What was the Italian Renaissance? The word renaissance has its origins in Latin and in French literally means rebirth. This term carries with it many meanings and historians differ as to how they interpret and understand the Renaissance. For some it implies a spirit of self­discovery, recognition of human worth, and a dynamic outpouring of creative activity embodied in the work of great Renaissance humanists and artists such as Giovanni, Leonardo de Vinci, and Michelangelo. Other historians highlight how the Renaissance was a period of rebuilding, when Europe was slowly recovering from the worst ravages of the Black Death. This plague, spread by rats and Elees, devastated Europe and killed off about 1/3 of the population. Here we see the term rebirth associated with the word recovery, which means "to recuperate from some unhappy condition or to regain something that has been lost."      However, if the Renaissance was a rebirth or a period of recovery, we must ask ourselves a rebirth or recovery from what? In this sense, the Renaissance can be understood as a period of time from the early 1400's to the later 1500's when Europe was recovering from the disastrous 14th century (1300s) described by one historian as "a violent, tormented, bewildered, suffering, and disintegrating age; a time, as many thought, of Satan triumphant."      As a way to enter into the world of the Italian Renaissance, the documentary Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance provides a insight into some of the central characteristics and developments during this period. Inquiry Task #1: Ensuring that you are interacting with the knowledge gained from the Medici documentary, take notes on on the nature of political, cultural, and artistic life in Florence during the 1500's? What are some of the major elements of worldview evident in the behavior of people at this time?

The Italian Renaissance

Purpose of this digital resourceThis digital resource is meant to serve a number of purposes. Firstly, it is meant to house within one space a collection of the best resources including documentaries, YouTube links, historical maps, and art to help us enter into the world of the Italian Renaissance. In this way, it is meant to overcome the problem with purely text‐ based resources such as the traditional textbook that are deathly boring for students and additionally fail to provide the images necessary for the formatin of their education.      Beyond this, the resource has Eiltered the subject of the Renaissiance through various approaches to social studies and provides a series of inquiry tasks informed by particular theories of learning. See page 4 for a list of the inquiry tasks interspersed throughout  each section. This resource is split into two sections. The Eirst sets the groundwork for a second inquiry project that asks students to make connections between the Renaissance and our own time in order to consider whether Calgary possesses the necessary conditions to become a Renaissance city. As a culminating activity students will lead a citizenship initiative at City Hall communicating how we as a community could help foster a Renaissance in Calgary today. 

Humanities 8 Digital Textbook and Inquiry Guide

Calgary: Renaissance City

or Medieval Village?

A Period of Prosperity The period between the 11th and the 13th centuries was a time of relative prosperity in Europe. During this period trade began to grow and many towns became more densely populated. Due to increased road networks, previously isolated towns and villages became linked together, increasing trade. Given all this, the feudal structure limited movement of people who generally stayed within their manor.

The Black DeathThe Black Death or Bubonic Plague wiped out a full 33% of the European population. This along with widespread famine and war made the 14th century a time when many thought Satan had triumphed in the world.

RomeRoman achievements included uniting Europe, parts of the Middle East and Africa into a single administration, the building of a large infrastructure including roads, massive aqueducts that carried water to cities, and a plentitude of grand buildings.

The Dark AgesAlthough it was actually historians during the Renaissance that coined the terms the Middle Ages and the Dark Ages, there is little doubt that this period was a time of war, oppression, famine, and political chaos. Roads fell into disrepair and the economy went back to the pre-Roman state of purely subsistence agricultural and herding.

Historical Background Europe Emerges from the Darkness (11th-13th Century)The form of political and social organizations that took hold during this chaotic time was known as feudalism. Starting around 1000 AD, aided by a period of global warming and the rebuilding of road networks, Europe began to recover from this so‐called “dark age”. 

Europe is Plunged into a Holocaust (14th Century)The 14th century can be seen as one of the most horrific periods in European history. A series of calamitous events wreaked havoc on the population. These included the Black Death, The 100 Yearsʼ War, famine, and a generalized political breakdown and chaos across all parts of Europe.

Fall of Rome (410 AD)To understand the Renaissance, we Eirst need to go all the way back to the fall of Rome, the largest and most glorious Empire the Western world had ever seen. Leading Renaissance Eigures looked to Rome and its glorious achievements as an inspiration to live up to and recreate in the Renaissance.  

