the renaissance and humanism europe, 1100s-1300s
TRANSCRIPT
What was the Renaissance?
• A time of creativity and change.• Renaissance means “rebirth”• Rebirth of art, literature, and science
after the Middle Ages.
Before the Renaissance…
• It was the Middle Ages• Most people lived on manors under feudalism• Most people were serfs• Most people could not read or write
Causes of the Renaissance
• Bubonic Plague caused a decline in the population.
• Labor became scarce.• Serfs could demand more rights, including the
right to be paid for their labor.• Serfs could also leave the manor in search of
better opportunities.• Many moved to cities in search of a better life.
Causes of the Renaissance
• Merchants became wealthy and had extra money to spend
• Much of the extra money was spent on art
Why did it begin in Italy?
• Italian city-states were centers of trade• Merchants in these cities were wealthy• They had extra money to spend on the arts
New Ways of Thinking
• During the Middle Ages, art and literature focused on religious themes and life after death.
New Ways of Thinking
• During the Renaissance, thinkers began to focus on life in the present.
• Renaissance thinkers developed a new way of thinking called Humanism.
Humanism:
• a new way of thinking that humans could achieve things on their own without God.
• The idea that humans are powerful and that their
achievements should be celebrated.
• This often comes up in the multiple choice section of the regents exam!
Artistic Achievements• Art was supported by
wealthy merchants• Artists rejected medieval
art and returned to Greek and Roman styles (*rebirth*)
• Art reflected humanist concerns– Realistic– Painted every day
people and events
Famous Artists• Michelangelo: painted
the Sistine Chapel• Leonardo da Vinci:
Mona Lisa, sketches of anatomy
Literary Achievements• During the Middle Ages, books were written in
Latin and few could read them.• During the Renaissance, books were written in
everyday language (English, Spanish, French) so more people could read.
• This reflected humanism• Everyday language=vernacular
Famous WritersShakespeare: Wrote
about the joys and sorrows of human life.
Machiavelli: • Wrote about the best
way for leaders to rule• Believed it was better
to be feared than loved• Believed the ends
justify the means