Renaissance Notes

Set the Stage…The Italian Renaissance

Transformation of Europe The roots of the Renaissance lie in events that

began in the Middle Ages In particular, the Crusades planted the seeds of

change that would transform Europe and move it out of the Middle Ages

The Crusades stimulated trade by introducing Europeans to many desirable products.

This trade promoted frequent contacts with the Byzantine and Muslim Empires.

Transformation of Europe

Economic Effects of the CrusadesIncreased demand for Middle

Eastern productsSpices, linen, perfumes, food

products

Economic Effects of the Crusades

Stimulated the production of goods to trade in Middle Eastern marketsWool (England), precious metals,

wine, wax

Economic Effects of the Crusades

Encouraged the use of credit and banking Move money between

areas Local currency

exchange Letters of credit served to

expand the supply of money and expedite trade.

Economic concepts of the Renaissance:New economic institutions developed

during the Renaissance. De Medici family in Italy supported

Economic Concepts DevelopedThe Roman

Catholic Church ruled that usury (charging interest on loans) violated Christian principlesConsidered a sin

Economic ConceptsThe banks existed outside the church so

interest was charged Merchants charged interest on loans as a

means of making money Eventually caused

friction between the church and merchants

Economic ConceptsThis helped to secularize (less of

religious view, more of a worldly view) northern Italy (where the Renaissance first developed).

Economic ConceptsNew accounting and bookkeeping

practices (use of Arabic numerals) were introduced.

After suffering through war and plague, Europeans wanted to enjoy life. Questioned the church’s belief in earthly suffering Questioned medieval society which blocked social

advancement Looked toward classical past for ideas

Roman and Greek ideals

Wealth accumulated from European trade with the Middle East led to the rise of Italian city-states. Wealthy merchants were active civic leaders.

Northern ItalyFlorence, Venice, and

Genoa Had access to trade routes

connecting Europe with Middle Eastern markets

Served as trading centers for the distribution of goods to northern Europe

Were initially independent city-states governed as republics

Venice

FlorenceGenoa

Between 1300-1600, new intellectual and artistic ideas developed.

Renaissance = “rebirth” & marked the beginning of the modern world.

Began in 1300 in large city-states in northern Italy and spread to northern Europe. Northern Europe lagged behind because France and

England were locked in the Hundred Years’ War.

Renaissance Changes

Influence of classical ideas Humanism

Focus on human potential and achievements Celebrated the individual

Secular learning Most remained devoutly Catholic, but the spirit of

Renaissance was secular. Secular - relating to worldly as opposed to sacred

(religious) things

Influence of classical ideas Focus on secular education:

“Renaissance Person” = Universal Man - ideal individuals strove to master almost every area of study.

Patrons of the arts A patron is someone of wealth who financially

supports an artist, philosopher, musician, allowing that artist to dedicate his life to perfecting his art.

Revival of Greco-Roman ideals

Revolutionizes Art – as Renaissance advanced, artistic styles changed. Medieval art and literature focused on the Church

and salvation, while Renaissance art and literature focused on individuals and worldly matters, along with Christianity

TMNT Donatello, Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael

Donatello Made sculptures more

realistic by carving natural postures and expressions that revealed personality.

David – 1st European sculpture of a free-standing nude since ancient times.

David

MichelangeloBuonarroti

Painter (Sistene Chapel), sculptor (David), architect (St. Peter’s Basilica), poet

Portrayed the human body in painting and sculptures while showing heroic grandeur and human potential. David

Michelangelo’s Achievements

Pieta

Creation of Adam

Sistene Chapel

Leonardo da Vinci Painter, sculptor, inventor and scientist Created notebooks with observations of how

things worked and inventions. 3500 pages have been recovered. Interesting fact – Leonardo wrote backwards in

“mirror-writing” – only be read in a mirror. Only 17 of his paintings survived including well-

known works – Mona Lisa and The Last Supper.

Leonardo da Vinci WritingsNotebook of observations – Let’s analyze...