A Dark Age Descends Upon Europe (5th to 10th Century)After various so‐called Barbarian tribes overran and carved up the Roman Empire among themselves, Europe  went through what historians have variously termed The Middle Ages, The Medieval Period, or The Dark Ages (watch until 6:00).  

Now that we have entered into the world of 15th‐16th century Florence during what has become known as the Renaissance, let us take a step back to better understand the historical period that preceded this time of recovery and rebirth. 

Note Italy’s central position between Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Additionally notice how the Alps act as a natural border shielding Italy from the rest of Europe.

Note the fragmentation of Renaissance Italy into small city state regions. It took another 400 years before Italy was united as a single nation.

The Seeds of the Renaissance are PlantedBe careful though young travelers, as many historians disagree that the period before the Renaissance was a dark age. In fact the seeds that would lead to the Renaissance were planted long ago and involve the contributions of  Islamic and Chinese civilizations that were far more advanced than Europe at that time.  There are four essential developments that led to the revival of ancient Greek and Roman thought, an explosion of creativity, and new models for living in the world during the Renaissance. The Crusades exposed Euoropeans to a much more sophisticated Islamic Empire and recconnected them with the ancient Silk Road. The results of this were profound as Europe was now opened up to a much wider world and was able to recover much of the learning and knowledge lost during the Dark Ages.   

The Roots of the RenaissanceOne of the central developments that set the stage for a Renaissance in Europe was the Crusades (see pp. 20‐21 in Our Worldviews textbook).  Partly to channel the aggression of knights and the nobility who spent much of their time killing each other, Kings and the Catholic Church encouraged and funded military campaigns to Jeruselum in order to reclaim the Holy Land from the Muslim ‘inEidels’.        Here, Europeans, when they weren’t slaughtering and pillaging in the name of God, came into contact with an Arab world that had gone through a Renaissance during a Golden Age in the 11th 

century. During this time, in what is now modern Baghdad in Iraq, Arabic scholars invented algebra as well as translated all the major works of classical Greece into Arabic. This 

was essential for the rebirth of Ancient Greek thought in Europe, as much of this learning had been lost during the Dark Ages (see page 18 in the textbook).           Beyond opening up European thought to a wider world, the Crusades reconnected Europe with ancient trade routes including the Silk Road (click on maps and also see pages 16‐17 in the textbook). The reconnection with these routes reignited trade and brought goods from Asia and the Middle East to Europe. This included important 

innovations that had been invented in China such as paper and gunpowder which were necessary for the invention of the printing press and guns in Europe. The Einal development that sparked the Renaissance was the fall of the Byzantine Empire (starts at 1:00‐2:00+) by the Turks and the resulting migration of scholars to Europe.         

Complete Inquiry Tasks #2­4 (see top of page 4 under list of inquiry tasks)

Importance of Geography

Michelangelo Paints the Sistine ChapelPerhaps no other piece of art has invoked so much awe as Michaelangeloʼs fresco on the roof of the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican. To this day one can gaze up at the Biblically inspired God breathing life into Adam and wonder at the ability of one man to carry out such artistic vision.

Inquiry Task #7: What are the three biggest differences between the medieval paintings of Madonna and Child and the paintings from the Renaissance? How does this reElect a differing worldview?

The Sketchbook of Leonardo da Vinci Leonardo mastered the human form in his paintings through dissecting bodies he dug up from graveyards.

In learning about the life of Leonardo da Vinci we can also learn much about how the worldview of Humanism combined with the dynamic realities of Florence during 15th and 16th centuries to  encourage and foster a new exploration into man and the world. 

Inquiry Task #8: How did the rise of Humanism lead to the rise of science and technological inventions? How does Leonardo’s life embody the ideal of the Renaissance man?

School of Athens In this painting Raphael depicts Plato and Aristotle in the image of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci to demonstrate the rebirth of these great thinkers in the present.

