AP EH CH 12: RECOVERY AND REBIRTH: THE AGE OF THE RENAISSANCE

I. MEANING AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RENAISSANCEA. Jacob Burckhardt

1. Swiss Historian2. wrote Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy in 18603. Renaissance in Italy represented birth of modern world

B. Renaissance (1350-1550)1. means rebirth2. In Italy, a rediscovery of antiquity or Greco-Roman culture took place3. era of recovery after Black Death

C. Characteristics:1. revival of antiquity

a. artb. politicsc. pagan philosophyd. perfecting of the individuale. secularismf. emphasized worth of the individual

2.primarily urban3. primarily limited to upper class

a. wealthy patronsb. artistsc. intellectuals

II. THE MAKING OF RENAISSANCE SOCIETYA. began during an era of severe economic difficultiesB. by the middle of the 15th Century, a gradual economic recovery had

begunC. increase in volume of manufacturing and tradeD. did NOT match economic prosperity of High Middle AgesE. Medici Family

1. made Italian city-state of Florence the birthplace of European Renaissance

2. Medici family controlled the finances within Florence3. had banking houses in Venice, Milan, Rome, Avignon, Bruges,

London, Lyons4. primary bankers of the papacy5. fell into ruin in 1494 due to bad loans6. had property in Florence confiscated by the French

F. Hanseatic League (aka Hansa)1. commercial and military alliance set up off the north coast of

Germany in the 13th Century.2. by 1500, over 80 Northern European Cities belonged to the League

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3. for over 200 years, had monopoly of Northern European trade in several industries including timber, fishing, and metallurgy

4. competition from large territorial states eventually led to League’s decline

G. Technological Advances of the Renaissance1. printing2. mining3. metallurgy

H. Social Classes in the Renaissance1. in the 15th Century, 3rd Estate consisted of peasants, merchants,

and artisans2. slavery was reintroduced largely due to the shortages in labor

caused by the Black Death3. slaves from Africa and Eastern Mediterranean used mainly as

domestic servants and skilled workers in Renaissance Italy4. serfdom declined in Western Europe compared to Eastern Europe5. in the 16th Century, aristocracy still dominated society as it had

done in the Middle Ages6. nobility made up roughly 2 to 3 % of total population in most

European countries7. banquets were used to express wealth and power of aristocratic

familiesI. Baldassare Castiglione (1478-1529)

1. Italian writer2. wrote The Book of the Courtier3. laid out what was expected of an aristocrat including:Aristocrats should:

a. impeccable character and graceb. should participate in the military and physical pursuitsc. must be classically educatedd. must have well developed personalitye. must follow code of conduct

J. The Family in Renaissance Italy1. family played an important role in Renaissance society2. families that were related and bore the surname often lived near

each other and might dominate an entire urban district3. a crime committed by one family member fell on the entire family

(vendetta)4. marriages were arranged by parents often to strengthen business

or family ties5. average age difference between husbands and wives was 13 years

(often led to infidelity)6. Italian families were patriarchal7. women managed the household which gave them a certain amount

of independence in their daily lives8. women were supposed to bear large families

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A. 10% of all women died during childbirthB. mortality rate was 50% for children under 20.

9. charitable action by wealthy families often included giving to the homeless

III. ITALIAN STATES OF THE RENAISSANCEA. by the 15th Century, five major powers dominated the Italian

peninsula1. duchy of Milan

} dominated Northern Italy2. Venice3. Florence } dominated Tuscany4. The Papal States } Central Italy5. Kingdom of Naples } Southern Italy---most residents were

poor and didn’t see any of the benefits of the RenaissanceB. Federigo da Montefeltro

1. ruled independent Italian city-state of Urbino from 1444 to 1482

2. received a classical humanist education in Mantua3. compensated for poverty of Urbino by hiring himself out as

a condottiere (mercenary): surprisingly honest and able4. good ruler who kept his word5. great patron of Renaissance culture6. wife was Battista Sforza

a. ruled competently when husband was absentb. patron of the artsc. well-educated—could speak Greek and Latin

C. Isabella d’Este (1474-1539)1. probably the most famous of the Renaissance-ruling women2. married to the marquis of Mantua3. effective ruler known for her intelligence and political

wisdom4. attracted artists and intellectuals to Mantua5. responsible for amassing one of the finest libraries in Italy.

