Causes of the Renaissance

What is the Renaissance?

• Rebirth• Explosion of New Ideas & Learning

• Rediscovery of Classical Greek & Roman Culture

• Humanism—worth of Individual• Secularism—worldly not religious

• Rebirth• Explosion of New Ideas &

Learning

Causes of the Italian Renaissance

• Crusades• Control of Mediterranean Trade

• Sophistication of Italian City-States• Growth of Banking & Trade

• Crusades• Control of Mediterranean Trade

• Printing Press

• Crusades• Control of Mediterranean Trade• Sophistication of Italian City-States• Growth of Banking & Trade• Excess Wealth: de Medici family of

Florence

Italian v. Northern Renaissance

Italy North

Italy• Rome, Florence,

Venice• Mediterranean

Trade• De Medici• Michelangelo,

Da Vinci, Raphael

Italian

Italian v. Northern Renaissance

North• Amsterdam,

Antwerp, London• Rhine & Thames

Rivers• Jacob Fugger• Jan Van Eyck,

Brueghel

Italian v. Northern Renaissance

Italy• Rome, Florence,

Venice• Mediterranean

Trade• De Medici• Michaelangelo, Da

Vinci, Raphael

North• Amsterdam,

Antwerp, London• Rhine & Thames

Rivers• Jacob Fugger• Jan Van Eyck,

Brueghel

Political Intrigue

Machiavellian Intrigue • Wrote The Prince• studied the politics of

Florence, Venice & Rome

• analyzed use of power, force, & Deception

• How to book for future leaders

• Including...Niccolo

Machiavelli

De Medici Family of Florence

• Cosimo & Lorenzo• city improvements• patron of the arts• peace & prosperity

Savonarola

• Franciscan Friar• banned gambling, swearing, etc.• burned books & paintings

The Borgia: First Italian Crime Family

• Pope Alexander VI – bribery, extortion,

nepotism, torture

• Casare Borgia (son)

– multiple murders, mercenary

• Lucrezia Borgia (daughter)– incest? – What really happened

to her husbands?

Effects of the Renaissance

Renaissance Art• perspective• light & motion• study of human form• emotion & drama• new subject matter>secularism• science & mathematics• composition & balance• changing perspective of man & his role in

the world• unique vision of each artist

Effects of the Renaissance• Advances in Science & Technology led to

the European Exploration of the World• Secularism led to the Protestant

Reformation• Humanism encouraged the growth of

Democracy & the Fight for Human Rights• Role of Women in Society Improved• Renaissance Art led to the Age of

Classical Music and Art in Europe