Download Chapter 13 Part 4

The Renaissance
Humanism
13-4
Renaissance ideals in Italy
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Humanism: what do the ancient texts reveal
about human nature and how can we use this
knowledge to reach our individual potential?
Individualism: (Virtu) A celebration of
individual achievement and potential
Secularism: Life is to be enjoyed; not just
endured (most did not see this as going against
Christian doctrine)
Humanism in Italy
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A new interest in classical literature
Celebration of HUMAN achievement and
potential
What did the ancient texts reveal about human
nature?
How can we use this knowledge to develop our
own potential?
A new self-awareness
Virtu
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Was the quest to realizing one’s full potential
Excellence in all of one’s pursuits
Celebrated an individual’s uniqueness (as
opposed to the conformity of the Middle Ages
This included physical prowess
The Renaissance Man: da Vinci
Was a painter, sculptor, inventor, mechanic,
knew something about physiology, etc.
A belief that they were living in a
new era
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BUT the vast majority of the population were
untouched by the Renaissance.
Only 6% were urban dwellers
BUT Renaissance men belief that all things were
possible if one willed it
Life not just to be endured; but enjoyed
Renaissance Italians
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Rejected Aristotle
Embraced Cicero, Plato, Virgil
Rhetoric: The words, writing style, language
itself
A new love for the Latin Language
Many saw how it had been corrupted over time
…the Vulgate
Rhetoric
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Many in Italy imitated the STYLE of the
ancients in their everyday writing
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For some, new ideas were not as important as
HOW they were expressed
Lorenzo Valla
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Foremost expert on the Latin Language
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Wrote On the Elegances of the Latin Language
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Used critical analysis in On the False Donation of
Constantine to prove that an ancient document
that gave vast territories to the Church from
Constantine was an 8th century fraud
Lorenzo Valla
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Was a loyal Christian
Had worked as secretary under Pope Nicholas V
BUT pointed out flaws in the Vulgate that will
be ammunition for the Reformation
Economic Changes
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Meant changes in attitudes and values
Italian success in trade = increased wealth
Italians were ready to embrace new (old) ideas
Aristotle was considered Medieval…old hat
After the fall of Constantinople, Plato was the
new darling
Ficino
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Was one of the most influential humanist
philosophers of the 15th century
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Founded the Platonic Academy at the request of
Cosimo de Medici
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Also translated Plato’s works into Latin and
helped to spread these ideas throughout Europe
Renaissance was more secular
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BUT most still considered themselves good
Christians
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Most studied the Ancients from a Christian
point of view
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Humanists rejected classical ideas that were
opposed to Christianity…even the Italians
Mirandola
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Wrote On the Dignity of Man
Most famous Renaissance work on the
NATURE of humankind
Believed that since humans were created by God
there was naturally a tremendous potential for
greatness
BUT humans had free will so they could blow it
Art in Italy
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Still Christian scenes but now secular themes
Just as people fell in love with the Latin language
itself; rather than the ideas in the words
The art itself (like the magnificence of the
human body) was enough…it did not need to
teach like Medieval Art did. The BIG IDEA
was no longer the important thing; the art was
Petrarch The Father of Humanism
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Considered to be the first modern writer
Believed that literature was NOT subordinate to
religion
Was the first to use the term, “Dark Ages”
Was the first to use critical analysis on ancient
writing
Wrote poetry in the vernacular
Sonnets
Autobiographies
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Not many in the Middle Ages
Middle Ages emphasized humility and piety
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During the Italian Renaissance everyone felt the
need to proclaim their individual genius
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There was a real thirst for fame, a desperation
for worldly success
Petrarch
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Was influenced by Cicero
Cicero believed that one could not be
considered civilized without awareness of
literary culture
In the Middle Ages, Roman documents WERE
studied but only to connect humans to God
NOW they were studied to see what they
revealed about human nature
People were in a hurry
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To realize their full potential and proclaim it to
the world
Clocks were now in popular use
Moveable type and the printing press: maybe
the single most important invention ever
Bruni
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The first to use the term, “Humanism”
Promoted the idea of Civic Humanism:
People had a duty to provide civil service
Many important humanists were also civic leaders
Bruni was Chancellor in Florence
Wrote the first modern history (divisions into time
periods)…wrote the history of Florence
Castiglione
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Wrote The Book of the Courtier
The most important book on Renaissance
education
Specified qualities needed to be a true gentleman
Included physical as well as intellectual pursuits
Rejected crude habits: spitting on the floor,
eating without utensils, wiping one’s nose on
one’s sleeve
The Book of the Courtier
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Was the social commentary of the 14th century
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The ideal Renaissance man: modest but
confident, well-versed in Greek and Roman
classics, accomplished warrior, musician,
wrestler, dancer
The Decameron
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By Boccaccio
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Sarcastic commentary: ambitious merchants,
lecherous friars, done-wrong husbands
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Ten characters hiding out in a villa told their
tales while waiting for the plague to
pass…influenced Chaucer