Inquiry Task#5b: Drawing on what you have learned about the Humanists, after watching Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, how do you think Humanist thinkers would have interpreted the symbols in this story? (half page reponse-provide justifications and supporting details based on what you have learned)

The Printing PressNo invention was more important than the printing press in upending the feudal order and the hold of the Catholic Church on both power and the thinking of people during this time. Ultimately, it would lead to the Protestant Reformation and a split in the once united Catholic Christian Europe.

Inquiry Task #6: Noting the impact of the printing press on society, what do you think were the three greatest effects of this invention on the Medieval world? Provide a justification for your answer including the role it played in sparking an upheavel in the Medieval order.

Characteristics of the Italian RenaissanceNow that we have a better understanding of the historical background and key developments that allowed a period of recovery and rebirth to occur in northern Italy and then spread to the rest of Europe, let us explore more deeply exactly what we mean when we say “the Renaissance.” To achieve this we will inquire into six areas integral to the character, spirit, and makeup of this period of dynamic creative activity and innovation: Humanism/the rebirth of Greek and Roman thought, art, communication, science/technology, commerce/trade, the city planning of Florence, and the political organization of Italian city states. Although, we will touch on each of these areas together, individual groups will be asked to research a specific topic area and inquire into the major changes that were taking place within your area at this time. Once completed, you will then have an opportunity to meet with an expert in your topic area and inquire into whether the changes and developments you learned about during the Renaissance are occurring in Calgary today. As a culminating activity you will be asked to create a tri-fold and presentation identifying Calgaryʼs potential as a Renaissance city and what specific initiatives we could take to become a Renaissance city.

A Dynamic Outpouring of Artistic Activity If there is one area associated with the Renaissance it is art. During this period, Florence became a cauldron of creativity where rich patrons supported some of the greatest and most original pieces of art the Western World has ever seen. To this day visitors marvel at the artistic achievements of this era.

The Rise of Science and Technological InnovationPartly due to the Humanist focus on man and this world rather than the afterlife, during the Renaissance there was a growing interest in, and freedom to explore the natural world. For example, artists such as Leonardo, dug up and studied dead bodies in order to gain a greater understanding of human physiology.

The Rebirth of Antiquity and the Rise of HumanismOne of the deEining elements of the Renaissance was a search for new models for living that departed from the medieval worldview. These new models drew inspiration from Ancient Greek and Roman thought. By the 15th century, poets, scholars, and thinkers began spreading their ideas Eirst in Northern Italy, and then to all parts of Europe. These people were known as Humanists. This recovery of the glories of ancient Greece and Roman thought provided Humanists with a model to guide all aspects of life including art, ethics, and politics.  

Changes in Communication Another key characteristic of this time was the invention of the printing press. Although the impacts of this invention came in the latter part of this period, changes in communication helped spread what was primarily a movement in Northern Italy to all parts of Europe. It also worked to upend the hold of the Catholic Church on peopleʼs thinking.

Oration on the Dignity of Man “We have made thee neither of heaven nor of earth,Neither mortal or immortal,So that with freedom of choice and with honor,As thought the maker and molder of thyself,Thou mayest fashion thyself in whatever shape thou shalt prefer.Thou shalt have the power out of thy soul's judgment,to be reborn into the higher forms, which are divine.”

‐Giovanni Pico Della Mirandola

Inquiry Task #5a: What can we learn about the worldview of the Humanists based on Giovanni’s famous passage from the Oration on the Dignity of Man?

Hint: Reading humanistic subjects provided a “classical education” and developed what may be called human qualities. “Horses are born,” it was said, “but human beings are not born‐they are formed.”

Machiavelli To this day the word “machiavellian” is associated with gaining and keeping power at all costs even if it means murder and assassination.

What makes Renaissance politics so interesting is how the city states never had one king as a ruler. Rather, rival merchant families continually vied for power.

Inquiry Task #10: What can Machiavelli's book The Prince tell us about the realities of politics in Italian city states? Why might he have come to the conclusions he did?

Final Inquiry Task:Choosing one of the topics explored above (i.e. art, commerce, science), create a digital textbook similar to this one (include brief summaries, pictures, links to videos, primary source material etc.). Your textbook should respond to the following questions:i) What major developments or

innovations occurred in your topic area?

ii) What were the conditions or primary causes that led to these developments?

iii) Present and explain one example that powerfully illustrates the key innovations and changes in your topic area.

