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THE RENAISSANCE
NATURE OF THE RENAISSANCE
GENERAL ASPECTS OF THE RENAISSANCE.
1. The RENAISSANCE is that period of Europe’s history (14th – 17th centuries0 during which the entire fabric of medieval society
was transformed, producing attitudes and values which were neither medieval nor modern, (some say a combination of both.
2. The RENAISSANCE BEGAN IN ITALY and later spread to western and northern Europe, developing primarily in URBAN
SOCIETIES.
3. HUMANISM, Interest in Greco-Roman civilization and the emphasis placed on human, not religious, values were important
elements of the Renaissance. The humanists tried to discover and copy forgotten ancient manuscripts. Through these efforts
and the attempt to write in the classical style, CLASSICAL CULTURES were rediscovered and preserved. Under the influence
of the ancients, the humanists sought to develop a philosophy, different from the medieval philosophies, with which to explain
their world.
4. GROWTH OF SECULAR SPIRIT marked the Renaissance in the south. The dominating religious attitudes of the feudal era
were, in part, a spiritual expression of the turmoil. But, as political order was re-established, the increase in commerce brought
men in touch with new ideas, religiosity decreased, and men became worldlier, seeking to partake in the pleasures of the
“present day world.” Religious influence declined, but did not disappear.
5. QUALITIES VALUED. An ideal Renaissance man would have the following qualities:
a. INDIVIDUALISM, Medieval society was broken down into well-defined groups, such as the guilds, manors,
monasteries and social classes, and thus exhibited CORPORATE LIFE. This resulted from the society’s need to
adapt itself to political and economic instability. Thus, the group rather than the individual mattered. Society was seen
by such men as
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS as satisfying man’s material and moral needs. According to this view, man and society are
inter-dependent. Self-expression was discouraged, for it emphasized the individual rather than the group. By the late
Middle Ages, however, society had noticeably changed; both feudalism and the guilds were weakening. Wealth
became the key to advancement as men saw themselves as individuals who could gain fame and wealth through
their own efforts.
b. VERSATILITY, the emphasis on a well-rounded personality, is best seen in Leonardo da Vinci, who was skilled in
many different fields.
c. A prediction for naturalism and realism.
d. A thirst for learning
6. The use of VERNACULAR or common TONGUES developed during this period. These spoken languages (which became
modern Italian, French, English, Spanish, etc.) began to supersede the use of Latin in literary work.
THE RENAISSANCE IN ITALY
WHY THE RENAISSANCE FIRST AROSE IN ITALY!!
1. ITALY was the COMMERCIAL CENTER OF EUROPE in the 14th century, (favored by its geography) and was thus constantly
exposed to new ideas and other civilizations (notably the Moslem and Byzantine).
2. The SECULAR SPIRIT was FOSTERED by (a) the favorable economic position, (b) Italy’s cynical and unscrupulous politics,
which resulted from its division into many hostile and feuding states.
3. Families made wealthy by the rise of capitalism (such as the Medici of Florence) were eager to become “patrons of the arts”
and thus supported writers, artists, and scientists.
4. Contact with past Roman glories was more immediate in Italy than in any other part of Europe.
POLITICAL BACKGROUND OF ITALY
1.
In the 14th century, Italy was divided into many petty states which were commercial or political enemies constantly warring. Feuding
between rival parties within these city-states added to the political turmoil. This political disunity and confusion enabled despots to rise to
power. The governments of these city-states were generally republics controlled by rich merchants and the nobility. Warfare between the
states was usually carried out by professional soldiers (mercenaries) known as CONDOTIERRI, who often established themselves as the
heads of the city-states.
2.
By the end of the 15th century, many of the city-states had expanded through the conquest of outlying districts, leaving Italy divided into five
main states.
a. The states in NORTHERN ITALY were:
1. MILAN directed by the VISCONTI and then by the SFORZA family.
2. VENICE dominated by an oligarchy of wealthy families.
b. The states in CENTRAL ITALY were:
3. FLORENCE controlled by the MEDICI FAMILY, Cosimo and Lorenzo de’ Medici (the Magnificent) were the two outstanding rulers.
4. The PAPAL STATES governed by “worldly” popes of this era.
c. In the SOUTH was the
5. KINGDOM OF NAPLES
DEVELOPMENTS IN LITERATURE
The writings of Dante, Petrarch, and Boccacio in the Italian vernacular stimulated its use by other writers.
1. DANTE ALIGHIERI (1265-1321) Dante is famous for the DIVINE COMEDY; a poem written in rhyme, which tells of the trip the
author, took through Heaven, Hell and Purgatory with the ancient poet Virgil as his guide. By speaking with the various
characters, Dante expresses his ideas on many subjects. There are many classical allusions in the work. The work, which was
written in the Tuscan vernacular, exhibits a strong humanistic flavor. Dante’s most famous other work in Italian is the VITA
NUOVA, in which he expresses his love for his ideal (but unattainable) woman, Beatrice. Dante also wrote a defense of the
use of the vernacular in literary works, DE VULARI ELOQUENTIA and a Ghibelline political tract, DE MONARCHIA.
2. FRANCESCO PETRARCA (PETRARCH) (1304-1371) is known as the “father of humanism,” for he greatly furthered the study
of classical civilizations, and even wrote Latin epics (AFRICA), which he thought would make his name immortal. His fame,
however rests on the love sonnets he wrote to Laura, a woman who played the same role to him as Beatrice did to Dante. The
sonnets are written in Italian.
