Renaissance and Reformation: Europe’s Transformation

1. Renaissance and Reformation

2. Review- Medieval Europe • After the Roman Empire fell, Europe fell into darkness • no trade • no education • constant wars between lords • Feudalism emerges Feudalism- rigid social system based on the exchange of loyalty and service for land and protection

3. Review- Medieval Europe • Most powerful force in Medieval Europe- The Roman Catholic Church • Maintained power by threatening excommunication and interdiction • In Eastern Europe, the Byzantine Empire develops, along with a different form of Christianity- Greek Orthodox • Didn’t believe in the authority of the pope, priests allowed to marry • Disagreements lead to the Great Schism in 1054

4. Review- Medieval Europe • The Crusades began when Muslim Ottomans invaded the Byzantine Empire • Greek Orthodox Christians turned to the Pope for help, and he sent thousands of Roman Catholics to dispel the Muslims and reclaim the Holy Land • The Crusades occurred over hundreds of years and through a series of wars. They were not successful. • Effects: expanded trade between Europe and the Middle East, new technologies and ideas spread from Islamic Kingdoms to Europe

5. Review- Medieval Europe • Resurgence of trade after the Crusades- returning crusaders wanted many of the goods they were exposed to (spices, silk, ivory) • Most of these goods traveled from the Middle East into Italy and then throughout Europe • Allowed for the Commercial Revolution to occur- new ways of doing business • Guilds- trade associations of merchants and artisans • Banks develop to provide $$ • Credit • Insurance for businesses • New middle class develops, living in newly established towns/cities

6. The Renaissance: 1300s-1500s • The Middle Ages gave way to the Renaissance- a Golden Age of the arts, literature, and science in Western Europe • Renaissance means rebirth rebirth of classical learning- Greek and Roman philosophy, art, and sciences are revived • Time of creativity and changing views of the world • Focus shifts from religion to humans- instead of focusing on the afterlife, Renaissance thinkers focused on living while on Earth

7. Italian Beginnings • The Renaissance began in Italy • Center of trade after the Crusades • Large number of trading cities- Venice, Florence, Genoa • Trade leads to ________________ • Classical focus- Ancient Rome • Wealthy merchants become patrons of the arts- commission artwork and financially support artists cultural diffusion

8. Florence and the Medicis • Many historians argue that the Renaissance began specifically in Florence, probably because of the Medici family • Florence was an ideal Renaissance city-large population of poets, artists, scholars and scientists • The Medici family became rich through trade, and used much of this wealth to supports art and artists

9. The Medici Family • 1400s- began a banking business and became very wealthy • Soon controlled the economic and political spheres of Florence • Members of the family were bankers, traders, political figures, soldiers, and clergy- one was even elected Pope (Leo X) • Their money bought them political power, but was also used to fund the arts • One of the largest patrons of Renaissance art, second only to the Roman Catholic Church • Lorenzo Medici estimated that he spent ~663,000 florins (~460 M USD) on the arts, including founding an art school

10. Humanism • The Renaissance saw the development of a new worldview called Humanism- intellectual movement focused on worldly issues instead of religion • Characterized by • Secularism • Individual thought and achievement • Focus on life on earth rather than the afterlife • Using ancient learning to understand their own world and life Secular- non-religious What this really means is that artists, thinkers, and philosophers will focus on daily life/earthly lifespan of people rather than the afterlife. What would this mean for the church??

11. Humanities • Believed education should stimulate the individual’s creativity • Humanist scholars studied classical Greek and Roman cultures- wanted to use ancient wisdom to increase their understanding of their own times • Emphasized the humanities- grammar, rhetoric, poetry, and history • Francesco Petrarch- early Renaissance humanist • Hunted down ancient Greek and Roman texts and created a library • Helped preserve classical works

12. Artistic Golden Age • More realistic painting and sculpture • Glorify the human body and form- studied live models and classical art • New techniques: • New paints and oil-based paintings • Shading • Perspective- drew closer objects larger and farther objects smaller

