirth of Western Europe
The word Renaissance means rebirth. Used to describe the time that followed the Middle
Ages The Renaissance was a time of new thought and
advancement. New ways of thinking developed in the areas of art,
architecture, science, philosophy, and politics.
Why “Rebirth”?
During the Renaissance, Italy was a collection of
city-states, each with its own ruler—the Pope in Rome, the Medici family in Florence, the Doge in Venice, the Sforza family in Milan, the Este family in Ferrara
Among the ruling families of these city-states there was conflict and intense rivalry—either by open
warfare or through economic and artistic competition.
Italian City-States
Renaissance Trade Routes
The States of Italy during the Renaissance, c.1494
Medici Family
Medici Family: Bankers from Florence
Florence: center of the Renaissance movement (because of the Medici family support)
Patron: Someone who provides support
to a specific cause and/or person/peopleFor example:
The Medici Family funded many Renaissance Artists.
The Pope was also a patron of Renaissance art.
Patrons:
In Renaissance Italy
Money Could Buy You a lot of Things
But most importantly, it could buy you RESPECTGlorify God
That's the way to get a rich rascal like yourself into heaven
Glorify your cityThat's the way to get ahead in politics and power
Glorify yourself and your familyThat's the way to real immortality
Good FoodExpensive Things
Fine Clothing
In Renaissance Italy, making money and
getting rich was considered sinful—the Catholic Church even banned banks from charging interest on loans!
That didn't stop anyone from trying to get rich…
Those who got rich usually felt an obligation to give something back to society. A work of art became a popular item for rich bankers and merchants to commission on behalf of their family, their city, or their God.
Why Patrons Gave
Can art buy my way into heaven?
The Printing Press
Invented by Johann Gutenberg in 1455
How did it work?Block letters were held together by a wooden form. Ink was rolled over the raised surfaces and then pressed against a sheet of paper.
How were books made before the invention of
the printing press?
Books could be produced quickly and with
relatively little effort Bookmaking became less expensive More people could afford to buy books People began demanding books that were
printed in the vernacular Literacy rates went up People start to learn about Humanism
“What gunpowder did for war the printing press has
done for the mind”
Vernacular: the native language of a place (Italian,
French, German, etc)
During the Middle Ages, scholars had been guided by the teachings of the church, and people had concerned themselves with actions leading to heavenly rewards
SPIRITUAL
During the Renaissance, Western Europeans rediscovered the classics of Ancient Greece and Rome and became more focused on humans, their intellect and life here on earth
SECULAR
HUMANISM