Venetian Trade RoutesThrough a complex network of trading houses, Venetian trade penetrated to all parts of Europe.

So far we have looked at mainly Florence as the central city in the Renaissance, however other northern Italian city states contributed to the Renaissance as well. Venice and Genoa were also central to both the revival of trade and the resulting flow of money into the city that allowed wealthy merchants to sponsor the arts.

Inquiry Task #9: What major innovations in trade and changes in the economy were most responsible for creating such wealth and expansion of trade during this time? (Draw on pages 34-44 in your Our Worldviews textbook to respond to this question)

Florence Why was it that a city of only 100,000 produced some of the most creative and innovative works of art and inventions the world has ever seen?

What was it about the make-up of Florence that made this such an innovative and creative place. Using google earth, travel to Florence, Italy, whose centre remains very similar to Renaissance Florence, and consider some of the major features of how the city is laid out. What might be the relationship between the creation of new ideas and the organization and planning of a city?

Renaissance Politics: Welcome to the JungleNo other thinker and book more embodies Renaissance politics than Machiavelli's the Prince. His book basically amounts to “a how to manual on to get power and keep it.” Machiavelli understood that no leader could survive for long without resorting to the most brutal means at his disposal. In Renaissance politics there was no room for mortality as only the most cunning, heartless, and unethical survived in the snake pit of Italian politics.

Final Assessment Now that we have journeyed to the Italian Renaissance, as a final summative assessment, in short essay form, you will be asked to respond to the following questions: i) What was the Italian Renaissance?ii) How was it possible that Florence during the 16th century became the center of the biggest explosion of creativity and innovation the Western World has ever seen?

An Expansion of Trade and CommerceDuring the Renaissance powerful city states became the center of trade within Europe, connecting east with west, south with north. It was through this wealth that much of the art and innovation that occurred during the Renaissance became possible.

FlorenceEvery age has a place that becomes the center of creativity and innovation which radiates outwards, influencing and inspiring others to re-imagine the established order and usher in a new way of living and doing things. In the 1500s that place was Florence.

List of inquiry tasks:Part 1 Background Knowledge:Inquiry Task #1: Ensuring that you are interacting with the knowledge gained from the Medici documentary, take notes on on the nature of political, cultural, and artistic life in Florence during the 1500's? What are some of the major elements of worldview evident in the behavior of people at this time?

Inquiry Task #2: Drawing on the various series of mini-docs starting from Rome to the fall of the Byzantine Empire, create a historical timeline of the major events, developments both inside and outside of Europe, leading up to the Renaissance.

Inquiry Task #3: Using the European Renaissance map, note the political borders of mid-15th century Europe. Further noting the political make-up of Europe today, what are the two biggest similarities and differences between Renaissance and modern Europe? How might Italy’s geographic location and political makeup have contributed to an increase in trade and innovation?

Inquiry Task #4: Drawing on the events outlined in your timeline, rank in order of historical significance and provide a justification for the three events/developments you think are most responsible for fostering a Renaissance in Northern Italy.

Part 2 Character and Makeup of the Italian Renaissance:Inquiry Task #5a: What can we learn about the worldview of the Humanists based on Giovanni Pico Della Mirandola’s famous passage from the Oration on the Dignity of Man?

Inquiry Task#5b: Drawing on what you have learned about the Humanists, after watching Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, how do you think Humanist thinkers would have interpreted the symbols in this story? (half page reponse-provide justifications and supporting details based on what you have learned)

Inquiry Task #6: Noting the impact of the printing press on society, what do you think were the three greatest effects of this invention on the Medieval world? Provide a justification for your answer including the role it played in sparking an upheavel in the Medieval order.

Inquiry Task #7: What are the three biggest differences between the medieval paintings of Madonna and Child and the paintings from the Renaissance? How does this reflect a differing worldview?

Inquiry Task #8: How did the rise of Humanism lead to a revolution in science and technology? How does Leonardo’s life embody the ideals of the Renaissance man?

Inquiry Task #9: What major innovations in trade and changes in the economy were most responsible for creating such wealth and expansion of trade during this time?

Inquiry Task #10: What can Machiavelli's book The Prince tell us about the realities of politics in Italian city states? Why might he have come to the conclusions he did?