2. European State-Building
2nd half of 15th century =
began to recover from
the plague and rebuild
its population
State-building occurred
as Europe rebuilt
politically
Fragmented system of
many separate,
independent, and highly
competitive states
Examples: Spain,
Portugal, France,
England, etc.
3. European State-Building
All of these states began to:
Tax their citizens more efficiently
Create more effective administrative structures
Raise standing armies
State-building driven by:
The needs of war warfare very frequent in such a
fragmented and competitive political environment
4. The Hundred Year’s War
(1337-1453)
Between England and France
Fought over rival claims to territories in France
Result = French victory
5. Joan of Arc
Born a peasant girl;
became a French female
knight
Led the French army to
several important
victories in the Hundred
Years’ War
Claimed divine guidance
Captured by the English
and burned at the stake
at 19 years old
6. The Renaissance (1300s-
1600s)
Cultural awakening in
Western Europe
Began in Italy
Means “rebirth” in
French
Transition from the Dark
Ages/Medieval Times to
modern times
Embraced ancient
Roman and ancient
Greek traditions
7. So Why Italy?
Italy had avoided large
economic crisis in Europe
during Middle Ages
Italian cities = centers of
Mediterranean trade
Italians = attached to
classical Roman traditions
Italian towns = close
contact with Byzantine and
Muslim Empires which
preserved Greek traditions
8. Major Themes of the
Renaissance
Importance of classical
learning
Emphasis on the individual
Adventurous spirit and
willingness to experiment
Focus on realism in art and
literature
Questioning of traditional
religious ideas
9. Humanism
Renewed interests in the classics of Greece &
Rome
Humanism = intellectual movement that
focused on secular (worldly, nonreligious)
themes rather than religious ideas that had
dominated medieval thought
Believed in individualism = emphasis on the
dignity & worth of the individual person
Believed that people should try to improve
themselves
11. Education and Literature
Opened schools that taught the
humanities
Greek, Latin, history, philosophy, etc.
New types of literature
Written in the vernacular = everyday
language
Sonnets = short poems of 14 lines
Petrarch = wrote sonnets about
love & nature
12. Education and Literature
New types of literature
Autobiographies
The Prince = book written by
Niccolo Machiavelli
Discussed politics
Said rulers should use force
& deceit to maintain power
--> Do what you gotta do
13. Italian City States - Florence
Controlled by the Medici
family
Rulers encouraged humanism
Birthplace of the Italian
Renaissance
Medici wealth was used to
support artists, philosophers,
writers
City was wealthy due to wool
production and banking
14. Italian City States - Rome
Renaissance popes had the
ancient city rebuilt
Home of the Roman
Catholic Church
Large churches,
magnificent paintings, and
sculptures
Most notable effort =
rebuilding of St. Peter’s
Basilica = largest Christian
church in the world (this
would eventually cause the
Reformation)
15. Italian City States - Venice
Prospered as a trade
city
Wealthiest city-state
of the Renaissance
Trade link between Asia
& western Europe
Known for its artistic
achievements
16. Italian City States - Milan
Milan dominated the
inland trade routes
Gateway from Italy to
northern Europe
17. Renaissance Art
Subjects were lifelike
Used perspective in paintings
Studied human anatomy
Great artists were revered & had
a prominent place in society
Art featured both classical
mythology as well as religious
themes
20. Sculpture
Nude figures in bronze &
marble
Resembled ancient Greek &
Roman statues
Donatello, Michelangelo,
Ghiberti = came from
Florence
Famous statue by
Michelangelo = Statue of
David
21. Painting
Realistic style
Giotto = painted famous
frescoes = murals/paintings on
walls
Leonardo da Vinci = painted
the Mona Lisa & the Last
Supper
Michelangelo = painted the
ceiling of the Sistine Chapel
22. Leonardo Da Vinci
1452-1519
Thought of himself as an artist
Botany, anatomy, optics, music,
architecture, engineering
Made sketches of flying machines
and undersea boats centuries
before actually built
Painted the Mona Lisa and The
Last Supper
23. Michelangelo Buonarroti
1475-1564
Sculptor, engineer, painter,
architect, and poet
Work reflects life-long
spiritual and artistic
struggles
David and the Pieta
Sistine Chapel in Rome
Dome of St. Peter’s
Cathedral in Rome
24. Raphael Sanzio
1483-1520
Artistic talent and
“sweet and gracious
nature”
Blended Christian and
classical styles
Tender portrayals of the
Madonna (mother of
Jesus)
The School of Athens
25. The Northern Renaissance
Centered in the Low Countries
– Belgium and the Netherlands
Art styles were determined
partially by climate – few
frescos, more stained glass,
wooden carvings, canvas oil
paintings
Jan van Eyck – Flemish painter
famous for using oil paints
Albrecht Durer – German wood
carver
26.
27. The Printing Press
Johannes Gutenberg
was first European to
develop movable type –
lead to the mass
production of books.
Writings from Miguel de
Cervantes, William
Shakespeare, and many
Protestant reformers
spread across Europe as
a result