Download Intro to the Renaissance PPT

The Renaissance
“Man is the measure of all things”
The Early Renaissance
 Definition: Rebirth, refers to the attempt by artists and
thinkers to recover and apply the ancient learning and
standards of Greece and Rome.
 Cultural Movement that originated in the Italian city-states of
northern Italy and then spread to the rest of Europe
 Period of history from 1350-1600.
 Great Debate—Does the Renaissance represent a sharp break
with the medieval past or is it merely an extension of the
Middle Ages?
Humanism
 Philosophy of the Renaissance
 Revival of antiquity in philosophy, literature and art
 Strong belief in individualism and the great potential of human beings
 Virtu—the quality of being a man, idea of excelling in all of one’s pursuits
 Believed the key to a good life was reason and nature
 Focused first on studying ancient languages
 First Latin
 After fall of Byzantine Empire in 1453, then Greek
 Rejected Aristotelian views and medieval scholasticism in favor of Roman authors,
Greek writings, early Christian writers
 Believed in a liberal arts educational program
 Civic Humanism—idea that education should prepare leaders who would be active in
civic affairs
 Often humanism was more secular and lay dominated, but most humanists remained
deeply Christian
Characteristics of the Renaissance
(CHAIRS)
 14th & 15th century Italians were self-consciously aware that they were living in a new
& unique era. They called the medieval period the Dark Ages, but now saw the dawn
of a new golden age.
 Classicism—the study of the ancient classical texts to learn what they reveal about
human beings.
 Medieval uses of classical ideas—find God and prove pre-conceived ideas
 Renaissance uses of classical ideas—find man & understand human nature within
Christian teachings, value classical literature for its own sake
 Humanism—emphasized human beings, their achievements, interests, &
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capabilities.
Activism—Had to make a difference in the world (civic humanism)
Individualism—emphasized personality, uniqueness, genius, & full development of
one’s capabilities & talents. Renaissance individuals wanted success & to showcase
their talents
Realism—depict the world as it is.
Secularism—involves a basic concern with the material world instead of with the
eternal world of the spirit. The ultimate explanation of everything is found in the
what the senses can discover.
Major Centers in Italy
 Venice--republic ruled by the 200 (oligarchy), strongly
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influenced by Byzantine culture
Milan—ruled by Sforza & Visconti families
Florence—ruled by the Medici family
Papal states—ruled by the Pope & supported by Borghese
family
Kingdom of Naples—ruled by the king of Aragon (Spain)
Why did the Renaissance Begin
in Italy?
 Had the most advanced urban society in all of
Europe
 Development of secular education
 Special appeal of the classical past
 Italian wealth; city-states were commercial &
banking centers
 Fall of Constantinople (1453)
 Tumultous politics of the Italian city-states
 Black Death was a catalyst
Famous Humanists
 Francis Petrach (1304-1374)
 Father of Humanism/considered the first modern writer
 Boccaccio
 Compiled an encyclopedia of Greek and Roman mythology
 Leonardo Bruni
 Among the most important of the civic humanists
 Lorenzo Valla
 Expert on the Latin language/exposed the Donation of Constantine as an 8th
century fraud, using textual criticism
 Pico della Mirandola
 Oration on the Dignity of Man—most famous Renaissance work on the nature
of humankind
 Baldassare Castiglione
 The Book of the Courtier—perhaps most important work on Renaissance social
etiquette/described ideal “Renaissance man” (virtu)