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Aim:
Explain the conditions in
Italy that gave rise to the
Renaissance?
Italy’s Advantages

1300-1600: Movement in Italy
Explosion of creativity in art, writing, and
thought


This period called The Renaissance
Term means rebirth
 Refers to revival of art and learning

 Educated men and women of Italy
hoped to bring back to life culture of
classical Greece and Rome

Renaissance spreads to rest of Europe
Italy had three advantages that make it
birthplace

(1) Thriving City-States
Overseas trade from Crusades
led to growth of city-states in
Northern Italy


Region had many towns
Ideal breading ground for
intellectual ideas

(2) Merchants and Medici
Wealthy merchant class developed in
Italian City-States

Dominated politics
 Succeeded in business

Late 1200’s, city-state of Florence had
a republican form of government

Florence came under rule of the Medici
 Medici most powerful banking family

(3) Looking to Greece & Rome
Renaissance scholars looked down
on art & literature of Middle Ages

Wanted to return to the learning of
the Greeks and Romans


Achieved in several ways
Artists & scholars drew inspiration from
ruins of Rome
 Studied ancient Latin manuscripts
 Studied Christian Manuscripts
