THE RENAISSANCE1300-1650

What was the Renaissance?

• The “rebirth” of learning that took place after the Middle Ages (aka the Dark Ages)

• Many great works of art, literature and philosophy were created

• This ends up leading to important changes in religion as well (the Reformation)

Why do we study the Renaissance?

• Art & Architecture of the time is still admired and copied today.

• People still argue about the best ways to get and keep power – a topic of Machiavelli’s The Prince

• Shakespeare’s plays are still as popular today as they were when he wrote them

• Mass production of books was created during this time• Christianity radically changed setting off tensions between

many Christian groups that still exist today

Take a look at this map

What’s different on this map, than on our map of Europe today?

Why Italy?

• 3 Reasons

1. Thriving Cities

• Trade created by the crusades led to growth for Italian cities

• They are the easiest place to share/spread ideas

2. Wealthy Merchant Class

• Trade=wealth=rich merchants=political power

• Believed they deserved power because of their individual merit – not who their ancestors were.

• Most famous – Medici Family of Florence.

3. Classical Heritage of the Greeks & Romans

• Learn from their ancestors

HUMANISM

• Idea which focused on the importance of individuals and human society

Focus of Renaissance: Humanism

• Individual worth• Importance of human achievement• Importance of the human experience

• Not anti-religious, but less based on religion as a philosophy

Humanism’s Effects on Art

Led to: • Realism• Focus on the human form• Emotion• Unique representations of

human faces

Humanism’s Effects on Politics

• Emphasized independent states instead of a community of Christendom

• Led to progress – change seen as driven by people, not God

Humanism’s Effects on Knowledge

• Led to increased education

• More reading and literature

• Scientific Advancements

Medieval Art

• Religious subjects

• Important figures larger than those around them

• Lack of realism• Faces show no

emotion• Scenes

composed, not real

Renaissance Art

• In Renaissance Art we begin to see:– Perspective– Return to nude figures,

naturalism– Realism (proportion &

balance)– Nature– Non-religious subjects

Effects of the Renaissance

Changes in the arts reflect growth of humanism Peoples’ view of life changed Advances in printing made more information

available – rise in literacy People begin to question authority –Religion –Political structures