D. Peace of Lodi (1454)1. ended almost a half century of war in Italy2. ushered in a peaceful era that lasted for 40 years3. good example of an agreement which allowed for a balance of

power between multiple, competing territorial statesE. Italian Political Weakness

1. few Italians conceived of creating an alliance or confederation that could repel foreign invaders

2. Italians were loyal to their petty states not a singular unifying group

3. as a result, Italy was constantly invaded by outside powers4. in the late 15th Century, Italy was being fought over by France

and Spain

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F. Birth of Modern Diplomacy1. modern diplomatic system was product of the Italian

Renaissance2. the modern role of ambassador was developed during this time3. rights of ambassadors in host countries was developed4. proper procedures for conducting diplomatic business was

developed5. purpose of ambassador was to put his state’s interest above all

other interestsG. Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527)

1. best example of Renaissance interest in political power2. civil servant in Florence after the 1494 ouster of Medicis3. forced out of the civil service in 1512 due to pressure from the

French4. wrote the Prince in 1513

a. one of the most famous treatises on political power ever written

b. political ideas stemmed from his preoccupation with Italy’s problems and his knowledge of ancient Rome.

c. Main concerns were acquiring and expanding power to maintain order

d. Believed ends justified means5. considered founder of modern secular power politics

IV. THE INTELLECTUAL RENAISSANCE IN ITALY---the emergence & growth of individualism and secularism as characteristics of the Italian Renaissance are most noticeable in the intellectual and artistic realms

A. Italian Renaissance Humanism1. humanism is the most important literary movement associated

with the Renaissance2. was a form of education & culture based on the study of the

Greco-Roman classics above all else3. the Greek language was a subject of particular interest to 15th

Century humanists4. main effect on the writing of history was the secularization of

historiography and the explanation of change over time (Guicciardini considered best historian of era.)

B. Petrarch (1304-1374)1. considered by many to be the father of humanism during the

Renaissance2. he was the first intellectual to characterize the Middle Ages as a

period of darkness whose people were ignorant of antiquity3. emphasized use of pure classical Latin4. viewed intellectual life as one of solitude

C. Leonardo Bruni (1370-1444)1. humanist & Florentine patriot

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2. used Cicero as a role model3. thought literary creation could & should be fused with political

action4. thought person could only mature by being actively involved in

societyD. Lorenzo Valla (1407-1457)

1. raised in Rome and educated in both Latin & Greek2. became secretary to Pope Nicholas V3. concentrated on critiquing ancient texts4. gained lasting fame by proving that the “Donation of Constantine,”

a document long used by popes to back their claims to temporal power in the west, was a complete papal forgery

E. Poggio Bracciolini (1380-1459)1. born and educated in Florence2. avid collector of manuscripts while papal secretary3. best known for his work Facetiae (collection of jokes)4. believed study of classics was completely compatible with

ChristianityF. Neoplatonism

1. based on the ideas of a hierarchy of substances and spiritual love2. was revived when Marsilio Ficino (Florentine Scholar) translated

many of Plato’s worksG. Corpus Hermeticum

1. Greek work translated into Latin by Ficino upon request of Cosimo d’ Medici

2. contained writings on the occult as well as theological and philosophical speculations of great interests to humanists

H. Oration on the Dignity of Man1. written by Giovanni Pico della Mirandola in the late 1400s as a

preface to his 900 Conclusions2. states that humans could choose to be earthly or spiritual

creaturesI. Education in the Renaissance

1. humanism had a profound effect on education2. primary goal was the creation of well-rounded, virtuous, and

ethical citizens (Renaissance Man)3. emphasized ‘liberal arts’ instruction including:

a. Grammar & Logicb. Greek & Latinc. Poetryd. Mathematicse. Astronomyf. Musicg. Physical Education

4. education was primarily geared to educate the children of society’s elite.

