Renaissance – “Rebirth” 1350-1550

1. Renaissance – “Rebirth”1350-1550 Return of Greco-Roman Influence

2. Economic Factors • Trade • Banking – Medici of Florence • Patronage – did not just sit on money

3. Trends • Secular period w/ a religious connection • Catholic Church would be a large patron of arts • Italian vs. Northern Renaissance • Humanism – what can humans achieve • Not a mass movement – still social class limits • Will span 200 yrs and affect Europe at different times • Time period will coincide with start of religious wars, new political structures and an age of exploration

4. Italian Politics • Northern cities – communes dominated by merchant guilds – wealthy families – oligarchies • Popolo – disenfranchised • Merchant families used condottieri w/ mercenary armies to rule • Some cities became signori • Rivalries and lack of rights for poor = instability

5. The Italian City-State • Italy’s advantage: geography • Prosperous c-s emerged b/c of trade • 5 Major Powers dominated by 15th century • Milan, Florence, Venice, Papal States, Naples

6. Despotism • Florence: • Cosimo de’ Medici: wealthiest individual, took control of oligarchy (Medici maintained republican forms of government for appearance sake but controlled behind scenes)

7. Despotism • Despots: • job was to maintain order • Frequently assassinated • Ambassadors: created to negotiate among c-s

8. Weakness of the Italian States • 5 major city states controlled smaller states competed for land • Feeling isolated duke of Milan invited the French to intervene • 1494 French King Charles VIII occupied Naples • Italy became battleground between Habsburgs – Valois • No unification til 1870

9. Humanism • Form of Education and culture based on the study of the classics – Greek and Roman • Liberal Studies or Liberal Arts • Petrarch – “father of Humanism” – recovered old texts • Platonic Academy – MarsilioFiciino lectured under patronage of Cosimo de’ Medici • Pico dellaMirandola – On the Dignity of Man – man can achieve all things • Virtu • L’uomo universal

10. Education • Schools with Latin grammar and rhetoric, Roman history and political philosophy • Not a means to an end – theology/philosophy and training for lawyers and physicians – medieval • Goal of education became civic humanism • Women excluded except wealthy who could afford private tutors • Castiglione – The Courtier

11. Political Thought • Machiavelli – favored republican government but saw first hand power politics in Italy • The Prince– function of ruler is to preserve order and security • First to abandon morality as basis for analysis of politics • Founder of modern secular power politics

12. Christian Humanism • Became a vehicle to push the Protestant Reformation • Used “wisdom” to challenge injustice in society • Largely the struggles of the Catholic Church • Thomas More – Utopia – perfect world • Erasmus – Praise of Folly – satire urging for simpler Christian faith • Gutenberg’s printing press increased literacy

13. Renaissance Art • Emphasis on secular themes but did not totally lose religious connection • Classic Greek and Roman ideals • Realism – use of perspective and proportion • Patronized by wealthy merchant class and papacy

14. Northern Renaissance • Van Eyck most popular • Northern art more concerned with Christianity than with Greek and Roman themes • Reflection of turmoil of Protestant Reformation Arnolfini Wedding (Jan van Eyck)

15. "New Monarchies" • 1450s: attempts were made to reestablish centralized power of the monarchy • monarchs obsessed with the expansion of political power & land • Not new concept, but defined beginnings of extension of centralized royal authority

16. "New Monarchies"- FRANCE • Effected by 100 yrs. War • Loss of life • Destroyed farmlands • Unruly nobility • Charles VII • Established royal army • Levied taille (annual direct tax on land) • Gabelle (tax on salt) 1422-1461

17. "New Monarchies"- FRANCE • Louis XI • Known as the “Spider” king • Typically called founder of the French national state • Attained parts of Burgundy • Encouraged growth of industry & commerce 1461-1483

18. "New Monarchies"- ENGLAND • War of the Roses • Broke out in the 1450s • Civil war, placing house of Lancaster (red rose) vs. house of York (white rose) • 1485: Henry Tudor defeated last Yorkist King

19. "New Monarchies"- ENGLAND • Henry VII • Worked to reduce internal disorder • Created Court of Star Chamber: tried to eliminate unfair tactics • Avoided wars (also avoided calling Parliament) • Encouraged commercial activities 1485-1509

