The Black Death, The Italian & Northern Renaissance

The Black Death, The Italian & Northern Renaissance -Key Concepts-

Key questions There are 3 questions that will be asked during the course of the lesson; 1. What is the “Black Death”? 2. What were the consequences? 3. How did it lead to the Renaissance?

The Plague Arrives 1. Possibly took two forms –Bubonic Plague, spread by fleas/rats, or Pneumonic plague spread through germ contact 2. Started near the Black Sea and by 1351, almost all of Europe was infected 3. Historians estimate that nearly 25 million people died (1/3 of world population)

What were the symptoms of the plague?

Economic Impact of the Black Death • Financial business disrupted as debtors died, creditors found themselves without a way to get their money back • Construction projects stopped, no labor force • Whole families died, with no heirs, their houses: empty

Cultural Impact – What Else? • Education/culture suffered as universities and schools were closed or even abandoned. • QUOTE (DO NOT WRITE) - "During this great epidemic of death [in Tuscany] more than eighty died of every hundred, and the air was so infested that death overtook men everywhere, wherever they might flee. And when they saw everybody dying they no longer heeded death and believed that the end of the world was at hand.” • Discussion Question: What words in the text illustrate the seriousness of the Black Death?

Black DeathRenaissance? • Significant loss of life leads to some changes in the late 1300s • Decreased population allowed farmers to grow more food • Food prices decline, people can spend $ on other things • Areas in Europe begin to specialize in products best suited for their environment • Forces regions to trade for the products they did not produce

A Writing Task • "The Triumph of Death”, by Pieter Bruegel reflects the social upheaval and terror that followed the plague that devastated medieval Europe. • With a partner, compose a short paragraph summary on the events in this painting. Use specific scenes from this image to construct your writing.

The Renaissance • Means “Rebirth” • Rebirth of what? • Culture, Art, Science, Ideas & Learning • Inspired by ancient Greek/Roman culture • Grammar, poetry, history – The “Humanities”

Center of the Renaissance - Italy • Present-Day Italy divided into large city-states (see p. 436) • City-states became centers of business/trade with access throughout Europe/Middle East • Catholic Church, Merchants and Artisans were the upper class and dominated society • Knowledge of the arts was a way to display one’s wealth

Humanism • Movement inspired by Roman/Greek Culture • Went against church teaching, stressed individuality and human achievement • Giovanni Boccaccio/Francesco Petrarch • Humanist authors that decided to write in everyday language, not Latin

Secular Writers • Catholic Church no longer served as a source of stability/peace • Focus was SECULAR or worldly vs. traditional religious ideas • Idea of “Renaissance Man” • Educated, person of action, can respond to all situations

Art and Patronage • Wealthy Italians willing to spend a lot of $ on art • Buyers of art, known as patrons, typically were the rich, city governments, church • In city of Florence, the Medici familyprovided $ to artists/intellectuals, etc. Therefore, the consumption of art was used as a form of competition for social & political status!

Charateristics of Renaissance Art

Characteristics of Renaissance Art • Emphasis on the natural world, making as real as possible, focus on the individual • Perspective – creating 3D objects on flat surfaces/showing balance on both sides • Architecture/Scenes from Greek/Roman myths very popular (public buildings, palaces, etc.) • Religious figures were shown but in a “human” way

Renaissance Artists Research – p. 443

Wall Walk Directions • Label the station you are located at. You do not have to write the question. • Discuss the artwork in your small group. • Complete all questions in full and complete sentences. • Add details where necessary • 6 minutes at each station, do not waste time!

Reflection Questions • Please answer in full and complete sentences using the index card provided. • 1. What difficulties do you think Michelangelo faced as he painted the Sistine Chapel? • 2. What was your biggest challenge as you tried to recreate this scene? • 3. How did this simulation show Michelangelo’s brilliance and talent?

Northern Renaissance • By the 1500s, ideas of the Renaissance reaching London, Paris, Amsterdam • Spurred by trade and movement of artists/scholars to Italy then back north

Northern Renaissance • Artists in N. Europe heavily influenced by Italian • However, works reflected a more realistic view of humanity • E.G. Italian – Greek/Roman Gods, Northern – depict real people as they really were • Northern artists fused the everyday with the religious through use of symbolism

Northern Renaissance • Jigsaw Activity • Small groups will be asked to compose a short summary (4-5 bullet points) on Northern Renaissance Individuals. You have 15 minutes to summarize your section then we will share on the whiteboard, each group (representative) will briefly present their findings. Please confirm your work with me before putting on the board. • 1st step – read passage as a group, 2nd – highlight important point, 3rd – finalize important points (5-6 of them) • Johannes Gutenberg, Erasmus, Sir Thomas More, William Shakespeare, Christine de Pisan, Albrecht Durer, Jan van Eyck

Northern vs. Italian Renaissance • Using your teammate, notebook/textbook p. 437, complete the Venn Diagram below by comparing/contrasting the Italian and Northern Renaissance. • Focus on the arts, writers, philosophers, art/writing techniques & subjects • The goal is to have 7-9 items in each portion of the diagram • You have 20 minutes, please begin!

Northern vs. Italian Renaissance • Exit Slip Questions • 1. The printing press was a significant technological achievement that spread literacy and ideas throughout Europe. Are there any inventions today that have transformed society like the printing press? Be specific and explain how. • 2. What contributions did writers and philosophers make to the Northern Renaissance?

The Black Death, The Italian & Northern Renaissance