Download The Renaissance, 1300-1600

The Renaissance, 1300-1600
Essential Question 2:
What were the defining characteristics of
the Renaissance?
Defining Characteristics
1. Humanism
Focus on human/social
matters (love, anger, joy, govt.
etc.)
Emphasizes human potential
Focused on
values/culture/knowledge of
Greeks/Romans
Defining Characteristics
2. Secularism
Belief that comfort, pleasure,
knowledge of worldly subjects I
is not sinful
Emphasized life in the “here and
now,” deemphasized
importance of afterlife and the
spiritual subjects
Defining Characteristics
3. Importance of Artwork
Art seen as way of expressing humanist
topics/themes
a. Greek/Roman subjects (Mythology)
b. Individual portraits
c. Subjects of the physical world
New techniques developed
a. Perspective
b. More humanist subjects/styles
c. use of oils
Architecture
a. Copies building design of Greeks/Romans
(geometric shapes, simplicity, balance, columns,
domes)
Defining Characteristics
4.
New Types of Literature
Focused on human concerns, values, problems,
self-expression
Wrote in the vernacular (local language)
Francesco Petrarch= poet/writer; sonnets to
Laura (love, human interest); “Father of
Renaissance”
Niccolo’ Machiavelli= The Prince (1513)
a. Sees human behavior “as it really is”
b. Advises rulers how to control their people
c. Advocates being wise, stern, deceptive,
“whatever it takes” in order to achieve the
desired result
“The ends justifies the means”
Defining Characteristics
5. The “Renaissance Man”
• A Renaissance man is one who has a
wide variety of knowledge and skill in
a wide variety of subjects
• Best Example: Leonardo da Vinci
Painter, sculptor, inventor, musician,
philosopher, scientist, writer
• Baldassare Castiglione’s The Courtier
•
Be able to speak/read Latin and Greek
• Knowledge of history, poetry, science
Characteristics of the
Renaissance
Humanism – man is a wonderful creature
whose potential is limitless
Secularism - importance of worldly
knowledge and experiences
Art - artwork emphasized human themes,
realistic look, classical myths
Literature – writers concerned with human
concerns: love, anger, friendship; wrote in
vernacular
The “Renaissance Man”- knows/ does lots
of things well