CH. 15 The Renaissance and Reformation

1350-1700 A.D.

The Italian Renaissance• An era of Awakening• Renaissance- “rebirth” Philosophical and Artistic movement and

the era when that movement flourished• Renewed interest in Ancient Greek and Roman literature and Life

• Italian Renaissance Scholars wanted to explore ancient Greek and Roman great achievements• Medieval scholars tried to bring ancient history into harmony with

Christian teachings

• Emphasized the power of human reason and advances were made in the arts and sciences

The Italian Renaissance• Causes:• Ruins of the old Roman Empire reminded Italians of Ancient

Roman glory• Trade and the Crusades

• Byzantine civilization whose scholars preserved ancient Greek and Roman learning

• Trade with Southwestern Asia and Africa helped teach Europeans about African and Arab advancements in science and in Medicine

Differences in Art:

Differences in Literature:• Middle Ages• Scholasticism • Religion• “The Divine Comedy”

by Dante• “The Canterbury

Tales” by Chaucer

• Renaissance• “The Prince” by

Machiavelli • About Government

• Francesco Petrarch• Love poems

The Italian Renaissance• Humanities• Humanities- the study of ancient Greek and Roman literature

focusing on grammar, history, poetry, and rhetoric to become a “well rounded” person in society

• Humanists- people who specialized in the humanities• Literature written in Greek and Latin• Many copies so the scholars need to investigate as to which was the

most accurate copy (sought to verify through investigation) • Christians turned to the Jewish to learn Hebrew

• Important to know how things worked = interest in education• Meaningful life• involved in practical affairs, such as supporting the arts• Many were Christian struggled with preparing for the afterlife but also

living a joyful life with individual achievment

The Italian Renaissance• Italian Renaissance Writers• Classical Education- study of ancient Greek and Roman literature

• Studying the ancient Greeks and Romans works (the Classics) was the distinction of an educated person

• Francesco Petrarch- 1304-1374 Love Poet/teacher/scholar • Considered to be some of the best love poems in literature• Most famous Sonnets to Laura (imaginary ideal woman)• Believed in a full active life but worried that his desire for fame would hinder

his chances at salvation

• Niccolo Machiavelli- 1469-1527 Florentine diplomat and historian• Most Famous “The Prince” described government as it truly was not loft ideals• Ruthless behavior to get ahead – Ruler should only be concerned with power

and political success• Ancient Roman inspiration – Lack of conventional morality- Still humanist just

different “ the ends justify the means”

The Italian Renaissance• Baldassare Castiglione- 1478-1529

• “The Book of the Courtier” most famous book of the Renaissance - about real people, real places but fictional story about how gentlemen and gentlewomen show act in polite society settings

Examples of literature:• Petrarch:

• http://italian.about.com/library/weekly/aa021600a.htm• Machiavelli:

• http://www.sparknotes.com/philosophy/prince/quotes.html#explanation5• Castiglione

• http://italian.about.com/library/weekly/aa021600a.htm• Machiavelli:

• Castiglione's characters opine about how their courtier can impress his audience and win its approval. Similar to the Classical Roman rhetoricians Cicero and Quintillian, Castiglione stresses the importance of delivery while speaking. In Book I, the Count states that when the courtier speaks he must have a “sonorous, clear, sweet and well sounding” voice that is neither too effeminate nor too rough and be “tempered by a calm face and with a play of the eyes that shall give an effect of grace.” (Castiglione 1.33) This grace, or grazia, becomes an important element in the courtier’s appearance to the audience.

The Italian Renaissance• Italian Renaissance Art:• Perspective- life like quality of painting 3Dish, Objects in the

distance smaller than in the foreground. • Huge contrast to medieval art

• No holy land • Real life Italy portrayed in the paintings• Human figures• Realistic figures and images

The Italian Renaissance• Leonardo da Vinci- 1452-1519• Architect, engineer, painter, sculptor, mathematician and scientist• Flying machine and submarine• Drew about plants and the human body• Used his work in science to assist his paintings• http://www.drawingsofleonardo.org/• http://www.leonardodavincisecrets.c• om/http://www.flickr.com/photos/curiousexpeditions/962403346/

The Italian Renaissance• Michelangelo- 1475-1564• Painter and sculptor

• Statue of David and the celling of the Sistine Chapel of the Vatican• Wrote poetry and assisted in the design of St. Peter’s Basilica

The Italian Renaissance• Rafael – 1483-1520• Beautified the Vatican hired by the Pope• Painter- best known for frescos and Madonna’s

• Titian -1483-1520• “The assumption of the Virgin” • 1st to become wealthy from his work

• Giotto- 1276-1337• Realist fly story

• Masaccio- 1452-1519• Realist used light and shadow to create a sense of depth in hos

paintings