20. "New Monarchies"- Spain • Isabella of Castille and Ferdinand of Aragon marry in 1469 • Dynastic union, not political • Both kingdoms maintained own parliaments (Cortes), courts, laws, etc. • Had best army in Europe by 16th century

21. "New Monarchies"- Spain • Ferdinand & Isabella • Recognized importance of controlling the Catholic Church • Secured from pope—the right to select most powerful church officials Wedding portrait, Ferdinand & Isabella 1469

22. "New Monarchies"- Spain Ferdinand and Isabella cont. Introduced Inquisition in 1478…1492 expelled all professed Jews (approx. 150,000 out of 200,000 fled) • 1502 all professed Muslims expelled • “To be Spanish was to be Catholic”

23. "New Monarchies"- HRE Maximilian I cont. • Real success: marriage of his son Philip of Burgundy to Joanna (daughter of Ferdinand & Isabella) • Philip and Joanna had Charles (through a series of deaths, became heir to the Hapsburg, Burgundian, and Spanish thrones) 1493-1519

24. Social Classes • Europe divided into 3 Estates • “pray, fight and work” • Nobility 2-3% but dominate • Book of the Courtier • Fundamental handbook for aristocracy

25. Social Classes The Book of the Courtier—continued… Described 3 attributes: • 1. grace, character, noble birth • 2. participate in military, follow standard of conduct • 3. receive a classical education, play instruments, draw, paint

26. Social Classes • Third Estate - 85-90% of population • Most worked land – little to no power • Some found advancement in cities – but key to understand majority did not benefit from Renaissance

27. Slavery in the Ren. • Second half of the 15thcentury: Italians introduced slavery on a large scale • Used as skilled workers, or household workers • Most slaves were girls: serving as nursemaids • Primarily obtained from the eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea regions • By 16thcentury slavery had declined dramatically

28. Gender Question • Querelle des femmes gains ground during Renaissance • Christine de Pizan • Printing Press • Elizabeth I • Isabella de’ Este – • Patron of Arts

29. Secular Papacy • Pope Alexander VI (1492-1503) • Openly supported 4 sons • Cesare Borgia • Nepotism • Julius II (1503-1513) • Warrior Pope • Tears down St. Peters • Erasmus will criticize him in - Julius Excluded From Heaven • Leo X (1513-1521) • Son of Lorenzo de Medici • Conflicts with Luther

30. Age of Exploration • Europe had been isolated for hundreds of years – now prompted by 3 Gs • New Tech provided the muscle • Competition in Europe led to competition abroad

31. 3 Gs – Gold, God, Glory Resources!!! Central and South America for silver and gold North America for natural resources Africa for Slaves Pre 1517 focus –Europe fighting the Muslims After 1517 focus—spreading Christianity to new lands… you can’t let the heretics get to them first! The more wealth a country had = more power in war! Victory over your enemies was everything!

32. Technology • Compass and astrolabe • Caravel • Ptolemy’s Geography • Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal • Patron of geography and navigation

33. Portugal Leads the Way • 1487 Diaz • 1498 da Gama

34. Columbus • Italian • 90 men • Reached Hispaniola (thought it was Asia) • 100,000 - 300

35. Treaty of Tordesillas 1494

36. Columbian Exchange The contact between the “Old World” and the “New World” that led to an exchange of plants, animals, and diseases that changed life on both sides of the Atlantic.

38. World Economy Begins

39. Commercial Revolution • Population Growth • 70 million in 1500 – 90 million in 1600 • New foods support growing pop • Price Revolution • 16th century Europe experienced inflation in prices • Influx of gold and demand from pop growth • Nation-centered economies as opposed to guilds • Joint-stock companies • Putting out or domestic system • Mercantilism – nations’ power depends on wealth which is tied to favorable balance of trade

40. Consequences • Decline of traditional trade networks • Hanseatic League and Italian city-states lose out to nation-states • Rise of Capitalism • Capital is invested to establish wealth • Private ownership • Rise of Bourgeoisie • Commercial capitalism creates a new middle class • Exploitation of “inferior people” • Rivalries develop between competing nations