13. Perspective

14. Renaissance Artists • The greatest of the Renaissance artists are still well known today: • Leonardo da Vinci • Michelangelo • Raphael • Donatello

15. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Yes, the teenage mutant ninja turtles were named after the Renaissance painters. As the creator recalls: “One ninja turtle became four, each named after a Renaissance master, each with a different weapon. "It was, like, 'Here's the next big thing, ninja turtles. Ha-ha-ha,' " Eastman recalls. “

16. Leonardo da Vinci • Painter, sculptor, engineer, writer and musician • Seen as a true Renaissance man because of his many skills • Leonardo dissected corpses to be accurate in anatomy when depicting human forms • Sketched submarines, helicopters and planes hundreds of years before they existed • Wrote in mirrored writing, making it difficult to decipher • Most famous for the Mona Lisa

17. The Mona Lisa, 1503-1506 The Last Supper, 1498

18. Michelangelo • Michelangelo was a sculptor, engineer, painter, architect and poet • His most famous works are David, Pieta and the Sistine Chapel • Also designed the dome of St. Peter’s Cathedral,although he did not live to see its completion

19. Sistine Chapel • Notice the curved ceiling? It’s just a trick of perspective… the ceiling is completely flat.

20. Raphael • Came after Leonardo and Michelangelo- studied their works • Raphael drew the School of Athens, an imaginary gathering of great thinkers: Plato, Aristotle, Michelangelo, Leonardo and himself. • He also created the Madonna, a statue of Mary, Mother of God

21. Donatello • Lesser known Renaissance artist- sculptor • Best known for his bronze David and the Penitent Magdalene

22. Boticelli • Italian painter- studied at the art school established by Lorenzo Medici • Most famous for The Birth of Venus- represents the rebirth of secular, Greek stories, myths, and admiration of human form

23. Renaissance Authors • Latin was the language of educated people, but Renaissance authors also began to write in the vernacular of ordinary people • Authors wrote about religious subjects but wrote about secular concepts as well • Literature of “how-to” books sprang up to teach people to have the manners, skills, learning and virtues of true Renaissance men and women Vernacular- everyday language

24. Niccolo Machiavelli • Studied ancient Roman history, and served as a diplomat in Florence • Wrote The Prince, a guide to gain and maintain power • According to Machiavelli, the ends justify the means- rulers should use whatever means necessary to achieve their goals • Critics attacked him for being cynical, but others argue that he provided a realistic look at politics

25. Northern Renaissance • The Northern Renaissance was delayed because Northern Europe was devastated by the Black Death • Flemish painters focused on depicting everyday life instead of religious themes • Believed the revival of ancient learning should be used to bring about religious and moral reform • Produced men like Shakespeare and Gutenberg

26. Shakespeare • One of the best known Northern Renaissance men • Author of 37 plays, including Hamlet, Macbeth, JuliusCaesar, and your favorite…Romeoand Juliet • His genius was in expressing universal themes in everyday realistic settings • Created many new words- bedroom, lonely, generous, heartsick, hurry • Shakespeare is a very controversial figure- some claim he was really a woman, he was homosexual or possibly even plagiarized all his plays

27. Gutenberg’s Printing Press • How were books produced prior to the printing press? • 1st European movable-type printing press invented by Johannes Gutenberg in 1450 • First printed the Gutenberg Bible in 1455 (only 21 left in the world today worth $25-35 million)

28. Effects of the Printing Press • Books became easier and faster to make- cheaper to produce, cheaper to buy • Encouraged people to read, literacy increased throughout Europe • New ideas able to spread quickly • Medical and scientific texts, mathematics, 95 Theses, Enlightenment Texts • Bible printed in the vernacular which made it more accessible • More people began to read the Bible and have their own ideas on how to interpret it • Will help bring on the Protestant Reformation

29. Scientific Revolution • Refers to the inquiring (questioning) spirit of the Renaissance • Until the mid-1500s, European scholars accepted the ideas set out by ancient Greek thinkers • These views seemed to agree with common sense, and agreed with the Church • Following with the spirit of inquiry, scientists began asking questions about the world they lived in, seeking to understand the physical world