Leonardo da Vinci’s Achievements

Mona Lisa

Leonardo da Vinci’s Achievements

Last Supper

Da Vinci http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ef-

tYOd8xbg

Raphael Studied works of Michelangelo and Leonardo. Portrayed the Madonna and child as gentle and calm. Worked for Pope Julius II and created works for the

Pope’s private rooms in the Vatican. Died at age 37. Famous works

School of Athens Madonna of the Goldfinch - shattered into

17 pieces when the house of its owner collapsed in 1547

Madonna and the Goldfinch

School of Athens

Medieval Art v Renaissance ArtMedieval Two-dimensional,

image seems flat No semblance to

reality i.e.. Stained glass

Jesus – divine, devoid of emotion, inhuman

Renaissance Three-dimensional, use

of perspective Feels so real, you can

reach into the picture Jesus – human

i.e. Cross = pain, suffering, feelings of a human being

Which is Medieval, which is Renaissance, how can you tell?

Think!Pair!Share!

Renaissance writers produced works that not only reflected their time, but also used techniques that writers rely on today. Vernacular – using native

language Most writers in Middle Ages

wrote in Latin Self-expression or portray

individuality Humanism

Renaissance Writers Writers promoted humanism

Francesco Petrarch Wrote sonnets (love poems) Considered the “Father of Humanism”

leader in humanist scholarship Niccolo Machiavelli

The Prince Political guidebook: “The end justifies the means” An early modern treatise on government Supports absolute power of the ruler Advises that one should not only do good if possible,

but do evil when necessary

Northern Renaissance With the rise of trade, travel, and literacy, the Italian

Renaissance spread to northern Europe. Growing wealth in Northern Europe supported

Renaissance ideas Northern Renaissance: Renaissance ideals (humanism)

mingled with northern (England, France, Germany) traditions.

The art and literature of the Italian Renaissance changed as people of different cultures adopted Renaissance ideas. Religious and Secular subject

Northern Renaissance Writers Northern Renaissance writers also adopted

the ideal of humanism and merged ideas with Christianity Desiderius Erasmus

In Praise of Folly (1511) – poked fun at greedy merchants, pompous priests and heartsick lovers. Although barbs were aimed at clergy, his work is strongly

Christian. Thomas More

Utopia (1516) – Imaginary land inhabited by peaceful people.

William Shakespeare

Thomas More - Utopia“Gold and silver, of which money is made, are

so treated…that no one values them more highly than their true nature deserves. Who does not see that they are far inferior to iron in usefulness since without iron mortals cannot live any more than without fire and water?”

-Thomas More, Utopia

Northern Renaissance Writers William Shakespeare

Wrote in Renaissance England in late 1500s (Renaissance in England known as Elizabethan Age for Queen Elizabeth I)

Works display a masterful command of the English language and deep understanding of human beings revealing souls of people through dramatic conflict.

Wrote Histories, Tragedies, Comedies and Poetry

Shakespeare’s Famous Works Henry VIII A Midsummer Night’s Dream Romeo and Juliet Hamlet Taming of the Shrew Julius Caesar All’s Well that Ends Well

Shakespeare in London/Hollywood

Printing Press A new invention that adapted Chinese technology

helped spread Renaissance ideas throughout Europe Block printing: similar to stamping today Moveable type: separate piece of type for each letter.

Johann Gutenberg, a craftsman from Germany, reinvented movable type printing around 1400. This method was practical for Europeans because their

languages have a very small number of letters in their alphabets.

Printing Press Printing Press – a

machine that presses paper against a tray full of inked moveable type. Gutenberg printed a

complete Bible (Gutenberg Bible) in 1455. It was the first full-size book printed with moveable type. Only 46 still exist.

Printing Press Significance Revolutionary impact on European Society!

Production and sale of books Books were cheap enough for people to purchase. Books were written in vernacular (native)

languages. Advances learning and increases literacy.

By 1500, presses in 250 cities had printed 9-10 million books.

Dissemination (spread) of ideas