The Beginning

1. The Renaissance: Beginnings (5.1)2 (a-d): The key concepts of continuity and change, cause and effect, complexity, unity and diversity over time.3 (a-c): The significance of ideas as powerful forces throughout history.

2. The Beginning Renaissance: rebirth Caused by belief that a rebirth of the ancient Greek & Roman worlds (+ all the social & political characteristics) had occurred Began in Italy

3. 1st characteristic of the Renaissance: Development of the urban society Powerful city-states developed (e.g. Venice) & became the center of political, economic, & social life (like ancient cities of Rome & Athens) Urban society began to assume a secular (worldly) view

4. 1st characteristic of the Renaissance: Development of the urban society (cont.) Increasing wealth created interest in material objects instead of focus on religious acts

5. 2nd characteristic of the Renaissance: “Age of Recovery” • Meaning: recovery from Dark Ages • Dark Ages was time of: • Plague (i.e. Black Death) • War/political instability • decline in influence of Catholic Church

6. 2nd characteristic of the Renaissance: “Age of Recovery” (cont.) • Recovery was rebirth/new interest in: • 1) Ancient culture/ history/ societies that had existed in same location (i.e. ancient Roman & Greece) • 2) literature, arts, society, etc.

7. 2nd characteristic of the Renaissance: “Age of Recovery” (cont.) • 3) New sense of pride in culture/ possibility of progress/success

8. 3rd Characteristic of the Renaissance: change in the view of human beings New view of individual ability (no longer reliance on God (i.e. destiny) High regard for human worth realization of human ability to achieve own fate