The Renaissance Why The Renaissance began in Italy And…. The Northern Renaissance.

The The RenaissancRenaissanc

eeWhy The Renaissance began in Why The Renaissance began in

ItalyItaly

And….And….

The Northern RenaissanceThe Northern Renaissance

Why did the Renaissance Why did the Renaissance

Begin in Italy?Begin in Italy?

The Right ConditionsThe Right Conditions

Renaissance is a French word meaning “re-Renaissance is a French word meaning “re-birth”birth”

Why did the Renaissance begin in Italy and later Why did the Renaissance begin in Italy and later in places like England and Germany?in places like England and Germany? Heartland of the old Roman EmpireHeartland of the old Roman Empire Geographic locationGeographic location ClimateClimate City StatesCity States

Heartland of the Heartland of the Old Roman EmpireOld Roman Empire

Still used Roman LawStill used Roman Law Clear legal code made Clear legal code made

trade and business easier.trade and business easier. Didn’t have to work with Didn’t have to work with

medieval lawmedieval law

Presence of ruins and artPresence of ruins and art Many of it survivedMany of it survived Inspired Italian artists and Inspired Italian artists and

Architects. Architects. • Brunelleshi & the domeBrunelleshi & the dome

• Classicalism Classicalism BotticelliBotticelli MichelangeloMichelangelo

Physical Geography Physical Geography

Italy had a collection of Italy had a collection of city-statescity-states

Good harboursGood harbours Automatically became Automatically became

large and powerful large and powerful because they served as because they served as centers for trade.centers for trade.

This also meant that ideas This also meant that ideas and knowledge spread. and knowledge spread.

Two largest Port citiesTwo largest Port cities• VeniceVenice

• GenoaGenoa

Mountainous PeninsulaMountainous Peninsula Mountains can make Mountains can make

trade difficulttrade difficult Have only a few well Have only a few well

established trade routes - established trade routes - but they are busy! Grew but they are busy! Grew rich on the proceeds of rich on the proceeds of trade.trade.

• Everybody has to travel Everybody has to travel through them to get through them to get anywhere. anywhere.

The Arno RiverThe Arno River Florence located on the Florence located on the

plains of the Arno & on a plains of the Arno & on a major trade routemajor trade route

• Helped agricultureHelped agriculture• Made Florence the most Made Florence the most

powerful city. powerful city.

ClimateClimate Milder than the countries Milder than the countries

North of the Alps.North of the Alps. Winter weather did not Winter weather did not

disrupt travel & tradedisrupt travel & trade• Did in the NorthDid in the North

Food was plentiful all yearFood was plentiful all year People had more time to People had more time to

devote to spare time devote to spare time because they didn’t have to because they didn’t have to work all the time. work all the time.

Relative LocationRelative Location

Close ties to Muslim worldClose ties to Muslim world

Italy had closer ties than the rest of Europe to Italy had closer ties than the rest of Europe to the Muslim world in the south and east. the Muslim world in the south and east.

Italy was near the rich port cities in Africa & the Italy was near the rich port cities in Africa & the Middle EastMiddle East Trade with these lands was easier & cheaper. Trade with these lands was easier & cheaper.

Hub of knowledgeHub of knowledge Introduced to Science, medicine, and astronomy.Introduced to Science, medicine, and astronomy.

Access to new foods & productsAccess to new foods & products Oranges, lemons, coffee, sugarOranges, lemons, coffee, sugar

Trade = WealthTrade = Wealth

With trade cameWith trade came

Wealth…. Wealth….

…….which in turn.which in turn

allowed the arts toallowed the arts to

flourish!flourish!

The City-StatesThe City-States

The Renaissance flourished in City-States (the city and The Renaissance flourished in City-States (the city and rural area surrounding it. rural area surrounding it.

The surrounding area called the Hinterland, provided the food, The surrounding area called the Hinterland, provided the food, and other necessities. and other necessities.

Venice

Florence &

So,….why did it begin in ItalySo,….why did it begin in Italy

The right location The right location A rich history and ancestral connectionA rich history and ancestral connection A great climateA great climate Strong City-StatesStrong City-States Opportunity for wealth Opportunity for wealth

People had money to investPeople had money to invest They became the patrons!They became the patrons!

Ah, Italy…..Ah, Italy…..