3. GIOVANNI BOCCACIO (1313-1375) His famous Italian prose work was DECAMERON, a book of one hundred tales
supposedly told by men and women who had taken refuge in a country house when the Black Death struck Florence.
4. THE HUMANISTS. Much of the literary accomplishment that followed Petrarch and Boccacio was strongly influenced by
humanism. The search for classical manuscripts intensified, and considerable literary work was based on these ancient
models. Although Roman literature was the prime interest of the humanists, enthusiasm for Greek literature slowly emerged,
and Latin rather than the vernacular, was used in the writings of these men. Petrarch and Boccacio were leading humanists.
Their most famous works were written in the vernacular, but they really preferred to be known for their Latin and Greek
writings. LORENZO VALLA (d. 1457) fostered the “critical spirit” by exposing an important church document (The Donation of
Constantine) as a forgery, by demonstrating that the supposedly 4th century document used 9th century Latin and made 9th
century allusions. Humanism flourished during the 15th century, the QUATTROCENTO period (Pico della Mirandola was an
outstanding humanist during this period), but its influence was waning by the beginning of the 16th century.
5. The activity continued in the CINQUECENTO period.
a. NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI, playwright, historian, political philosopher and statesman, was an important writer of the
period. THE PRINCE, is significant because of the advice he gave to rulers: the end justifies the means. THE
DISCOURSES, on the other hand, show that he preferred a republic to all forms of government. His historical include
HISTORY OF FLORENCE, while his best-known play is MANDRAGOLA.
b. BALDASSARE CASTIGLIONE wrote THE BOOK OF THE COURIER (1518), an influential handbook on how every
well-polished man of the times should behave. He must converse with facility, be proficient in sports and arms, and
know how to dance and appreciate music. He should know Latin and Greek. It records the political and economic, as
well as social conditions of 16th century Italy.
DEVELOPMENTS IN ART
1. MEDIEVAL ARTISTS were guildsmen. Since they usually worked for the Church, their themes were generally religious. As the
Renaissance period began, support by secular patrons enabled artists to experiment. Artistic works became more natural in
style, more technically competent, and themes other than the religious were depicted. New technical advances gradually
made art the crowning achievement of the Italian Renaissance.
2. TRECENTO PERIOD (1300-1400)
a. CIMABUE, a painter who was still medieval in style, but who showed signs of breaking away painted during this
period.
b. GIOTTO, (1275-1336) was the outstanding painter of the period; he made his works more lifelike.
3. QUATTROCENTRO PERIOD (1400-1500) This period saw remarkable activity in the arts.
a. Fra Angelico (1387-1455) The Annunciation
b. Fra Lippo Lippi (1406-69) Madonna and Child
c. Sandro Botticelli (1444-1510) Primavera and Birth of Venus are light and put more emphasis on line quality.
d. Massacio (1401-28) Tribute Money, Uccello (1397-1475) Battle of San Romano, Piero della Francesca (1416-92)
Resurrection all put more emphasis on mass, stability and perspective.
e. Donatello (1386-1466) and Andrea del Verrocchio (1435-88) produced the first great equestrian statures since
Roman times in their portraits of the Condottieri , Gattamelata and Colleoni.
f. Filippo Brunelleschi (1377-1446) Church of San Lorenzo and Leon Battista Alberti (1404-72) Rucellai Palace were
great architects who took over Roman forms only to fashion new styles.
g. Benvenuto Cellini (1500-72) is famous as a great gold and silversmith, for his Autobiography and his bronze stature
of Perseus.
h. Bramante had a hand in designing St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
DEVELOPMENTS IN MUSIC
The Renaissance saw the development of the violin and of new musical
techniques, Guido de Palestrina, composer of sacred music, wrote during this period.
DEVELOPMENTS IN SCIENCE
Developments in science brought forth new concepts, which challenged the
traditional views of the Middle Ages (based on writings of Aristotle ).
1. Copernicus (1473-1543), a Polish astronomer who resided in Italy during part of his life, advanced the theory that the sun was
the center of the solar system, thus rejecting the popular notion based on Ptolemy of the earth as the center of the universe.
2. Galileo (1564-1642) improved on the telescope and gathered evidence supporting Copernicus’ view. He also experimented
with the rate of speed of falling bodies, work that was later used by Newton.
3. Vesalius (1514-1564) challenged many of the accepted medical theories of the time by renewing and modernizing the study of
human anatomy, thus departing from the generally held beliefs of Galen.
4. The Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci show that the famous inventor was considerably ahead of his time and that he was a
great designer.
5. William Harvey (1578-1657) set forth in On the Movement of the Heart and Blood the doctrine of the continual circulation of
the blood through arteries and veins.
DEVELOPMENTS IN EDUCATION
Education was liberalized by a broadening of the curriculum, which, originally
based on that of the Roman era, comprised the QUADRIVIUM (geometry, arithmetic, music and astronomy). With its
development it grew to include literature and history, as well as other liberal arts subjects.
THE RENAISSANCE DECLINES IN ITALY
By the end of the 16th century, the Renaissance had ended in Italy.
Some reasons for this were: (1) the decline of Italy as a commercial center in Europe due to the shift in trade to the
Atlantic states; (2) political domination of Italy by foreign powers (France and Spain); and (3) diversion of creative energy
into the Religious Reformation of the 16th century.