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J. Impact of Printing1. one of the most technologically important advances in the history

of Western Civilization2. printing press was created between 1445 and 1450 by Johannes

Gutenberg perfecting movable type3. democratized literacy in European society allowing new ideas to

spread more quickly in Europe than in other cultures4. helped spur the Protestant Reformation

V. The Artistic Renaissance---------------------------------------------------------A. artists of this era considered the imitation of nature to be primary

goalB. Giotto and Masaccio were early inspiration for later Renaissance

artistsC. Italian artists of the 15th Century began to experiment in areas of

perspective (ex: Paolo Uccello) [below: St. George and the Dragon]---------------------------------------

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D. Florence became an artistic hotbed1. Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510)

a. leading Florentine painter of the late 15th Centuryb. paintings heavily influenced by Greek & Roman

mythology & have other worldly quality (ex: Primavera)

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2. Donato di Donatello (1386-1466)a. leading Renaissance sculptorb.Studied & copied the statues of antiquityc. most famous work is his statue David

d. work radiated a simplicity and strength that reflected the dignity of humanity

e. did work commissioned by Medici family

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3. Filippo Brunelleschi (1377-1446)a. friend of Donatellob. drew inspiration from Roman architectsc. his design at the Church of Lorenzo with classical

columns & rounded arches stood in stark contrast to the medieval cathedrals with their Gothic features

d. did work commissioned by the Medici family

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E. High Renaissance Artists--Three artists dominated the High Renaissance they were:

1. Leonardo da Vincia. transitional artist from the early to high Renaissanceb. Stressed the need to advance beyond almost scientific

realism and began later era’s focus of the idealization of nature

c. Last Supper (1498)is a great example of what da Vinci found important

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c. 1487 Study of proportions (Vitruvius Man)c. 1503-04 Mona Lisa

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2. Raphael (1483-1520)a. by 25 was already considered one of Italy’s best paintersb. achieved fame early in his career for various paintings of the

Madonnac. definitely try to idealize nature in his worksd. School of Athens (1510-1511)an example

e. known for frescoes in Vatican

3. Michelangelo (1475-1564)

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a. painter, sculptor, & architectb. influenced by Neoplatonism (ex: ceiling of Sistine Chapel

[1509-1512])c. idealized human form (Views: floor view, left, left center, right

center, right)

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d. beauty equated with Godlinesse. David (1501-1504) was a 14ft. marble statue commissioned by Florentine Gov’tf. largest Italian sculpture since Roman times

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--All three were seen as artistic geniuses--profited greatly from their endeavors--Medici family must be counted among the great patrons of arts during this timeF. Northern European Artists

1. unlike in Italy where the human form became the primary vehicle of expression, Northern artists of the Renaissance focused more on illuminated manuscripts and wooden panel paintings.

2. were masters at rendering detail (not very interested in perspective)

3. placed great emphasis on the emotional intensity of religious feeling

4. Jan van Eyck (1390?-1441)a. among the first artists to use oil paintb. oil paint allowed artists to paint with more detailc. Giovanni Arnolfini and His Bride known for attention

to detail

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5. Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528)a. German artists who blended the attention to detail of

Northern artists & the perspective and proportion of the Italians.

b. Self-Portrait at 28 (1500)c. Adoration of the Magi (1504)good example of this

blending

G. Music in the Renaissance1. the dukes of Burgundy of Northern Europe were among the

greatest patrons of Renaissance music.2. the dukes attracted some of the greatest artists and musicians of

the day including the great French composer Guillaume Dufay (1400-1474)

