Download Chapter 17 Section 1: Italy: Birthplace of the Renaissance

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Chapter 17 Section 1: Italy:
Birthplace of the Renaissance
*“Europe is waking out of a long, deep
sleep….The time was when learning was only
found in religious orders….learning has passed to
secular princes and peers.”
Read and Write a Response

In the Middle Ages both sides of human consciousness lay
dreaming or half awake beneath a common veil. The veil was
woven of faith, illusion, and childish prepossession…Man was
conscious of himself only as a member of a race, people, party,
family, or corporation – only through some general category. In
Italy this veil first melted into air…; man became a spiritual
individual, and recognized himself as such. In the way the Greek
hand once distinguished himself from barbarian.
When this impulse to the highest development was combined with a
powerful and varied nature,…then arose the “all-sidedman” …in
Italy at the time of the Renaissance we find artists who in every
branch created new and perfect works, and who also made the
greatest impression as men.
1.
According to historian Jacob Burchhardt, was there a difference
between the people of the Middle Ages and people of the
Renaissance? Explain.
Setting the Stage

During Middle Ages
Europeans suffered from
– War
– Plague
Catholic Church teaching began to be
questioned
 Feudalism began to be questioned
 Educated people began to reject long held
values for “CLASSICAL” learning

Italy’s Advantages
1300 – 1600
 Renaissance – means REBIRTH

– Rebirth of art and learning.
– *High regard for individual achievement
(humanism)
– Began in Northern Italy because France and
England locked in Hundred Years War
*It must be grasped that the Renaissance was primary a human event,
propelled forward by a number of individuals of outstanding talent, which in
some cases amounted to genius…The Renaissance was about the work of
individuals, and in a sense it was about individualism”
*Reasons of Italy

Urban Centers
– Overseas trade helped by
the Crusades led to growth
of large city-states in Italy.
– Wealthy Merchant class
 Merchants were the most powerful class due to their
wealth which was based on merit.

Italian City-States
–
–
–
–
Ran own government
Collected taxes
Had own army
*Gained wealth through the use of merchants in trade
between Europe and the East
Characteristics of Italian
Renaissance
*Scholars were curious about the world
outside of Europe and wanted to return to
the learning of the Greeks and Romans.
 *Major goal of the Renaissance was to
study and imitate the cultures of Greece
and Rome.
 *Renaissance architecture abandoned the
“Gothic” style from the Middle Ages and
borrowed from more classic styles.

Italy’s Advantages:
The Medici

Florence was ruled by one
powerful family – The
Medici
– Cosimo de Medici
 Virtual dictator of Venice
– Arranged marriages to
strengthen family &
business ties
– Lorenzo the Magnificent
 Virtual dictator
 Supported the ARTS
Italy’s Advantages

Medici Family are
famous for
BEING RULERS
PATRONS (financial
supporter) OF THE
ARTS

Nepotism –
preferential treatment
of relatives
Classical and Worldly Values
Society became more
SECULAR and less
religious
 SECULAR – to be more
worldly and concerned
with the here and now.
 *Secular achievements
were given greater
emphasis than earlier.

Classical and Worldly Values

The Renaissance Man
– Idea that some people are artistic
geniuses.
– Individuals would strive to master every
area of study.
– According to Baldassare Castiglione the
ideal Renaissance Man was skilled in a
variety of areas (charming, witty, well
educated, dance, sing, play music, write
poetry, skilled rider, wrestler, swordsmen)
Classical and Worldly Values

The Renaissance Woman
– Women became more
educated
– Women were expected to
marry whom their parents
choose not for love but to
strengthen business or family
ties.
Isabella d’Este
of Mantua
Renaissance Revolutionizes Art

Artists changed
artistic styles
– Paintings & sculptures
became more realistic
– Glorified human body
– Portraits of famous
citizens
Renaissance Art

New Techniques
– Natural postures and
expressions to show
personality
 The David
– *Perspective is the
technique that was
perfected during the
Renaissance that
showed dimension in
paintings
 School of Athens
Renaissance Revolutionizes Art

*Leonardo Da Vinci, best of example
of a Renaissance Man
–
–
–
–
Painter
Sculptor
Inventor
Scientist
Student of anatomy, science, and art.
 *Skilled in a variety of disciplines
 *Had an immediate impact on the
scientific thinking worldwide,
including the importance of the
scientific method

Leonardo Da Vinci’s Works

*The LAST SUPPER

*The MONA LISA
Michelangelo – Renaissance Artist
Michelangelo greatest
artist of the Renaissance
who was also skilled in
many areas
 Most well known for his
portrayal of the human
body

 *Sistine Chapel
 *David
 *Pieta
*Michelangelo’s Work
Renaissance
Revolutionizes
Art

Raphael Advances Realism
– Favorite work is the Madonna
and Child
– Famous Work
 School of Athens
– Died at the age of 37
*School of Athens - Raphael
Renaissance Writers Change Literature

Renaissance Writers
– *Used the VERNACULAR or local
language.
– Wrote with self-expression or to
portray the individuality of their
subject matter.
– *One way in which the writers of
the Renaissance were influenced
by the writers of the “western”
classical culture was that they
emphasized the power of human
reason.
Renaissance Writers Change
Literature

Machiavelli Advises Rulers
– Father of Modern Political Thought
– Wrote the “Il Prince”
 Outlines how a ruler can gain power, keep
it, and control enemies.
 Thought rulers should be shrewd &
deceitful
 *Effective rulers are feared by their
subjects
 *Advises that a wise ruler is one who does
what is necessary to stay in power
– “The end justifies the means.”
*Political Impact of the
Renaissance
*State is supreme over the church
 *New monarchs assert control over
national churches
 *Machiavelli has an impact

Quick Review
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
How did Italian city-states gain wealth during the
Renaissnace?
Curiosity about the world outside of Europe was typical
of the era of the Renaissance because?
In what ways did Renaissance architecture differ from
Gothic architecture?
What is humanism?
One of the major goals of the Renaissance was to
study and imitate what cultures?
How were the writers of the Renaissance influenced by
writers of the “western” classical cultures?
What is the political impact of the Renaissance?
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
How is an effective rulers viewed by their
subjects?
Define vernacular
One of the major characteristics of the
Renaissance in Europe was what given a
greater emphasis?
What impact did Leonardo da Vinci have on the
scientific thinking world?
Where did the Renaissance begin?
How does Machiavelli advise ruler to stay in
power?
What is the new artistic technique used during
the Renaissance that showed dimension?