I. The Italian I. The Italian

RenaissanceRenaissance Intellectual movement began in Italy Intellectual movement began in Italy in 14in 14thth c. c.

2 key characteristics:2 key characteristics:1. extreme hostility to culture of 1. extreme hostility to culture of

Middle Ages Middle Ages 2. fascination with the ancient 2. fascination with the ancient

world world

Renaissance was the first, to Renaissance was the first, to use the term "Dark Ages" to use the term "Dark Ages" to describe the period after the describe the period after the fall of Rome.fall of Rome.

Why might they have used the term Why might they have used the term Dark ages?Dark ages? Fascination with the ancient Fascination with the ancient

civilizations led to an civilizations led to an increasing literacy in Latin increasing literacy in Latin &Greek&Greek

Italian Renaissance cont.Italian Renaissance cont.Main emphasis of Renaissance centered around individual & potential of human nature

Initially, was restricted to small group of educated elites (upper class), but it spread out to other social classes

Renaissance marks the beginning of the modern world

II. Why did it begin in Italy?II. Why did it begin in Italy? Northern Italian cities led way in economic revival of 12th & 13th c. - art flourishes in a society with $$$

Florence, especially, at end of 13th c. became bankers to the pope

Italian middle classes wanted to ‘show off’ pride in their city states

Nobles lived in cities, so ideas could spread more rapidly than in isolated manors of northern Europe

III. ArtIII. ArtPaintings became popular Paintings became popular because cheaper to produce because cheaper to produce than mosaicsthan mosaics

Gold leaf that adorned Gold leaf that adorned paintings of Middle Ages paintings of Middle Ages disappeared & cost of disappeared & cost of paintings decreasedpaintings decreased

More people able to display More people able to display art, thus increasing social art, thus increasing social status status

Art cont.Art cont. Church commissions artwork to adorn chapels & cathedrals

Virgin Mary was often painted surrounded by worldy objects

Why do you think the Virgin Mary would be portrayed with ‘worldly’ objects?

Geometry & science/anatomy infused into new artistic techniques

What examples of scientific & geometric influence can you describe?

• John the Baptist - Donatello

The Sistine Chapel in Rome

- Michelangelo

The Coronation of the Virgin

- Raphael

The Last Supper - da Vinci

The School of Athens - The School of Athens - RaphaelRaphael

IV. HumanismFocused on human achievements & potential rather than religious themes.

Focused on man and his world.Concentrated on everyday human problems & relationships.

Focus on pleasure rather than morality.

Petrarch - father of Humanism

IV. Humanism cont.Secular nature of humanism, brought it into conflict with traditional teachings of Catholic Church

Northern Humanists stressed education & classical learning, however, unlike Italian humanists, emphasized religious themes.

V. Renaissance WritersV. Renaissance WritersBegan to use vernacular (native language) instead of classical Latin.

Machiavelli, wrote The Prince, a handbook for behavior.

Machiavelli was political philosopher

‘The Prince’ advised kings how to rule.

VI. Printing Press1456 - Johann Gutenberg printed bible using movable metal type on machine called Printing Press.

Printed books became cheaper & easier to produce than hand copies.

VI. Printing Press cont.Now, readers gained access to broad range of knowledge (Medicine to Religion)

Printing press would greatly contribute to spread of new ideas & Protestant Reformation.