Renaissance By Joseph Enge Revisions Mike Harvie I

Renaissance By: Joseph Enge Revisions Mike Harvie

I. The Renaissance was the period that followed (brought Europe out of) the Middle Ages. It was a time of renewed interest in things of this world. Ø Ø Ø A. B. C. Human beings and their conditions Education, art, literature, and science Approximately 1300 - 1600

Timeline Renaissance Timeline

II. The Renaissance started in Italy where wealth from trade supported art learning. Ø A. Here also modern capitalism was born. Private individuals or companies, not the government, owned businesses. The main goal is profit. Ø B. Republican government arose in most cities. Citizens participated.

"The Renaissance gave birth to the modern era, in that it was in this era that human beings first began to think of themselves as individuals. In the early Middle Ages, people had been happy to see themselves simply as parts of a greater whole – for example, as members of a great family, trade guild, nation, or Church. This communal consciousness of the Middle Ages gradually gave way to the individual consciousness of the Renaissance. " – Mc. Grath, Alister, In the Beginning, Anchor Books (2001), p. 38.

Humanism Ø Pursuit of individualism Recognition that humans are creative l Appreciation of art as a product of man l Ø Basic culture needed for all Ø Life could be enjoyable Ø Love of the classical past

"When a mural or altarpiece came to be judged not for its pious effulgence and fitness for the spot in need of decoration, but instead for what we now call its aesthetic merit, art for art's sake was just below the horizon. Aesthetic appreciation is something more than spontaneous liking; a good eye for accurate representation is not enough; one must be able to judge and talk about style, technique, and originality. " – Barzun, Jacques, From Dawn to Decadence, Perennial, 2000, p 70.

Causes of the Renaissance Ø Lessening of feudalism l l l Ø Church disrespected Nobility in chaos Growth of Middle Class through trade Fall of Constantinople l Greek scholars fled to Italy Education Ø Nostalgia among the Italians to recapture the glory of the Roman empire Ø

Italian Background Ø Major city centers l l l Venice: Republic ruled by oligarchy, Byzantine origins Milan: Visconti and Sforza families Florence (Tuscany): Republic ruled by the Medici Papal States: Ruled by the Pope Kingdom of Naples: King of Aragon

Italian Background Ø Florence l l Medici's—family of physicians Money in banking Financed wool trade Became defacto rulers of Florence

Italian Background Ø Cosimo de Medici l Ø Piero de Medici l Ø Advanced arts and education Continued father’s artistic support Lorenzo de Medici l l Poet Friend of Michelangelo Rebuilt University of Pisa Continued to invite scholars to Florence

III. Niccolo Machiavelli (1469 -1527), in The Prince (1513) said, basically, one must do whatever one must do to get and stay in power. If it works, it is the "right" thing to do. Forget ideals; lie, cheat, even murder if you must. A stable state is needed.

IV. Humanism, a system of thought and action concerned with human interests and values, was the dominant movement of the Renaissance. Ø A. Human beings have dignity and intelligence. Ø B. They (we) can change the world and make it a better place for all.

V. The ideal so-called Renaissance man was successful in business, well-mannered, educated, athletic, and brave. Ø A. The goal of education became making people well-rounded. Ø B. Religion remained important, but the authority and some practices of the church began to be questioned.

Architecture Romanesque Basilica Gothic

Dome Comparison Il Duomo St. Peter’s St. Paul’s US capital

Gutenberg Bible American Rhetoric: Movie Speech from Luther Defends Himself at the Imperial Diet of Worms Ø C. The Gutenberg Bible, named for the craftsman and inventor of printing by use of moveable type, Johannes Gutenberg, was completed in 1455 at Mainz, Germany. The three-volume Latin text arguably represents the greatest single innovation in the history of communication technology, as well as a style of printing that existed almost unaltered until the twentieth century. Gutenberg’s invention and the dispersion of relatively cheap printed materials ultimately stimulated enormous change—social, political, economic, and religious. Some forty perfect vellum copies of Gutenberg’s masterpiece of technological advancement still exist in the world.

Comparative

VI. Some brilliant people lived during this time.

Leonardo da Vinci A. Leonardo da Vinci (1452 -1519) painted (Mona Lisa), studied geology, chemistry and anatomy, designed buildings, canals and weapons, and sketched engines Timeline and flying machines.

B. Michelangelo Buonaroti (1475 -1564) painted (the Sistine Chapel ceiling), sculptured (David), designed buildings, and wrote poetry.

C. Desiderius Erasmus (1469? -1536), a priest who wrote books, The Praise of Folly 1509, condemned ignorance and superstition. He believed education could lead to more perfect societies.

“There also those who think that there is nothing that they cannot obtain by relying on the magical prayers and charms thought up by some charlatan for the sake of his soul or for profit. Among the things they want are: wealth, honor, pleasure, plenty, perpetual good health, long life, a vigorous old age, and finally, a place next to Christ in heaven. However, they do not want that place until the last possible second; heavenly pleasures may come only when the pleasures of this life, hung onto with all possible tenacity, must finally depart. I can see some businessman, soldier, or judge taking one small coin from all his money and thinking that it will be proper expiation for all his perjury, lust, drunkenness, fighting, murder, fraud, lying and treachery. After doing this, he thinks he can start a new round of sinning with a new slate. ” — Erasmus in Praise of Folly

D. Raphael (1483 -1520)

E. Titian (1485 -1576) More art can be viewed at the Louvre Museum Official Website

William Shakespeare at e. Notes F. William Shakespeare wrote plays showing humans as in God's image, but part of this world as well.

Shakespeare’s Hamlet “To be or not to be…. ”

British Monarchs of the Period Ø Ø Ø Last of the Plantagenet Dynasty War of the Roses 1455 -1485 House of Lancaster House of York House of Tudor Ø Official British Royal Family Web site Ø