Reteach for M1 Take Two

1. Reteach for M1 Take Two AP European History Module 1 – Lesson 2 The Renaissance

2. The Italian Renaissance • The Italian Renaissance- in the mid-14th century, as Italy began its recovery from the immense human tragedy of the Black Death, those who had survived began to question the norms and values of Medieval society: carpe diem, “seize the day”. Seeking to enjoy a more secular life, distanced from the often-oppressive social values of the Roman Church, Italians looked to the classical past, to the ancient Greeks and Romans, for inspiration.

3. The Italian Renaissance Humanism • Italian Renaissance Humanism- Renaissance humanists sought to fuse classical and biblical values into a program of scholarly learning designed to ennoble people. There were three great Italian humanists. The first, Dante Alighieri, wrote the Divine Comedy, a political satire in the vernacular. Next was Francesco Petrarch, the “father of humanism”, who brought together classical and Christian values, and famously wrote Letters to the Ancient Dead. Lastly, was Giovanni Boccaccio, who encouraged a post-plague belief on the philosophy of carpe diem, “seize the day”, and assembled a collection of Greek and Roman mythology.

4. Renaissance Art • Italian Renaissance Art- Whereas medieval art tended to be 2-dimensional and expressionless, Renaissance art was natural and emotional. Symmetry and proportionality reflected a belief in the harmony of the universe. New technical skills were also applied to frescos: chiaroscuro, shading to enhance naturalness and linear perspective, adjusting the size of figures to reflect relative spacing and create continuity.

5. The Renaissance - The Political Decline of Italy • Renaissance Italy- Historical Review: After the Middle Ages, many Europeans developed new attitudes and views about the world around them in a period called the Renaissance. This historic period began in the city-states of Italy and eventually spread north into the rest of Western Europe. It was a time of creativity and change—political, economic, social, and cultural. The Renaissance witnessed the rise of a wealthy merchant class, some of whom would establish large international banks and also become patrons of the arts, thus making it possible for some of the greatest works of art, architecture, and sculpture the world has ever seen to be created. • Politics became the domain of competing cities and their wealthy rulers, and the papacy in Italy. One of the most widely read and used books on politics, The Prince, was a guide to rulers on how to gain and maintain power. Its author’s name has become synonymous with ruthless politics—Machiavelli—and the ideas in his book are still debated today. Although the Renaissance is most widely known for the Italian artists of the period, its impact on politics, economics, and other aspects of society was felt throughout Europe and around the world. A class of wealthy merchants became a dominant force in economics, politics, and the arts. The invention of the printing press led to a dramatic increase in information available to the public and contributed to the spread of new ideas, which in turn led to more change through events such as the Reformation, and later Nationalism, Imperialism, and modern-day Globalization.

6. The Renaissance –The Revival of Monarchy in Northern Europe and the Northern Renaissance • Revival of Monarchy in Northern Europe- After 1450, the emergence of truly sovereign rulers set in motion a shift from divided feudal monarchy to unified national monarchies. The feudal monarchy of the High Middle Ages was characterized by the division of the basic powers of government between the king and his vassals. The nobility and the towns people then acted with varying degrees of unity and success through evolving representative assemblies, such as the English Parliament, the French Estates General, and the Spanish Cortes to thwart the centralization of the royal power into a unified nation.

7. The Northern Renaissance • The Northern Renaissance- The scholarly works of northern humanists created a favorable climate for religious and educational reforms. Northern humanism was initially stimulated by the import of Italian learning and by the Brothers of the Common Life, a religious movement that began in the Netherlands and permitted men and women to live a shared religious life. • These humanists, however, developed their own distinctive culture and tended to come from more diverse social backgrounds, as well as being more devoted to religious reforms than their Italian counterparts. They were also more willing to write for lay audiences as well as for a narrow intelligentsia.

8. The Northern Renaissance • Erasmus- The far reaching influence of Desiderius Erasmus, the most famous of the northern humanists, illustrates the impact of the printing press. Through his printed works, Erasmus gained fame both as an educational and as a religious reformer. • Sir Thomas More- Another well-known northern humanist, a close friend of Erasmus’s, and the best known English humanist was Thomas More. His Utopia (1516), a conservative criticism of contemporary society, rivals the plays of Shakespeare as the most read 16th century English work. Utopia depicted an imaginary society based on reason and tolerance that overcame social and political injustice by holding all property and goods in common and requiring everyone to earn their bread by their own work. More became one of Henry VIII’s most trusted diplomats, but was executed at the king’s orders because of his repudiation of the Act of Supremacy and his refusal to recognize the king’s marriage to Anne Boleyn.

9. Northern Renaissance Art • The Northern Renaissance art would develop a character distinct and unique from Renaissance art of Italy. • It was more focused on the teachings of the Church and the rise of middle class values.

10. Works Cited • McKay, John P., and Bennett David Hill. A History of Western Society. 10th[thoroughly Rev.] ed. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martins, 2010. Print.