European Renaissance 1300 1600 Words to know Renaissance

European Renaissance 1300 -1600

Words to know • Renaissance • humanism • secular • patron • perspective • vernacular

Renaissance • (REHN-ih-SAHNS) means rebirth. In this case the rebirth of art and learning. • During the Middle Ages, Europeans suffered from both war and plague. By the year 1300, they started to question the structures of medieval society. • Educated people started to reject medieval values and look to the classical past for ideas

Renaissance Europe

Italy- Home of the Renaissance • The Renaissance began in northern Italy around 1300. • Italy had 3 advantages that fostered the Renaissance – Thriving cities – A wealthy merchant class – The classical heritage of Greece and Rome

• NO! There would be no unified country known as Italy until the late 1800’s.

Italian City States

New trade routes • New trade routes lead to the growth of large city-states in northern Italy. (a city state is a city which is governed on its own, it is not part of a larger country). • Northern Italy was urban while the rest of Europe was still rural

The Bubonic Plague • The bubonic plague struck cities of Europe, killing 60% of the population. • As a result, laborers could demand higher wages and shrank opportunities for business expansion. With limited opportunities for business expansion, wealthy merchants began to pursue interests such as art.

Florence • was one of the most powerful city states. It collected taxes and had its own army. • Because it was relatively small, a large number of citizens were involved in politics

Life in Florence • Merchants were the wealthiest, most powerful class in Florence. They dominated politics. • Merchants did not inherit social rank, they had to earn it in business.

Cosimo De Medici • The most powerful family in Florence was the De Medici family. • The De Medicis made a fortune in trade and banking. Cosimo was the wealthiest European of his time.

Cosimo de Medici • A very good banker. • Gave huge loans to the city of Florence. • Loved to study ancient Greek and Roman books. • Spend much of his money on art and architecture.

Lorenzo de Medici • He was the grandson of Cosimo • Wanted Florence to be the centre of art and education in Europe. • Paid artists a lot of money to create a beautiful buildings, sculptures and paintings.

Return to Classical Style • Wealthy merchants such as the De. Medicis aided the Renaissance by supporting the arts. • Renaissance scholars looked down on the art and literature of The Middle Ages, they wanted to return to the works of the ancient Greeks and Romans.

Humanism • The study of classical works led to humanism, which focused on human potential and achievements. • What does that mean?

Secular life becomes the norm • Rather than showing their faith by wearing rough clothes or eating plain foods, the church became more worldly or secular. • Instead of salvation, they were concerned with now

The Renaissance Man • A “Renaissance Man” was a man who strove to achieve in every area of study. • A young man should be charming, witty and well educated in the classics. He should dance, sing, play music and write poetry. He should be a skilled rider, wrestler and swordsman. • ABOVE ALL HE SHOULD HAVE SELF CONTROL!!!

The Renaissance Woman • Upper class women were expected to know the classics and be charming. • Women were not expected to seek fame. They were expected to inspire art, but rarely to create it. • Women were better educated than women of the Middle Ages, but had less influence than medieval women did.