THE ITALIAN RENAISSANCE

1. THE ITALIAN RENAISSANCE

2. Renaissance: a rebirth of ancient Greek and Roman culture • A new culture emerges in southern Europe, starts in Italy • Italy was largely an urban society with powerful city-states • Intellectuals and artists believed they were part of a new Golden Age • They wanted to separate themselves from “backwardness” of the Middle Ages, or Dark Ages • Economic growth laid the material basis for the Renaissance • The Italian city-states were involved in trade due to their geography and served as the economic center of Europe

4. The Italian City-States • Italy was divided into several large city-states in the north and various kingdoms in the south • Florence, Venice, Milan, and the Papal States were some of the strongest city-states • Florence was controlled by the rich de’Medici family and the Renaissance started in this city-state • Rome became the center of the High Renaissance when it declined in Florence

7. Politics and War • Maintaining the balance of power • If one city-state seems to get too powerful, the others ally together against the major threat • Try to create an alliance against foreign powers, but the breakdown of the alliance will lead to the domination of Italy by foreign powers • Invasion of Italy by Charles VIII of France • Attracted by the riches of Italy, Charles leads an army of 30,000 men into Italy in 1494

8. For the next 30 years, France and Spain make Italy their battle ground • 1527 – thousands of Spanish troops along with mercenaries (hired soldiers) arrive at Rome to protect it • They had not been paid for months and demand money • The leader lets them sack Rome as their payment • The sacking of Rome ends the wars and leaves Spain a dominant force in Italy • It will also bring an end to the High Renaissance

9. Characteristics of the Renaissance • Secular society • People were becoming more concerned with the material world, had more of a worldly focus • Still deeply religious, however they concentrated on the here and now, not on life after death • Individualism • People sought to receive personal credit for their achievements • Personal quest for glory – people want money and success

10. This went against the medieval ideal of all glory going to God and contrasted with Church teachings that individuality and achievement were unimportant • The Renaissance Man – a person who could do many things well • The ideal Renaissance man = Leonardo da Vinci • Humanism • “new learning” – interest in and study of the Latin classics to learn what they reveal about human nature • Petrarch is considered to be the father of humanism

11. Civic humanists = used their humanist education to serve the city governments • Also revived the Greek language

12. Renaissance Intellectuals • Machiavelli • Wrote The Prince, which is the most widely read and studied Renaissance book • The subject is about how a ruler should gain, maintain, and increase political power • Concludes that humans are “ungrateful, fickle, liars, and deceivers” • Decides that it is better for a ruler to be feared than loved

13. Renaissance Art • The Renaissance made its greatest impact in the area of art • New artistic styles: use of oil painting, free-standing sculptures, portraits, nudity, and single-point perspective • Many people sponsored the arts to glorify themselves and their families • Two major periods: • Early Renaissance – takes place in Florence • High Renaissance – takes place in Rome • Four major artists of the Renaissance:

15. Four major artists of the Renaissance: • Michelangelo – painted the Sistene Chapel, sculptural masterpiece = David • Leonardo da Vinci – Mona Lisa and the Last Supper • Raphael – famous for his madonnas (images of Jesus and Mary) • Donatello – sculptor, lived during the Early Renaissance

17. The Northern Renaissance • Christian Humanism • Christian humanists believed they could achieve this higher understanding by studying early Christian works along with the Latin classics • Often criticized the Church • Erasmus • Criticized the Church and wanted to reform it, but not leave it

18. The Elizabethan Renaissance • The greatest achievement in the arts in northern Europe took place in England • Most of what is referred to as the Elizabethan Renaissance actually occurred during the reign of James I • Geoffrey Chaucer • The Canterbury Tales consists of a collection of stories told by a group of 29 pilgrims journeying to the tomb of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury • William Shakespeare • Wrote many plays that reveal an unsurpassed understanding of the human psyche