Italy the Birthplace Italy the Birthplace of the Renaissanceof the RenaissanceSection 1-1Section 1-1

RenaissanceRenaissance

Time period from 1300 to 1600Time period from 1300 to 1600 Was a “rebirth” of art and learningWas a “rebirth” of art and learning Focused on the individual and the Focused on the individual and the

potential for human growth and potential for human growth and achievementsachievements

3 Factors That Gave Rise to 3 Factors That Gave Rise to the Renaissance in Italythe Renaissance in Italy

City statesCity states Wealthy merchant classWealthy merchant class A return to classical Greece and RomeA return to classical Greece and Rome

Italian City-StatesItalian City-States

Italy had many urban centers while the Italy had many urban centers while the rest of Europe was mainly ruralrest of Europe was mainly rural

Cities were places where people Cities were places where people exchanged new Renaissance ideasexchanged new Renaissance ideas

Many people in a central area made it Many people in a central area made it easier for ideas to spreadeasier for ideas to spread

Wealthy Merchant ClassWealthy Merchant Class

The Bubonic Plague killed a large portion The Bubonic Plague killed a large portion of the populationof the population

This left few workers, which allowed them This left few workers, which allowed them to demand better wagesto demand better wages

With little opportunity to expand their With little opportunity to expand their businesses, many merchants turned to businesses, many merchants turned to the artsthe arts

A Return to the ClassicsA Return to the Classics

Renaissance thinkers looked to Ancient Renaissance thinkers looked to Ancient Greece and Rome as sources of Greece and Rome as sources of knowledgeknowledge

Classical societies were viewed as more Classical societies were viewed as more sophisticated than ones from the Middle sophisticated than ones from the Middle AgesAges

Scholars used the Roman ruins around Scholars used the Roman ruins around Italy and Latin texts to study the classics Italy and Latin texts to study the classics

The Power of the The Power of the IndividualIndividual

As scholars studied the classics, they As scholars studied the classics, they began to focus on human potential and began to focus on human potential and achievementachievement

This is called humanism and it became a This is called humanism and it became a center point for Renaissance thinkingcenter point for Renaissance thinking

Renaissance PhilosophyRenaissance Philosophy

Some people began to think of society in Some people began to think of society in a secular or worldly view rather than a a secular or worldly view rather than a religious onereligious one

Many patrons or supporters of the arts Many patrons or supporters of the arts began efforts to beautify Italian cities.began efforts to beautify Italian cities.

The Renaissance Man & The Renaissance Man & WomanWoman

The Renaissance man strove to excel in The Renaissance man strove to excel in all areas of study (athletics, the arts, and all areas of study (athletics, the arts, and intellectual studies)intellectual studies)

The Renaissance woman was expected The Renaissance woman was expected to inspire but not create, to be intelligent to inspire but not create, to be intelligent but not take active roles in societybut not take active roles in society

Leonardo da VinciLeonardo da Vinci

He was the ideal Renaissance ManHe was the ideal Renaissance Man He was a painter, sculptor, scholar and He was a painter, sculptor, scholar and

scientistscientist One of his most famous pieces was the One of his most famous pieces was the

Mona LisaMona Lisa

Changes in LiteratureChanges in Literature

Writers began to write in the Vernacular Writers began to write in the Vernacular which was writing in native language which was writing in native language rather than in Latin (you write in French rather than in Latin (you write in French in France and English in England) in France and English in England)

MachiavelliMachiavelli

A Renaissance writer and author of the A Renaissance writer and author of the Prince – Prince – a political handbook that a political handbook that advised rulers on how to rule their advised rulers on how to rule their subjectssubjects