Humanism: the philosophy of the Renaissance The School of Athens by Raphael

1. Humanism: the philosophy of the Renaissance The School of Athens by Raphael

2. Humanism in the Italian city-states • Spoke for and to the dominant social groups of the time • It arose from the urban ruling group • It was the study of classical Greek and Roman literature, poetry, geography, natural sciences • The philosophy emphasised Man in society • Life of action & social usefulness

3. 3 ideas of Greeks & Romans that humanists focus on: • 1. individual worth- humans could improve themselves through study • 2. strong commitment to public service • 3. development of skills & knowledge

4. Studiahumanitas: • Studiahumanitas: Latin, Greek, grammar, rhetoric, poetry, history and ethics Rhetoric: art of the most effective speaking & writing, art of persuasion, eloquence in speaking & writing

5. Rhetoric This study was recommended for those in government: princes, noblemen, statesmen, & citizens

6. An educated ideal for:: 1. a practical life in society 2. those who held leading social positions in politics & govt.

7. Latinis everything • Grammar/Language meant LATIN • Greek of secondary importance (Classics were written in Latin thus not accessible to the common people)

8. Latinis the language of Civilisation • Culture & empire are intertwined. Lorenzo Valla in the preface to his 6 volumes, Elegantiarium, 1435-44 : • Latin = Rome • Language- Latin = city (urban culture of the educated élites) • Conquerors’ language during the empire: “the Roman Empire is wherever the language of Rome dominates.”

9. History • Rome, ancient Greece, of one’s city, & recent and contemporary events. • History told the Humanists of their own experiences- what they could learn from the past • Made associations with the lessons of history with practical politics & govt. • Humanists wanted to forget the 900 years of “Gothic barbarism” after the fall of Rome

10. LionardoBruni 1405 in De studiis et literis “ the careful study of the past enlarges our foresight in contemporary affairs……and affords to citizens and monarchs lessons….From history also we draw our store of examples of moral precepts .”

11. History (continued) • Humanists were looking to the glorious past of the Roman Empire to forget the Dark Ages, and wrote in unashamed praise of their own cities, patrons, and rulers. • BernadoGiustiniani, Venetian, (1408-89): drew inspiration for the past , said that “letters & culture always followed a great empire”.

12. Education of boys • Boys began work at 13 or 14 in rich merchant houses in Genova, Milan or Venice • Humanist education up until the age of 17 • Lower middle-class boys were set to learn a trade by 7 or 8. How does this compare to our education system? • Plea by humanists not to force the boys into a mercenary merchant way of thinking

13. Poets • Homer, Virgil, Horace, Juvenal, Seneca, Ovid, Terence, & rarely Greek tragedies • Was a commentary on the experience of life and was used as a guide and a shaper of men.(where did this leave the women??) • Most Humanists wrote poetry or translated verses • Pre-Christian poetry was considered “Pagan Poetry”

14. Battista Guarino, son of prominent educator, 1457 • “…without a knowledge of Greek, Latin scholarship itself is , in any real sense, impossible.” • “ the ability to write Latin verse is one of the essential marks of an educated person.”

15. Contributions of Humanism to scholarship • 1. Getting texts right: dating & producing an authentic text • 2. Seeing texts in historical contexts • 3. emphasis on ascertainable facts: words, documents, dates, events, & historical persons • 4. revival of secular history: highlighted politics, war & biography • 5. new disciplines formed in order to study history better, e.g., archaeology, topography

16. How did the Humanist philosophy spread outside Florence? • 1. Through travel & trade-think of the port city-states (Venice, Genova, Pisa) • 2. Printed word after 1438 • 3. Monarchs support humanists

17. The end of the Renaissance Italian Wars 1494-1559 France (Charles VIII), Spain & the Holy Roman Empire joined forces to split Italy amongst themselves. Alfonso (Spain) 1443 new dynasty of Aragonese kings based in Naples Peace of Lodi 1454 kept peace amongst the Italian city-states

18. 1454-1494 various wars to settle minor conflicts • In the end, these years of peace helped the Renaissance spread but • the Spanish (Ferdinand) gained control of nearly all of Italy & the French (Louis XII) took Milan

19. Death of the Renaissance Italy in 1494 • Renaissance culture did not thrive under foreign rule • Effect of the wars: to expose northern Europe to the ideas, accomplishments and culture of the Renaissance

20. Titian, The Abduction of Europa, 1559-1562, Venice, Italy