Download The Renaissance

The Renaissance
“The Rebirth of Europe”
1300-1600
Middle Ages
500 – 1200 CE
Collapse of Roman Empire marks start of Middle Ages
Key Outcomes of Middle Ages:
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Leads to eventual formation of 47 new countries
Roman Catholic Church gains extreme power
Begins a period of “cultural” decline (arts, literature, etc…)
Judeo-Christian thought spreads in Europe
Social Hierarchy (of Middle Ages)
Feudalism
Peasant-Noble-Priest
Life in the Middle Ages
• Medieval Man had 3 primary concerns
Eternal salvation
Protection from enemies
Food and shelter
Black Death 1347-1352
• Bubonic plague killed 1/3rd of Europe’s population
– 25 million people died in 5 years!
• Medieval Society never recovered from the effect black plague:
– Labor shortages developed => Workers demanded higher wages => Peasant
revolts occurred throughout Europe
– People openly questioned the church: Why did God let this happen?
“people ate lunch with their friends
and dinner with their ancestors”
Renaissance Begins
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When:
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Meaning: “rebirth” (in terms of art & learning)
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Began in ITALY & spread north throughout Europe
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Why Italy:
1300 - 1600
– Thriving cities meant more trade
– France and England locked in the 100-years war. (1337-1453)
– Classical heritage of Greece and Rome
Italy Changes
• Trade expands
– most of Europe was rural
– Italy had more cities due to trade
– Banking system rapidly developed
• Wealthy merchant class developed
– Many became patron of the arts (example: Medici)
• Growth of cities meant “new ideas” spread quickly
3 Themes of Renaissance
Individualism
Secularism
Humanism
“Never again would western men be so occupied with the
nature of the next world that they would be unattentive
to the nature of this one”
Society developed a:
1) Interest in classical culture
2) Curiosity about the world
3) Belief in Human Potential
Development of the Renaissance
1300-1600
The Middle Ages
Trade Expands
Merchants gain wealth/power
City-States develop
Individualism
Secularism
Humanism
New “modern” society
The Northern Renaissance
• Late 1400’s Northern Europe recovered from
plague & Hundred Years’ War
• Italy was ruled by city-states
• England & France ruled by strong monarchs
• Renaissance ideas began to spread north to
England, France, Germany & Flanders
Monarchs & the Renaissance
• Northern Kings supported artists during Renaissance
• War in Italy caused artists & writers to flee to
northern Europe
• Northern Renaissance developed its own unique style
The Printing Press
Changes the World
• Gutenberg invented the printing press 1440
– The Bible was the first book printed [1455]
– By 1500 presses in 250 cities printed 9-10 million books
• End result:
– New ideas spread more quickly than ever before
– Writing in vernacular languages increase
Analyze this Cartoon
Renaissance Italy
Key Historical changes:
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Social:
Economic: •
Cultural: •
Religious: •
• Political: •
Increased city living
Increased Trade & Banking
New focus on art & literature
Less focus on “afterlife”
Merchant class gained power