The Renaissance

“The Rebirth of Europe”

1300-1600

Middle Ages 500 – 1200 CE

Collapse of Roman Empire marks start of Middle Ages

Key Outcomes of Middle Ages:

• Leads to eventual formation of 47 new countries• Roman Catholic Church gains extreme power• Begins a period of “cultural” decline (arts, literature, etc…)

• Judeo-Christian thought spreads in Europe

Social Hierarchy (of Middle Ages)

Peasant-Noble-PriestFeudalism

Life in the Middle Ages

• Medieval Man had 3 primary concerns

Eternal salvation

Protection from enemies

Food and shelter

Black Death 1347-1352

• Bubonic plague killed 1/3rd of Europe’s population – 25 million people died in 5 years!

• Medieval Society never recovered from the effect black plague:– Labor shortages developed => Workers demanded higher wages => Peasant

revolts occurred throughout Europe

– People openly questioned the church: Why did God let this happen?

“people ate lunch with their friendsand dinner with their ancestors”

Renaissance Begins

• When: 1300 - 1600

• Meaning: “rebirth” (in terms of art & learning)

• Began in ITALY & spread north throughout Europe

• Why Italy:– Thriving cities meant more trade– France and England locked in the 100-years war. (1337-1453)

– Classical heritage of Greece and Rome

Italy Changes

• Trade expands– most of Europe was rural

– Italy had more cities due to trade

– Banking system rapidly developed

• Wealthy merchant class developed– Many became patron of the arts (example: Medici)

• Growth of cities meant “new ideas” spread quickly

3 Themes of Renaissance

Individualism Secularism Humanism

“Never again would western men be so occupied with the nature of the next world that they would be unattentive to the nature of this one”

Society developed a:

1) Interest in classical culture

2) Curiosity about the world

3) Belief in Human Potential

The Middle Ages

Trade ExpandsMerchants gain wealth/powerCity-States develop

Individualism Secularism Humanism

New “modern” society

Development of the Renaissance 1300-1600

The Northern Renaissance

• Late 1400’s Northern Europe recovered from plague & Hundred Years’ War

• Italy was ruled by city-states • England & France ruled by strong monarchs

• Renaissance ideas began to spread north to England, France, Germany & Flanders

Monarchs & the Renaissance

• Northern Kings supported artists during Renaissance

• War in Italy caused artists & writers to flee to northern Europe

• Northern Renaissance developed its own unique style

The Printing Press Changes the World

• Gutenberg invented the printing press 1440– The Bible was the first book printed [1455]– By 1500 presses in 250 cities printed 9-10 million books

• End result: – New ideas spread more quickly than ever before

– Writing in vernacular languages increase

Analyze this Cartoon

Renaissance Italy

• Social:

• Economic:

• Cultural:

• Religious:

• Political:

• Increased city living • Increased Trade & Banking• New focus on art & literature• Less focus on “afterlife”• Merchant class gained power

Key Historical changes: