HTAV Student lectures Renaissance History

1. HTAV Student lecturesRenaissance History Area of study 1 Nicholas Smith Trinity Grammar School smithn@trinity.vic.edu.au

2. Area of study 1: • Don’t panic and drop the subject • Much of the knowledge for this AOS will also come from other aspects of the course. • Always focus your notes, your revision, the study on the dot points from the Study design. • The questions must come from there.

3. Know different types of government of city-states in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries: Republic, Principality, Kingdom and Papal state NOTE: Remember to discuss how they interactedeconomically,politicallyand culturally

4. Characteristics of various political systems Form of Government of State • Who assisted Government and how • Nature of the elite class • What formal mechanisms of Government existed • Who wereexcluded from power and how • How did the system of government change during the Renaissanc Past examination questions have included • Identify the characteristics of a Republic • Compare a Republic to a Despotic state KEY: Cannot ask you to write on a particular state, only ask you t refer to different types of states. You must therefore be able to use precise examples from the relevant states of your choice

5. Political systems examination answers • They were Republics not democracies as such; very limited franchise. • Also Duchy’s Despotism etc need a ruling elite to assist in their management of the state. Make sure you are aware that city states like Milan also had councils Exam tips: For comparison’s identify Similarities and differences If comparing 2 city stas demonstrate a knowledge of the city states equally. We often get one sided answers

6. City state Interactions: hard aspect of this topic • Economic • Trade which is so vital as City States so small and they specialise in industries, who traded what with who? • Political • Negative Interactions • Conflict, wars between states • Siena Florence • Florence Milan • League of Cambrai versus Venice • Florence v Papacy-Naples 1478-1480 • Positive Interactions • Political alliances between city states and key families within various city states, including key marriages • Medici- Bentivoglio • Medici-Sforza • Sforza-Bentovoglio • Sforza- Montelfeltro • Cultural • Artists, Architects moving around • Humanist scholars moving around • Key university in Bologna educates many key Florentines

7. For City states Questions I would organize notes according to the sub headings in the Study design not necessariltyby City state. • You don’t necessarily need direct quotes but specific examples

8. The Concept of the Renaissance • Pretty straight forward • Make sure you can identify What Burkhardtidentified as the key aspects of the renaissance • Then make sure you can, with examples, discus how other Historians have challenged aspects of Burkhardt’sview • Finally discuss what influences were there on Burkhardt that shaped his concept

9. Humanism 3 types of Questions you tend to get 1. Chart a timeline on developments of Humanism So ensure you can do this, from Petrach and Literary Humanism through to Neo-Platosim.Ensure you know key figures, key dates and key changes. This threw some people in an exam 3 years ago 2. Why Humanism is another question so try to look a a range of reasons Justifies lifestyle Provides necessary skills Provide guidance on how to live a virtuous life 3. How did an Humanist education influence other aspects of the Renaissance: Look a the influence on Art and Architecture Influence on government Influence on the actions of the individual

10. Changes and Developments in Art • Remember the dot point ischanges and development in art not just a focus on art. Don’t limit yourself to paintings, Be able to refer to buildings, sculpture etc • What aspects of art change • How and when do they change • Why does theychange Look at and be able to provide precise specificexamples on aspects such as • Realism and emotion in Art • Perspective • The subject matter • The location of Art • The political uses of Art • The return of the nude • The importance of the portrait All of these changes are driven by Patronage of different kinds

11. The Role of the Patron • We have had numerous questions in the past requiring students to refer to a range of patrons individuals, families, guilds, confraternities. Make sure you are able to link specific Art work to specific patrons • Art production isdriven by the Patron. Therefore it is important to note that changes in Art are riven by the changing circumstances, backgrounds, interests, motivesof the patron. Artists are purely tradesman • Past Question: what did both the Artist AND the patron gain from the production of Art • Great practice question, forces you to link Art to patron to motivation

12. Finally • Bringing it all together • What led to the Renaissance and how did it manifest itself • This could be a good practice essay • Look a the new political and economic systems present particularly in Northern Italy • What education system did the new elite receive and what was the focus of this education • How did the new found wealth and newfound education manifest itself in the Patronage of Art

13. And remember • 2 short answers • Approx 20 lines • 15 minutes • Its all about content knowledge, not a detailed and cmlex argument • Be able to refer to precise examples

14. Thankyou If need to contact smithn@trinity.vic.edu.au