Chpt 2Expansion of Trade

Section 2

The Renaissance Begins Renaissance means “rebirth” and

was the rebirth of art and learning in Europe between 1300 and 1600 A.D.

It began in Northern Italy and then spread north

Northern Italy had: Thriving cities A wealthy merchant class The classical heritage of Rome and

Greece

The Crusades and Trade Trade between Venice and other Italian cities

and the East actually began several centuries before the Marco Polo journeys.

Trade happened as a result of a series of religious wars between Christian and Muslim forces. Better known as the Crusades!! The land of Palestine, which contained religious sites

sacred to Jews, Christians, and Muslims, was under Christian control for many centuries.

Middle of the seventh century, this area was taken over by the Turks, who became Muslims.

1095, Pope Urban II began a Christian crusade to drive out the Muslims, and many knights and citizens set out to do battle.

Both sides looked on fighting in a holy war as a way of guaranteeing themselves a place in heaven.

In 1187, Sultan Saladin recaptured Jerusalem, which brought an end to the crusades. Muslims regained their lands!!

Pg. 40-41

The Crusades and Trade Two important results of the Crusades:

Contact with Muslim civilization Trade of goods.

During the time of the crusades, the Muslim world was more advanced than Europe. Because of the travels and contacts, Europeans were exposed to new ideas about medicine, astronomy, philosophy, math, and ancient literature.

Muslim society also believed in teaching Christian and Jewish philosophy, thus advancing their learning.

Trade began to expand, more products became available to the entire world and art, literature, philosophy, creative thought exploded with new ideas.

The Italian City-States: the birthplace of the

Renaissance The Crusades Effects on the Italian City-

States The Crusades spurred trade which brought

people and wealth to northern Italy and led to the development of these large towns

These city-states were the ideal pace to exchange new ideas

The Plague’s Effects on the Italian City-States The Plague reduced populations and shrank

opportunities for business expansion in the city-states, which led wealthy merchants to spend their money on patronizing the arts

The Italian City-States Milan, Florence,

and Genoa The city-states were

separate republics which collected their own taxes and raised their own armies, called hinterland.

Many citizens were highly involved in politics

Wealthy merchants were the most powerful citizens, despite rank

Individual achievement was more important than rank or title

The Success of City-States

Geographic features contributed greatly to the economic success of Florence.

Why did the large cities of Alberta develop where they did?

Dozens of city states grew up across the northern half of Italy , right place right time.

All became the wealthiest cities in Europe.. Aspects of their geography, climate, leadership,

and social organization help to account for their success.

The Success of City-States Geography:

Italy was the closest to the port cities of Northern Africa and the eastern Mediterranean sea.

Spices and luxury goods were available for trade.

Transporting these goods was easier and cheaper for traders in Italian cities compared to other countries.

Climate: Italy has a mild climate compared to cities

north of the Alps, thus trade and travel was not interrupted by weather.

Long growing season produced crops like olives and grapes, which were important for wine and cooking.

The Success of City-States Leadership:

In Northern Italy was a collection of independent states which had their own government, armies, and controlled their own affairs.

Venice, Milan, Florence, and Genoa were the most prominent.

Social Organization: Feudalism was not as strong in Italy as the

rest of Europe. In Italy, many nobles lived in urban society and became involved in business and trade.

Competition for Trade City of Venice was founded in Roman times on a

group of islands in a protected harbour. This site was easily defended from invasion.

Venice became a great trading center as a result of dealings with the east.

At one point, Venetian merchants had thousands of ships travelling the Mediterranean sea and along the Atlantic coast to Northern Europe. The result was Venice becoming the largest ship building center in Europe. This created thousands of jobs and brought wealthy people to Venice.

Genoa, the other maritime power in Italy, also controlled a share of trade and had ports in the Black sea.

Genoa controlled the trade with the Spanish ports of Barcelona and Valencia.

Commerce in the City States

The POLO family were very wealthy merchants that made money by purchasing goods in one place and selling them for a higher price in another.

Because of the Black Death, the economy was devastated. There was high unemployment among the ciompi (wool carders) who did not belong to guilds.

The ciompi wanted to form their own guild but were denied by others, thus leading to the first strike. The ciompi briefly took over the government of Florence, but were eventually defeated by the powerful guilds.

Commerce in the City States

Florentine bankers established banking practices across Europe.

Florence’s economy became so powerful that the golden florin became the most powerful currency during the Renaissance.

Usury, practice of charging interest when loaning money, became very popular through the church and rest of Europe. This was outlawed in the Church originally, but then became common practice as a way to make a lot of money!!

Italian values became very popular throughout Europe.

Business PracticeBusiness Practice

Purpose

Partnership and Joint Stock Company

Used to raise capital (money) for larger projects. Less financial risk to the individual.

Banks Provided money lending services as well as issuing Bills of Exchange.

Bills of Exchange Worked like modern chequing account. Merchant would deposit gold and receive a Bill of Exchange. Could then turn that in for gold at other banks.

Insurance Paid a small fee to insure goods during travel. If goods were damaged or lost, insurance companies pays replacement cost. If goods arrive safely, insurance company keeps the fee. (Called Usury)

The Medici Family in Florence

The Medici’s were an extremely wealthy merchant family in Florence, Italy. Made their fortune as wool and silk merchants and bankers.

They built alliances with other wealthy families, acquired positions in the church, and married into royal families.

1434, Cosimo de Medici controlled the governing council of the city by giving them loans, he then declared himself head of the government and exiled his enemies.

The Medici’s kept total control of Florence while maintaining the appearance of a republican government. Though from the outside Florence looked like a

republic, the Medici’s used their money to buy off the governing council. Made many enemies!

The Medici Family in Florence

Most famous Medici was Cosimo’s grandson, Lorenzo the Magnificent.

He was a patron of literature and art who sponsored Michelangelo, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, and other great thinkers of their time.

Because of their position in society, many Medici’s died violent deaths, some engineered by their own families.

Medici Violent Deaths1478 Giuliano stabbed to

death1503 Piro the Unfortunate

drowned in a shipwreck1526 Giovanni delle Barde

Nere shot and killed attacking the state of Mantua

1535 Ippolito poisoned by order of his cousin

1537 Alessandro assassinated by his cousin Lorenzino

1547 Lorenzino assassinated by his cousin Cosimo 1

1576 Isabella, daughter of Cosimo, strangled in bed by her husband.

Lorenzo de Medici