The Renaissance & Humanism

Transition to RenaissanceOut with the old:• Feudalism• Catholic Church• Fiefs• Isolationism• Peasants

In with the new:• Nation/City

States• Secularism• Towns• International

Trade• Middle Class

An Age of Transition & Recovery

Plague Crusades 100 Years War Collapse of

Feudalism Decline of the

Church

The World was ready for a new attitude of optimism

“Rebirth” starts in Italian City-States

MilanVeniceFlorence

Cosimo de’ Medici Lorenzo de’ Medici

Rome Pope and Cardinals

Why did Italy experience the Renaissance first?

Renaissance Italy was a collection of city-states

Trade created a wealthy upper class Actively pursued

personal interests Patronage moved from

the Church to individuals

Rebirth of interest in their Roman past

Result of the Decline of Church Power

A secular (non-religious) viewpoint emerged

Ended the Church’s monopoly on education

Culture shift Vernacular songs Instrumental music Dances

Humanism The term generally applied to the

philosophy of the Renaissance Focused on human aspects of culture,

society, and values Revived the classical studies of Greece

and Rome

Humanism in Politics

Humanists believed their services should be used by the state

Goal was to produce complete citizens who could contribute to civic life

Humanism in Education Humanism focused on educational

Liberal Arts History, philosophy, rhetoric, grammar,

logic, poetry, math, astronomy, music Military Arts

Javelin, archery, running, wrestling, hunting, swimming, military strategy

Geared primarily towards elite males

Humanistic Literature Classical (Greek and Roman)

manuscripts collected, translated, and printed

Revived ancient literary forms: Dialogue, essay, comedy, tragedy, &

ode History, biography, moral philosophy,

& political theory

Reinforcing the Renaissance

Columbus discovers the new world

Guttenberg’s printing press makes knowledge easy to distribute

Copernicus and Galileo’s heliocentric universe