The Renaissance

The Renaissance The beginning of the Modern Period A period of transition

Two Major Divisions of the Renaissance

The Italian Renaissance
The Italian Renaissance (occurred first)
Focused on the city-states of northern Italy and Rome
The Italian Renaissance tended to be more worldly with a great emphasis on secular pursuits, the humanities, and the arts
Wealth and power
Knowledge was the key

Often called the “Father” of Renaissance humanism
The Italian poet, Petrarch

The Northern Renaissance
The Northern Renaissance occurred later
Involved the regions of Northern Europe
England
Spain
France
Germanic regions (Holy Roman Empire)
The Netherlands

Northern Renaissance
The spread of the Renaissance was delayed in Northern Europe
War and political unrest
Hundred Years’ War
War of the Roses in Britain
Plague and famine

“ renaissance” means rebirth The Renaissance began a period of renewed interest and engagement with “classical” (Ancient Greece and Rome) learning, culture, literature, art, style, etc.

Major Themes of the Renaissance
Humanism (both secular and religious)
Human potential, human progress, expansion of human knowledge
Secularism -greater emphasis on non-religious values and concerns
Individualism -focus on the unique qualities and abilities of the individual person

Major Historical Events of the Renaissance Period
Age of Exploration (Period of European Expansion)
Protestant Reformation and the Religious Wars
Scientific Revolution- Rise of Modern Science
The Rise of the Modern Nation-state

Background of the Renaissance- High and Late Middle Ages
Increased trade and commercial activity during the High Middle Ages
Urbanization-growth of cities and towns
Commercial and business developments (banking)
Middle class merchant elite developed
Decline in feudalism
A decline in the Church’s hold and control on society and government
Growth in vernacular literature/growing literacy
Rise of universities and the expansion of learning

The Birthplace of the Renaissance
The city-states of Northern Italy
Florence was the center of the Renaissance
Italy was politically fragmented and the city-states often fought for power and control
City-states came to be ruled by wealthy and powerful business people (not necessarily nobility)
Signori - (despots) and oligarchies (group of individuals) maintained order

Florence Major center of trade, banking, cloth production, and the arts

The Medici family of Florence
The most powerful family of the Italian Renaissance
Came to power through business dealings and banking
Bank of the Vatican and the papacy
Spent tremendous amounts of money supporting the arts and cultural development (patrons)
Medici power often involved corruption and intrigue

The Medici Family

Medici Pope

“ The Adoration of the Magi” depicts the Medici family in procession - Celebration of Medici power and influence

Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) The Prince
Machiavelli was from Florence
Well educated in the classics
Career was in public service and he eventually served as the ambassador to France
Favored republican rule over despotism
Machiavelli was tortured and imprisoned for a time when Medici rule was reinstated after a conflict with a Spanish mercenary army
He retired to the country and wrote The Prince

The Prince
Written in Italian (not Latin)
Observations and commentary on political rule and power (Medicis)
Addressed the issue of effective rule
How to gain and maintain order and control
Stressed the practical (pragmatic ) over the ethical or moral
More secular and humanistic
Challenged the idea of a social order based on God’s will
Political science- Politics was to be governed by its own laws
“… it is safer to be feared than to be loved…”

The Courtier by Castiglione 1528
Written in Italian
Treatise on the training of young men in the courtly ideal of a Renaissance gentleman
Stressed the value of education and manners
Influenced social mores and norms during the period

The Renaissance spread to Northern Europe

Focus of the Northern Renaissance
The focus of the Renaissance in Northern Europe was more religious
Many sought religious reform and a return of the Church to its true mission and spirituality
Many were highly critical of the worldliness and corruption in the Church and papacy
Northern Renaissance figures believed that education and literacy were key to social and religious reform
Advocated the translation of the scriptures into the vernacular languages

Major figures of the Northern Renaissance

Desiderius Erasmus –scholar and theologian
The Praise of Folly
Criticism of the abuses and worldliness of the Church and papacy

Sir Thomas More
Lord Chancellor of England during the reign of Henry VIII- highest political office in England
Lawyer and scholar
Wrote Utopia – explored the idea of a “perfect” society
Eventually executed by Henry VIII for refusing to agree to the king and Parliament’s Act of Supremacy

Utopia

Martin Luther
Associated with the Protestant Reformation
Critical of Church corruption and abuses
Sought reform
Wrote the first translation of the Bible in German

Renaissance Art A reflection of Renaissance ideals and values Emphasis on the classical style and classical themes Humanistic - with an emphasis on the individual Religious art remained very important

Characteristics of Renaissance Art
Realism
Three-dimensional
Balanced and ordered
Portraits
Landscapes and attention to depictions of nature
Classical style
Depiction of classical themes and stories

Humanism: The School of Athens by Raphael - a celebration of classical learning

Individualism –Portraits -portraits celebrated the unique qualities and personality of the individual person (two examples by Leonardo da Vinci)

Secularism-non-religious Renaissance art often depicted stories and scenes from classical literature

Religion remained a major focal point of Renaissance art - The Sistine Chapel-Michelangelo

Michelangelo’s Pieta

Northern Renaissance Art

Albrecht Durer

Hans Holbein

Bruegel

Major innovations of the Renaissance

Printing Press
1455
Moveable type printing
Developed in Germany
Associated with Gutenburg
1456 the first Gutenburg Bible was printed
Printing press allowed for the spread of knowledge and ideas throughout Europe

The Clock
The idea of quantification developed
The universe came to be conceived in more quantifiable terms (measurable terms)
Allowed for more precise measurements
Changed the focus of daily life which had been guided by the rhythms of the Church

The Renaissance brought a new way of thinking and living to Europe A new worldview was emerging The medieval Christian worldview was giving way to a more MODERN (secular and humanistic) view of the world and humanity

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The Renaissance

by tkester on Feb 25, 2009

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