The Renaissance “Rebirth” 1300’s - 1500’s. A time of Creativity and change in Europe. It was a golden age in the arts, literature, and sciences. Curious.

The Renaissance

“Rebirth”

1300’s - 1500’s

A time of Creativity and change in Europe.

• It was a golden age in the arts, literature, and sciences.

• Curious about life in the present more than the after life.

• Starts in Italy

Why Italy?

• Near Ancient Rome.

• Florence and Venice were big trade centers.

• Merchants spent a lot of $$ on art and education.

Florence and the Medicis

• Cosimo de Medici, a wealthy banker, takes control of the government.

• Cosimo creates a republican Govn’t.

• Appointes relatives to high positions.

Humanism

• Focused on worldly subjects rather than religious issues.

• Humanists hoped to use wisdom of the ancients to understand their own times.

• Today we refer to the study of literature, philosophy and art as the humanities.

Italian Art and Architecture

Leonardo DaVinci

• 1452-1519

• model “Renaissance Man”

• (Painter, sculptor, inventor, architect, engineer)

• Mona Lisa, Last Supper

Michelangelo• 1475-1564

• Biblical and classical figures.

• Sculptor, engineer, poet, painter, architect

• Statue of David

• Dome of St. Peter’s church in Rome

• Sistine Chapel ceiling

Raphael

• 1483-1520

• Painter

• Student of Michelangelo and daVinci.

• Paintings of the Madonna, and School of Athens.

Sofonisba Anguissola

• 1500’s

• Painter

• Judith and the Maidservant

Architecture

• Reject the Gothic style of the late Middle Ages as cluttered and disorderly.

• Adopt the columns, arches, and domes.

Political Science

Nicolo Machiavelli

• 1469-1527

• The Prince

• Use whatever methods were neccessary to achieve their goals

• “The end justifies the means.”

Technical Innovation

Johann Gutenberg

• 1456 Gutenberg invents the Printing Press in Europe.

• Already being done in China from 8th century.

Impact of Printing Press

• More people learned to read and write.

• Cheaper than hand-copied.

• Access to broad range of knowledge.

• Contributed to the religious turmoil in the 1500’s.