3. Dufay was one of the first to use secular tunes in place of Gregorian chants in mass

4. the Renaissance madrigal was a poem set to music with origins in 14th Century Italy

VI. The European State in the Renaissance--rulers began checking the violent activities of their nobles--rulers emphasized the need for order--power became more centralized--first examples of the modern secular state began to emergeA. New Monarchies

1. often obsessed with acquisition and expansion of power2. reestablished the centralized power of monarchial governments3. attempted to control the church within their national borders4. demanded loyalty from people living within boundaries5. FRANCE

a. Hundred Years’ War reinvigorated and strengthened the French Monarchy

b. Charles VII (1422-1461)c. Used the war as the reason to strengthen royal authorityd. gained control of the purse strings from Estates-General

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e. Through Pragmatic Sanction of Bourges (1438), he gained substantial control over Roman Catholic Church activities in France

f. Louis XI (1461-1483)1. called the Spider because of his clever and devious ways2. strengthened royal authority and control of purse strings3. encouraged growth of commerce & industry4. eventually consolidated various noble lands under his

control6. ENGLAND

a. Hundred Years’ War caused economic turmoil and strengthened nobility in England

b. Hundred Years’ War brought about a civil war in England (War of the Roses)

c. Lancasters (Red) vs. Yorks (White)d. Henry Tudor defeated Richard III (last York king) at

Bosworth Field and founded Tudor dynastye. Henry VII (1485-1509)

1. established a strong central government2. weakened power of nobility by eliminating their private

armies3. established Star Chamber to deal with problem nobles4. very successful at extracting income from royal lands,

judicial fees and fines, and custom duties5. kept taxes low by using diplomacy to avoid wars6. encouraged commercial activity

7. SPAINa. emerged from wars with Muslim Moors with Spain fractured into several independent Christian kingdomsb. Isabella of Castile (1474-1504) & Ferdinand of Aragon (1479-

1516)1. marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella in 1469 helped put

Spain on path of reunification2. kingdoms of Castile & Aragon still operated separately3. bureaucrats replaced nobility in government posts in

both kingdoms4. monarchy strengthened5. formed national militia to check noble power6. given power to select high ranking church officials within

Spain-----------------------------------7. persecuted and expelled Muslims and Jews8. enforced religious orthodoxy through Inquisition9. grandson of Isabella and Ferdinand, Charles I, became

powerful monarch of a mostly unified Spain8. HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE

a. failed to develop strong monarchial authority

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b. after 1438, Hapsburg family controlled H.R.Ec. use dynastic marriages to come to power

1. Frederick lll (1440-1493)a. lost Bohemia & Hungaryb. gained Franche-Comte in east-central France,

Luxembourg, and a large part of low countriesc. new territories made them a powerd. Brought undying opposition of the French who feared

Hapsburg encirclement 2. Maximilian I (1493-1519)

a. efforts to centralize power failed due to strong opposition from German nobility

b. marriage alliances only real successc. grandson Charles I became the head of the royal

houses of Burgundy, the Hapsburgs, & Spaind. independent princes developed bureaucracies &

standing armies which posed a threat to the power of the H.R.E. & church

9. EASTERN EUROPEa. rulers struggled to achieve centralization of their territorial

statesb. much Polish history centered on disputes between crown &

nobilityc. Russia was just coming out from under yolk of Mongols

10. BYZANTINE EMPIREa. threatened by the steadily advancing Ottoman Turksb. by the 13th Century Ottoman Turks spread rapidly seizing

lands in Asia Minor from both the Seljuk Turks and the Byzantine Empire

c. Constantinople was overrun in 1453d. By the end of the 15th Century, the Ottoman Turks

threatened H.R.E.11. THE CHURCH AND THE RENAISSANCE

a. patronized Renaissance cultureb. participated in temporal authority & interestc. fought church councilsd. was often seen as debauched, especially under Pope

Alexander Vl

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