Download the renaissance

Europe and the Mediterranean region, ca. 1328
THE RENAISSANCE
around 1350-1600 Western Europe
Background
 French for ‘rebirth’ – was a rebirth of ancient ideas, literature and art
 Marks the end of the late middle ages and the beginnings of modern
history
 It was a prosperous period of art and culture in Europe and began in the
14th century in Florence, Italy and spread throughout Europe and lasted
until about the early 17th Century (1350-1600)
 Took the ideas of the ancient Greeks (philosophy, math, science, art) &
Romans (law) and added new knowledge (more modern)
 These changes, while significant, were concentrated in the elite, and for
the vast majority of the population life was little changed from the
Middle Ages
 The Crusades played a role in kickstarting the Renaissance as returning
crusaders/traders often returned to Europe with works from Antiquity
inspiring a revival of interest in the ancient world
 Fall of Byzantium (Istanbul) to the Ottoman Turks in 1453, Many
scholars fled to Italy

The bubonic plague reduced the population of Europe by about 30%
which led to serfs and peasants being paid more and treated better due
to labor shortages
 Many began to move to port towns where job opportunities were more
plentiful, helping to increase the population of urban towns
 The emergence of a business or merchant class begins to grow in these
areas (business owners) such as the Medici family in Florence become
very wealthy and influential
HUMANISM
 Sought to restore the lost eloquence of art, literature, language, and
culture. Pushed for eloquence in place of logic.
 Put the human being at the center of the universe. Rejected the
medieval view of humans as wretched and under God’s control
(providence)
 Emphasized the goodness of human beings
 The first Humanist was the Italian poet Petrarch (1304-74)
WHY ITALY?
 Numerous economic and political developments and a rise in a middle
class is taking place in many Italian city-states (Florence, Rome, Genoa,
Milan, Venice)
 Italy the commercial bridge between the West and the wealthier world
of Asia (lots of trading ports)
 Venice, Genoa, Pisa, Milan Florence flourishing due to advanced
shipbuilding and navigation techniques which leads to an increase in
exploration and trade
 Many modern business skills were developing—bookkeeping, credit
letters, seeking and developing markets + development of banking
centres (emergence of Capitalism)
 ECONOMY SHIFTED from one based solely on land to one based on
trade, credit, and opening / emerging markets. Rural to urban economy.
 Italy saw the emergence of city-states governed from a major city
centre rather than a castle in the countryside
 The merchant class predominated, taking power (or at a minimum
sharing it) with the older feudal nobility
 New states started as republics political authority resided theoretically
in the people though in reality it was in the hands of those who
controlled wealth (Eg. Medici family in Florence)
 Florence Italy seen as the leading city of Renaissance Italy by the
fifteenth century (largely due to Medici family)
 The Medici’s, a rich banking family, dominated the Renaissance scene
and became patrons of the arts which helped renaissance art flourish.
They would commission artists who built great things (eg.
Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Raphael, Brunelleschi)
 Under Cosimo Medici (1389 -1464), the family banking business became
the richest business in all of Europe. He was a huge patron of the arts
 Pride in their city and a desire to showcase their wealth inspired rich
men to spend money on the arts and culture
 Before this time artists were thought of as craftsmen. They made things,
they didn’t create art.