Italy: Birthplace of the Renaissance I. Italy’s Advantages A. Time period 1300-1600’s A.D.

1. Italy: Birthplace of the RenaissanceI. Italy’s AdvantagesA. Time period 1300-1600’s A.D. • Began in Northern Italy then spread through the rest of Europe • 3 reasons: Thriving cities, wealthy merchant class, and Greek and Roman heritage

2. B. City-States Italy’s cities were the original urban cities. This was a result of the Crusades where merchants made lots of money

3. C. Merchants and the Medici • Merchants became wealthy which enhanced their political power • Medici family became the most powerful banking family in Florence

4. D. Looking to Greece and Rome • Renaissance scholars returned to the learning from the old Greek and Roman manuscripts • As they did this they rejected the old Middle Ages philosophy of suffering

5. II. Classical and Worldly ValuesA. Classics Lead to Humanism • An intellectual movement focused on human potential and achievements • Popularized the subjects of history, literature, and philosophy which are called the humanities

6. B. Worldly Pleasures • Prior to the Renaissance people lived to suffer • The Renaissance taught people that you could enjoy life without offending God • Became more “secular” meaning more worldly and less religious

7. C. Patrons of the Arts • Church leaders began to beautify Rome and other cities with the arts • They became “patrons” of the arts: Financially supporting artists

8. D. The Renaissance Man • A man who excelled in many fields was praised as a “universal man” • He could do anything and strive to do everything

9. E. The Renaissance Woman • Should know the classics and be charming • Should inspire art but rarely create it

10. III. The Renaissance Revolutionizes Art • Renaissance painters used the technique of perspective which shows three dimensions on a flat surface

11. A. Realistic Painting and Sculpture • Artists such as Michelangelo and Donatello created realistic sculptures and paintings

12. B. Leonardo, Renaissance Man • Painter, sculptor, inventor, and scientist • Known for the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper

13. C. Raphael Advances Realism • His favorite subject was the Madonna and child • Learned his style by studying Michelangelo and Leonardo

14. Anguissola and Gentileschi • Two famous female Renaissance artist who expressed emotions in their writing

15. IV. Renaissance Writers Change LiteratureA. Petrarch and Boccaccio • Petrarch was one of the earliest humanists called the father of the Renaissance • Vernacular means to write in one’s own language

16. A. Petrarch and Boccaccio 3. Wrote sonnets in Italian and Latin Languages 4. Boccaciois most famous for writing the Decameron

17. B. Machiavelli Advises Rulers • Wrote the famous book for rulers called The Prince • Began with the idea that people are selfish, fickle, and corrupt • As a result the ruler needed to rule with absolute power and not concern themselves with what is morally correct but with political effectiveness

18. B. Machiavelli Advises Rulers 4. Leaders must sometimes mislead his people and lie to his opponents in order to maintain power. 5. It is better to be feared than to be loved

19. C. Vittoria Colonna • A female writer who gained influence with her writings and poetry