Download Italy: Birthplace of the Renaissance

Italy: Birthplace of
the Renaissance
{
World History
May 15th, 2013
War
 Plague
 Seeking answers from the Church

Remember what Europe
was dealing with…
1300-1600
Explosion of creativity
in art and writing

The Renaissance!
Renaissance = Rebirth…
educated men/women of
Italy bring back to life the
culture of classical Greece
& Rome.
Black Plague killed 60%
of Northern Italy
population
 Not many business
opportunities with small
population led people to
pursue arts

How it began…
Small city-states allowed a highpercentage of citizens to become
involved in politics
 Merchants earned their money, so
they felt they deserved to control
the government

Merchants and Politics
One certain family controlled Florence
 Owned a bank with branches throughout
Italy
 1434, Cosimo de Medici began ruling (30 year
dictatorship!)
 Influenced members of council
 by giving them loans

The Medici Family
Intellectual movement
focusing on human potential
and achievements
 Popularized the studying of
history, literature, and
philosophy
 Came from the studying of
classical texts

Humanism
Church leaders and others
 Beautified Rome and other cities with art
 Financially supported artists
 Portraits, donating art to city

Patrons of the Arts
Renaissance Man vs. Woman
Man: all educated people are expected
to create art and excel in many fields
(dance, sing, play music, write poetry,
wrestle, ride horses, etc.)
Woman: know the classics (books), be
charming, INSPIRE art, hold little
influence in politics

WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK5kL2CF_Oo
Isabella de Este
Some Famous Faces…
Sculpture of
David
-Michelangelo
Mona Lisa
-Leo da Vinci
Painter, sculptor,
inventor, scientist
“Renaissance Man”
Studied how a muscle
moves, how veins are
arranged like a leaf
Mona Lisa!

Leonardo da Vinci
Learned from Michelangelo and
da Vinci
 The Madonna & child was one
of his favorite scenes to paint
 Painted for the Pope’s library

Raphael Sanzio
The Prince: a book
examining the
imperfections of human
beings
Political guidebook
Not concerned with what is
morally right, but what is
politically effective!

Machiavelli
Pop Quiz
1. What are some of the
characteristics of a Renaissance
man? Woman?
2. What are the differences
between the Renaissance and the
Middle Ages in the attitude
toward worldly pleasures?
