The Italian Renaissance

Chapter 1 Section 1

Why Italy?

• Proximity to Byzantines and Mediterranean

• Roman Ruins

• Alps isolation

• Italian city states remained the economic center

• Affluence

Humanism

• Shift in thinking from religious to secular

• Renewal of classical thinking

• Emphasis on the individual

• Renewed emphasis on education

Humanist Literature• Focus on personal feelings

–Petrarch, Boccaccio (Decameron)

• Ambition and Success–Castiglione, Machiavelli (The Prince)

Italian Gov’t• Wealthy families ruled city states

• Wars were costly-practiced diplomacy

• No central gov’t

Florence

• Center for the Renaissance

• Medici Family

• Supported the arts

• Savonarola preached anti-Humanism

Rome

• Pope and cardinals used wealth to rebuild and beautify Rome

• Put political goals ahead of religious ones

Renaissance Arts

• Humanist ideas influenced artists to make art more individualistic

• Biblical and Classical themes mixed

• Wealthy of Italy became great patrons of the arts

• New techniques and approaches

ArchitectureGOTHIC RENAISANCE

Architecture

Sculpture

Painting