Italy: Birthplace of the Renaissance

Chapter 17 Section 1

I Italy’s Advantages

•Explosion of creativity in Europe known as the Renaissance•Renaissance= rebirth of art and

learning•3 advantages that fostered Renaissance:• Thriving cities•Wealthy merchant class•Classical heritage

A. Urban Centers•Overseas trade spurred by

Crusadeslarge city states in northern Italy• Italy was urban while rest of

Europe was rural•Ppl exchange ideas in cities

making it ideal place for intel. Rev.•Bubonic plague causen econ.

Downstuenmerchants pursued other interests like art

B. Merchants and the Medici• City sttes ran their own affairs collecting taxes &

making armies• Merchants most wealthy & powerfulran politics• Merchants did not inherit status but achieved

it their their own effortindivid. Achievemtn wuld become important Renaisance theme

• Florence under control of Medici family• Made wealth in trade and banking• Medici’s did not hold pol office but controlled

by giving politicians loans’• Medici’s aided the renaissance by supporting the

arts

II Classical and Worldly ValuesA. Classics Lead to Humanism

• Study of classical textshumanism• Focused on human potential and

achievements•Medieval scholars tried to make

classical texts agree w/ Christian thought but Renaissance scholars studied them to UNDERSTANT ancient Greek values•Renaissance scholors studied

classical subjects called humanities

B. Enjoyment of Worldly Pleasures•Humanists suggest ppl can

enjoy life w/o offending god• Renaissance Italy saw

wealthy enjoying luxuries•Basic Renaissance was

secular• Secular= worldly and

concerned w/ the here and now

C. Patrons of the Arts•Renaissance popes

beautified Rome by spending large amounts of $$ on art• Popes became patrons of

the arts•Wealthy fams like Medici’s

supported artists by having their portraits painted or donated public art to the city

D. The Renaissance Man•Educated renaissance ppl were expected to create art• Ideal indvid. Strove to master all areas of study

•Man who excels in many fields is known as “renaissance man”

III Renaissance Revolutionizes Art•Renaissance sculptors used realistic style copied from classical models•Michelangelo= sculptor who glorified the human body

B. Leonardo, Renaissance Man• Leonardo da Vinci was

painter, sculptor, inventor, & scientist (Renaissance man)• Investigated muscle

movement and other nat. things which he incorporated in his art & inventions

•Painted the Mona Lisa & Last Supper

C. Raphael Advances Realism•Learned from studying work of Michelangelo and Leonardo• School of Athens painting

conveys classical influences of the Renaissance

IV Renaissance Writers Change LiteratureA. Machiavelli Advises Rulers• The Prince= examines imperfect conduct of human beings by

examining how a ruler can gain power and keep it in spite of his enemies• Believed idea that most ppl are selfish, fickle, and corrupt• Therefore, Prince must be strong and tricky

• Sometimes trick his ppl for the good of the state

• Not concerned w. what was morally right but what was politically effective