Chapter 15 The Renaissance in Europe Lesson 1

Chapter 15 – The Renaissance in Europe

Lesson 1 – The Italian States

The Italian City-States, c. 1500 The Italian city states thrived on trade which in turn, stoked the ideas that made up the Renaissance. Venice was the leading trading power with partners like the Byzantine and Islamic societies. The major city-states included: Milan – the richest and strategically-important state led by the Sforza family. a Venice – a leading power that was controlled by republic. Florence – the Medici-family led city-state that became a cultural center. Naples – was the only state controlled by a monarchy as Papal States (Rome) – the pope’s power waned the city states grew richer but he still controlled

Among other topics, the Renaissance thinkers often considered the notion of power – one being Niccoló Machiavelli who authored The Prince. He focused on the question of how to get and keep power and he rejected earlier notions of duty and morality. He felt that a ruler should only worry about the state; to do good when possible but one must also be willing to do evil. Machiavelli felt that rulers needed to understand human nature, which was motivated entirely by self-interest. (Understanding of human nature) is to be asserted in general of men, that they are ungrateful, fickle, false, cowardly, covetous, and as long as you succeed, they are yours entirely. . Everyone realizes how praise worthy it is for a prince to honor his word and to be straightforward rather than crafty in his dealings; none the less, the contemporary experience shows that princes who have achieved great things have been those who have given their word lightly; who have known how to trick men with their cunning,

Renaissance Society Nobility – while the smallest portion of the population, they were the most powerful, holding all important positions. Still, the Renaissance stressed the need for a noble duty bound to be welleducated and well-rounded personality. Townspeople – making up the bulk of the urban population were merchants, shopkeepers and craftsmen, known as burghers. Peasants – the vast majority of the population were farmers, attached to the land farming for a living. Those that are lazy in a way that does harm to the city, and who can offer no just reason for their condition, should either be forced to work or expelled from the (city). The city would thus rid itself of that most harmful part of the poorest class. The Peasant Dance by Pieter Bruegel (c. 1569)

Within families, arrange marriages were the norm. Often, arrangements were done to strengthen wealth or influence of family and could be done as early as when the children in question were only two or three years old. Dowry – a sum of money the family of the bride gave to the groom’s family to sweeten the deal. Roles: Father – controlled all decisions, both for the family as well as for the lives of the children. Mother – cared for the home and the moral education of the children. Children of Virginio Orsini by Tiberio di Tito (c. 1600) Children – they were to be seen and not heard, being obedient at all times. Sons were made adults and free by the father and daughters remained subject until the death of the father.

Lesson 2 – Ideas and Art of the Renaissance

Humanism in the Italian Renaissance Humanism was a return to the classics, focusing on things like rhetoric, grammar, poetry, history and philosophy – today called the humanities. A desire to revitalize the culture of ancient Greece and Rome. Francesco Petrarch – father of humanism – not only searched for ancient texts but pushed for a revitalization of classical Latin. Humanists pushed for a life without family but desired a life of service to the state. Portrait of Petrarch (unknown artist and date)

Education in the Italian Renaissance thinking pushed education away from religious training and more towards secular subjects. Humanists pushed liberal studies – in essence, the subjects associated with the humanities. The goal of education was to create well-rounded individuals filled with practical knowledge. During the mid-1400 s, the invention of Johannes Gutenberg – the printing press – radically changed education with the prevalence of books. The more books – the greater knowledge shared with the masses. A drawing depicting school and printing in the Renaissance period.

Vernacular literature in the Italian Renaissance Writing in the vernacular means to use to local language used on the streets – as opposed to the use of Latin. One famous writer was Dante Alighieri who is most known for writing Divine Comedy. He believed in writing in Italian as writing in Latin would only make his work accessible to the educated. Another author was Christine de Pizan was Italian but she lived and wrote in French. She is most known for her work The Book of the City of Ladies. Retrato de Dante Alighieri by Sandro Botticelli (1495)

Painting advancements in the Italian Renaissance Tommaso di Giovanni (Masaccio) was known for his frescos – painting on fresh, wet plaster. Masaccio was able to make his images come alive with depth and realistic style.

Renaissance painting made two major advancements: Increase technical skills in painting using outdoor light and space. The show of movement and the human body is more realistic. The Damned Cast into Hell Luca Signorelli

Filippo Brunelleschi The dome of the Cathedral of Santa Maria in Firenze Characteristic of architecture that sought to bring back the classic style Brunelleschi’s Santo Spirito Basilica in Florence

Italian Renaissance Masters – Leonardo da Vinci The Last Supper (1498)

Mona Lisa 1503

Italian Renaissance Masters – Raphael Sanzio The School of Athens 1509 -11

The Triumph of Galatea c. 1513

Italian Renaissance Masters – Michelangelo Buonarroti The Last Judgment 1541

Pieta 1499

Northern Renaissance Masters – Jan van Eyck Arnolfini Portrait 1434 Leal Souvenir 1432

Northern Renaissance Masters – Pieter Bruegel Peasant Wedding Pieter Bruegel 1567

The Triumph of Death, 1562