Download Renaissance - Barren County School

World History Unit 3
Renaissance
Cultural and Intellectual Thought
Before the Renaissance
• Dominated by Christianity
• Dominated by Feudalism-political, economic, and social
structure
• Greek and Roman culture essentially forgotten
• Dominated by concerns for:
– Salvation
– Territorial disputes
– Black Death
– Lack of Education outside monasteries
– Small scale trade
Factors Influencing Shift Toward
Renaissance
• Crusades exposed Europe to the global world and
advanced civilizations—scholasticism exposure to rest of
world and Europe’s past
• Byzantine and Islamic cultures preserved the past
adding the knowledge of math and science Countries
unified under centralization
• Increased trade fueled further contact and learning
• Universities became centers of learning
• Other major movements emerged in addition to the
Renaissance—the Reformation, Scientific Revolution,
and Enlightenment
Shifts in Thought
• Europe was no longer backward, isolated, self-involved,
self-sufficient region on edge of world
• Desire to become dominant civilization grew
• Exploration and expansion grew from shift in thought
• Not quick or in equal proportions
• Took long time to penetrate all circles
• Guarded jealously by people with power
• Peasants didn’t participate—no education or position to
learn about it—lack of opportunity
RENAISSANCE
• Means the rebirth of Greek and Roman
culture
• Lasted approximately 1300-1600 A.D.
Why the Renaissance?
• Demand for labor high
• Demand for products high
• Population began to increase after Black
Death
• People moved to cities
• Middle, or Merchant Class, emerged—
bankers, merchants, traders, etc.
• Huge influx of coined money
Why the Renaissance?
• Interactions with Muslim world continued
while Byzantine Empire was severely
weakening
• Italian city-states became very rich
supplying and transporting goods (Milan,
Venice, and Florence)
• Increased wealth and new opportunities
for material achievement in growing urban
societies
Why the Renaissance?
• Scholars uncovered lost and forgotten
Greek and Roman written works
• Located on former ruins
• Would encourage competition amongst
growing European powers
HUMANISM
• Focus on human endeavor—non-religious
thinking and action
• Previously life was useless and goal was
heaven—suck it up now for heaven awaits
• Shift in thinking from afterlife to here and
now
• Focus on individuals meant less focus on
institutions such as the Church
HUMANISM
• Historical texts were revisited with focus on
personal accomplishments and personal
happiness—Greek and Roman literature has
tons of examples
• “Renaissance Man” emerged—Leonardo da
Vinci—artist (painter & sculptor), scientist,
musician, architect, engineer, inventor,
mathematician
• Writings and art began to reflect humanism
• Power of church declined during the
Renaissance
Characteristics of Renaissance Art
• Themes became more secular rather than
religious
• Subjects were popes, monarchs,
merchants, Greek and Roman deities,
contemporary events
• Human figures were more realistic due to
increased study of human anatomy
• Used perspective—three dimensional
• Began using oil paints
Rebirth in Arts
• Wealthy families in city-states patronized
the arts— Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs?
Rebirth in Arts
• Human figure is realistic—3 dimensional,
use of shadows to illuminate
• Linear perspective—focal point
Rebirth in Arts
• Embraced by Roman Church
– Art adorned palaces and cathedrals
– Huge domes
• Spread northward
• Greater variety of colors—due to trade and
exposure
Renaissance Writing
• Johannes Gutenberg’s Printing Press with
moveable type—made printing books much
easier
• Prior to printing press and Renaissance was little
need for books—no one to read them
• Previously invented by Song Dynasty in China
who gained knowledge from Korea—was
Gutenberg aware?
• Ease of printing made it cheaper and able to be
mass produced in other languages other than
Latin
Renaissance Writing
• The Bible was the first book mass
produced by the printing press and was
spread in other languages other than Latin
for the first time
• Middle class becoming more educated,
demanding more books, increased
demand for paper from Arabs and Chinese
• Helped spread Protestant Reformation
views
Renaissance Writing
• Other books printed were mainly for
entertainment purposes focusing on daily lives
of people (the Vernacular)
– The Prince by Machiavelli—self-interest more
important than morals (how to keep political power)
– Utopia by Sir Thomas Moore—ideal society
– Works of Shakespeare focused on humanism—
human faults, strengths, tragedy, comedy, and
classical world—Julius Caesar, etc.