THE RENAISSANCE

1450- 1600

5 minute Journal

You are experiencing a flux in time and are sent back into the

Early middle ages. Describe what you see.

Feudalism, invaders, Islam…

High Middle ages. Describe what you see.

Kings gaining power through political allies, towns, merchant class, guilds,

inquisition, universities, some chivalry, rise of local government, black plague,

hundred years war

LATE MIDDLE AGES AND THE ORIGIN

OF THE RENAISSANCE

1300-1450

The End of Middle Ages

Indirect causes of the end of the Middle Ages:

Rise of Urban Economy/Local Government

Spread of Literacy

Inexpensive Weaponry

Direct causes:

Crusades, Printing Press, Black Death

The collapse of the Eastern Roman Empire

Nomenclature

Named itself

Vergerio thought that only liberal studies could elevate

humanity

Vasari claimed Italian artists and thinkers restored the lost

perfection of art and philosophy from Greece and Rome

John Ruskin would officially name it positively in the late 19th

century as rationalistic art returning to the ideas of pagan

perfection

Francesco Petrarch: father of humanism

Renaissance

1450-1600 AD

Started in 1300’s in Italy but varied in Europe.

It was characterized by a renewed interest in classical (Greek/Roman) ideas & for great works of art in painting, sculpting, music & literature

Quotes for Contemplation

“Only those liberal arts are worthy of free men; they alone can

help us to attain virtue and wisdom…which the ignorance of

the past…has intentionally created.”

“[classical literature is] the only literature whose study helps us

in the pursuit of virtue and wisdom, and brings forth in us those

most sublime gifts of body and mind that ennoble men’s

spirit…”

Pier Paolo Vergerio

Major Tenets of the Renaissance Classicism:

a reflection into the past and a

focus on the works of Greece

and Rome

A belief that these classics could

refine the barbarism of Middle

Ages

Had its origins in monastic life

Universities incorporated Aristotle,

Ptolemy, Galen, and Euclid

The revived interest in the

“classics” sought out manuscripts

which were not being used.

Humanism

How does this statement reflect humanism: “to us alone

has God given the freedom and ability to be whatever

we want, to become whatever we desire, and to achieve

whatever we wish.”

Was this philosophy an extension of the church or was it

opposed?

Major Tenets of the Renaissance

Humanism:

Develop human potential in all areas of life, sees intrinsic value, and

to assert the inherent dignity of each person

Developed in response to the tumult of the dark ages (crusades, black

death, hundred years war) and the lack of personal value

If life is chaotic, people attempt to bring a sense of order to the world

Seen in scholasticism (focus on order and rationality but without the beauty)

Renaissance: the classics helped to develop an interest in the simple beauty in

life (particulars)

Major Tenets of the Renaissance

Statecraft:

Renaissance scholars separated the concept of a “state” from the people in it.

Looked back on the concepts of democracy and republic as presented in the classics

and tried to apply universal rules.

What kind of rules?

Laws

Taxation

Economic

Diplomatic

Public opinion

When to exert force

Italy

Many small divided kingdoms

Charlemagne considered himself King of the Franks and

the Lombard's (northern Germanic area in Italy)

Lothair, Charlemagne’s grandson, controlled northern

Italy

Germany was highly involved in Italian and Papal affairs

(Charlemagne crowned by pope and Otto crowned king of

Italy)

German bishops saw the king as divinely appointed-they chose

clergy rather than the church

Henry III began to extend more influence over the church

affairs

Italy

Communes

Chartered towns with independent government for protection

Investiture Controversy

Italy began breaking away

Peace of Constance

Holy Roman Empire left Italian communes

The Political Framework After Charlemagne's empire was divided,

Germany rose to prominence and controlled

the northern part of Italy.

During the 13th century, Italy warred among

itself trying to break connections with

Germany.

The Italian nobles who lived in the cities

allied with mercantile families often

instituting an oligarchic type of government.

Most famous of these Italian families: The

Medici

Patronage or the Peacocks of the

Renaissance

Families like the Medici could

support artists and authors

Without these families the

Renaissance would not have been as

successful

Why did they support the arts?

Not only supported the humanist

philosophy but made them look

exceedingly good

Collapse of Eastern Empire

In 1453 the Eastern Empire

Collapsed.

Invaded by Ottoman Turks

and displaced scholars of the

Classical Greek and Roman

tradition.

Those scholars headed west.

The Printing Press

Printing began in 1450 with the

publication of the Bible by

Johannes Gutenberg.

The classics could spread

Helped increase literacy as

literature spread in common

languages

Important Writers

Petrarch: First renaissance

man

Ariosto: “Crazed Roland”

Boccaccio: The Decameron

Machiavelli: The Prince and

“La Mandragola”

The ends justify the means

Ficino: combines Plato and

Christian thought

Castiglione: The Courtier

Northern Renaissance Took longer to develop north of Italy

The independent spirit of those in the

north allowed humanism to develop

differently.

This independent spirit directly

influenced the Reformation

Focused on the individual before God

rather than the community

Rejected scholasticism like Italy but

looked at manuscripts of the New

Testament rather than Greek and Roman

documents

Northern Literature

Erasmus: scholar who sought to satirically

expose vice in everyday life and

hypocrisy of those in authority

The Praise of Folly: satire highlighting

how people enjoy foolish behavior

Julius Excluded: a work pointing out the

hypocrisy of Pope Julius II

A “pre” Martin Luther. Despised

religious formalism and the corruption of

the church

More interested in the divine during the Dark Ages and the High

Middle Ages. Beauty isn’t as important as demonstrating the

order of God.

Inquisition and Expulsions of Moors

Expulsion of Moors

Catholic conversion of the New Worlds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRlsHBNpGso

Age of Exploration

1400’s-1700’s