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Explore the multifaceted Renaissance period in Europe, marked by economic, social, and cultural changes, influencing art, politics, and humanistic ideals.
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Time and Geography See notes for video
The Renaissance • Renaissance, “rebirth”, had two distinct facets • Change in economic and social conditions • Artistic and cultural movement based on that change • Italian city-states • Began in Florence, Venice, Milan, Pisa – all rich from trade, finance • Led the way in innovations: scientific, artistic, economic • Were oligarchies • Government run by wealthy aristocrats, headed by prince • Huge gap between rulers and the people
Renaissance Attitudes • Individualism • Wealthy wanted to separate from masses • Encouraged new pride in human potential
Renaissance Attitudes • Secularism • Focus of attention from eternal to worldly affairs • Saw life as opportunity for glory and pleasure • Man is the measure of all things
Renaissance Attitudes • Revival of Classical Values • Greeks and Romans became focus of interest • Not anti-Christian as much as pro-humanity • Collecting, editing of ancient texts • Devoted to self-realization of human beings whose earthly lives were the only sure ones they had
Northern Renaissance • Rather different character: more reformist, less self-centered • Humanism • Humanists were scholars aware of corruption of society, wanted changes • Reawakened sense of Christian duties and responsibilities • Confidence in power of the intellect to find truth: use reason, not dogma
Northern Renaissance Thinkers • Thomas Moore’s Utopia • Written as satire of society • People in Utopia looked out for others; were totally equal; lived by reason • Saw society as reason for problems of the world, not individual sinners Sir Thomas More,by Hans Holbein the Younger, 1527
Northern Renaissance Thinkers • Erasmus and Praise of Folly • Indictment of world, plea for return to simple virtues • Two basic themes: inner nature of Christianity, importance of education • Important forerunner of Protestant Reformation Erasmus in 1523, by Hans Holbein
Political Economy of Renaissance Europe, Theory of the State • State was political organism independent of ruler • State has three essential attributes: legitimacy, sovereignty, territory • Royalty only the servant, protector of the state • New style of monarchy with only one goal: power • Machiavelli and The Prince – power as it is in fact, not as it “should” be Title page of a 1550 edition
Royal Governments • France • Recovered quickly from Hundred Years War • Charles VII created first truly royal army • Louis XI gained middle class support, expanded area of royal control Hundred Years’ War
Royal Governments • England • Magna Carta – doctrine held that monarchy was bound to obey laws just like everyone else • Royal power weakened; Parliament strengthened by war • War of the Roses • Henry VII rebuilt royal power, avoided foreign wars Painting by Henry Payne in 1908 of the scene in the Temple Garden from Shakespeare's play Henry VI, Part 1, where supporters of the rival factions pick either red or white roses
Royal Governments • Holy Roman Empire (Germany) • Central power totally destroyed • Emperor was elected • No bureaucracy, royal army, national parliament or power to tax • Austrian Habsburg Dynasty became major ruling family Hapsburg coat of arms
Royal Governments • Russia • Principality of Kiev had close relations with Christian Europe • After Mongols arrived, Russia became isolated, “Mongol Yoke” • Russian church played particularly important role • Became known as the Third Rome • After Mongols defeated, prince of Moscow took over, was called “tsar” • Tsars had more power than any other European rulers
Art and its Patrons • Tremendous creative outburst in Italy • Northern art, architecture more overtly religious • Art was supposed to show artistic skill, experimentation • Mastery of perspective • Sculpture – saw human body as beautiful Michelangelo's Last Judgment
Art and its Patrons • Michelangelo and architecture • Artist now seen as respected, powerful member of society • Patrons used art to display their wealth, treated artists as equals • Artistic genius, the “divine spark” Leonardo Davinci’sMona Lisa
Renaissance Church • Literate attacks were against late medieval church personnel, not doctrines • Clergy behavior was scandalous • Illiteracy, ignoring vows of poverty, chastity • Political, financial interests more important than moral authority • Noble families controlling the papacy were involved in political struggles
Family Life • Men still married late, women much younger • Large families, especially among wealthy • Women • Expected to run household expertly • Upper class women’s position declined • Middle class women had greater responsibility, nearly equal role • Wives of artisans, merchants often partners in business • Working class women still in male-dominated society • Women’s work • Spinning, weaving, care of livestock • Did same jobs as men
Children • Children of the wealthy • Cared for by wet-nurses and mother • Father had little to do with them • Young children’s only value was as continuation of family line Wealthy children
Children • Children of lower classes • Probably got little attention when young • Represented potential labor for family
Education • Education of Men • Educated for careers in commerce or crafts • Literacy was common in urban populations A male graduate
Education • Education of Women • Study in home • Focused on literacy, music, domestic arts • Intellectual women had more outlets to express themselves, but not taken seriously A female graduate
Discussion Questions • One often hears the term “secular humanist” used today. What does it mean in its modern setting? What was meant by the terms “humanist” and “humanism” during the Renaissance? Are the meanings the same, or, if not, what are the differences? • Political theory underwent radical change during the Renaissance with the new model of the State. How was this new theory different from medieval political organization? How do nations today fit the Renaissance model? How would you compare Machiavelli’s ideal prince to modern rulers?
