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Renaissance Beginnings
Transition From Middle Ages
• During the Middle Ages,
Europeans suffered from both
war & plague
• A small group of those who
survived wanted to enjoy life
• As a result, they questioned the
Church, which taught Christians
to endure suffering…
• To get a heavenly reward
• They also questioned the
structure of medieval society,
which blocked social
advancement
• Educated people gradually began
to reject medieval values…
• And look to the classical past for
ideas
Renaissance Hits Italy
• The years 1300 to 1600 saw an
explosion of creativity called the
Renaissance
• Renaissance means “rebirth”
• In this case rebirth was in art &
learning
• The Renaissance started in
northern Italy around 1300 &
would later spread North
• One reason that Northern Europe
was behind was because…
• France & England were locked in
the Hundred Years’ War
• Italy also had three advantages:
– 1. Thriving Cities (center of trade)
– 2. Rich merchant class (from trade)
– 3. Classical heritage of Rome
City-States
• Overseas trade, spurred by the
Crusades, had led to the Growth of large
city-states in N. Italy
• City-States were large, independent
areas
• Italy was urban, while the rest of Europe
was very rural
• Cities were great places to exchange
ideas & have an intellectual revolution
• The bubonic plague struck these cities
hard, killing up to 60% of population
• This brought economic changes
• Because there were fewer laborers,
survivors could demand higher wages
• With less business opportunities,
wealthy merchants began to pursue art
New Class Takes Power
• Milan, Florence, & other Italian
city-states ran their own affairs
• Each collected taxes & had its
own army
• Because city-states were
relatively small (compared to
countries)…
• Many citizens were able to
participate in politics
• Merchants were the wealthiest,
most powerful class & dominated
politics
• Merchants didn’t inherit wealth
like nobles, so they’re
intelligence/ability were positives
in govt.
• Individual achievement became
an important part of the
Renaissance
Medici
• Florence came under the rule of
one powerful family, the Medici
• They made their fortune in trade
& banking
• Cosimo Medici was the
wealthiest European at the time
• In 1434, he won control of
Florence’s govt.
• He didn’t seek office himself, but
influenced members of the ruling
council by giving them loans
• When Medici died, his grandson
took over
• Although, Medici form of govt.
wasn’t exactly democratic, they
aided the Renaissance by
supporting the arts
Greek & Roman Culture
• Renaissance scholars looked
down on the art & literature of
the Middle Ages
• They wanted to return to the
learning of the Greeks &
Romans
• One reason the Renaissance
began in Italy…
• Is that artists & scholars drew
inspiration from the Roman
influence that surrounded them
• They were also able to study
ancient Greek manuscripts when
Constantinople fell to the
Ottoman Turks in 1453
• As scholars studied the Greek
works…
• they became increasingly
influenced by classical ideas
Humanism
• These ideas helped them to
develop a new outlook on life,
which had several characteristics
• The study of classical texts led to
humanism
• HUMANISM= focus on human
potential & achievements
• They didn’t worry about trying to
make the ancient text agree with
Medieval Christian ideals
• In the Middle Ages, some
religious people had to prove
their faith by wearing rough
clothing & eating plain foods
• Humanists argued one could
enjoy life without offending God
Humanistic View of Life
• In Renaissance Italy, the
wealthy enjoyed material
luxuries, fine music, &
wonderful food
• Most people remained devout
Catholics
• However, the basic spirit of the
Renaissance was secular
• Secular = worldly & concerned
with here & now (not religious)
• Even church leaders became
worldly
• They lived in beautiful
mansions, threw lavish
banquets, & wore expensive
clothes
Patrons of the Renaissance
• In addition to seeking pleasure,
Renaissance popes beautified
Rome by spending huge
amounts of $ on art
• Popes & wealthy families
became patrons
• Patrons = financially supported
artists
• The Medici family were very
important patrons
• By having their portraits painted
in exchange for $...
• Or by donating art to the city,
patrons made their mark on the
Renaissance
Renaissance Men
• Renaissance writers first introduced the
idea that some people were artistic
geniuses
• A man who excelled in many fields was
praised as a “universal man”
• Later ages called these people
“Renaissance men”
• Leonardo da Vinci is often considered
the typical “Renaissance man”
• He excelled at painting, sculpting,
writing, & inventing, among other things
• A book called The Courtier by
Baldassare Castiglione taught how to
become a Renaissance men
• He thought a man should be charming,
witty, well educated in the classics
• He should also dance, play music, & be
an athlete
Renaissance Women
• According to The Courtier,
upper-class women also should
know the classics & be
charming
• However, they shouldn’t seek
fame
• They were supposed to inspire
art, not create it (muses)
• Upper-class women were far
more educated compared to
women of the Middle Ages
• However, most Renaissance
women had less influence than
Medieval (Middle Age) women