Download The Renaissance Chapter 17 Section 1 What was the Renaissance

The Renaissance
Chapter 17 Section 1
What was the Renaissance?
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Renaissance means rebirth
Europe was recovering from the Dark Ages and the Plague
People had lost their faith in the church and were beginning to move away from life in the
church
It moved away from life in the church to a more secular mind set
It was a time of renewal
Where did it begin?
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It began in Italy primarily in the urban societies and the major trading centers
How did the Crusades contribute to the Renaissance?
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There was an increased demand for Middle Eastern products
It encouraged the use of credit and banking
Church rule against usury (charging interest) and the banks’ practice of charging interest helped
to secularize northern Italy
Major Italian Cities
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Many independent city-states emerged in northern and central Italy that played an important
role in Italian politics and art
Milan – one of the richest cities
Venice-attracted trade from all over the world
Florence-controlled by the Medici Family, who became great patrons of the arts
All of these cities:
o Had access to trade routes connecting Europe with Middle Eastern markets
o Served as trading centers for the distribution of goods to northern Europe
o Were initially independent city-states governed as republics
Political Ideas of the Renaissance
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Niccolo Machiavelli
o He wrote The Prince
o He produced guidelines for the acquisition and maintenance of power by absolute rule
o He believed that it was better for a ruler to be feared than to be loved
o He felt that rulers should be quick and decisive in decision making and that the end
justifies the means
Renaissance Art
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Medieval art and literature focused on the Church and salvation
Renaissance art and literature focused on individuals and worldly matters, along with
Christianity
Renaissance Artists
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Renaissance artists embraced some of the ideals of Greece and Rome in their art
They wanted their subjects to be realistic and focused on humanity and emotion
o Michelangelo
o Born in 1475 near Florence
o Is considered to be one of the most inspired men who ever lived
o Created the David in 1504 which was unique since it was a free standing statue
o He painted the Sistine Chapel which is he most famous project
o He carved La Pieta in 1499 which is of Mary holding Jesus when they took Him off of the
cross
o Leonardo DaVinci
o He was a painter, sculptor, architect and engineer
o He was a genius!
o He painted the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper
o He was famous for his notebooks of his artistic sketches, his inventions, anatomy and
human form
o Raphael
o He was a painter
o Place of birth – Urbino, Italy
o He died of a fever at the age of 37 years old
o He was supported by the Medici family
o He was known for painting cherubs or angels, The School of Athens
o Donatello
o Born in Florence, Italy in 1386
o His first sculpture was of the Three Prophets
o One of his best pieces was made by stone and was free standing which was not a
common thing during the time
o He was a famous Renaissance Italian artist and sculptor
o He was one of the ones who brought back work with bronze which was a common
material during the roman times.