THE ITALIAN RENAISSANCE Renaissance a rebirth of ancient

THE ITALIAN RENAISSANCE

• Renaissance: a rebirth of ancient Greek and Roman culture – A new culture emerges in southern Europe, starts in Italy • Italy was largely an urban society with powerful city-states – Intellectuals and artists believed they were part of a new Golden Age • They wanted to separate themselves from “backwardness” of the Middle Ages, or Dark Ages • Economic growth laid the material basis for the Renaissance – The Italian city-states were involved in trade due to their geography and served as the economic center of Europe

The Italian City-States • Italy was divided into several large city-states in the north and various kingdoms in the south – Florence, Venice, Milan, and the Papal States were some of the strongest city-states • Florence was controlled by the rich de’Medici family and the Renaissance started in this city-state • Rome became the center of the High Renaissance when it declined in Florence

Politics and War • Maintaining the balance of power – If one city-state seems to get too powerful, the others ally together against the major threat – Try to create an alliance against foreign powers, but the breakdown of the alliance will lead to the domination of Italy by foreign powers • Invasion of Italy by Charles VIII of France – Attracted by the riches of Italy, Charles leads an army of 30, 000 men into Italy in 1494

– For the next 30 years, France and Spain make Italy their battle ground – 1527 – thousands of Spanish troops along with mercenaries (hired soldiers) arrive at Rome to protect it • They had not been paid for months and demand money • The leader lets them sack Rome as their payment – The sacking of Rome ends the wars and leaves Spain a dominant force in Italy • It will also bring an end to the High Renaissance

Characteristics of the Renaissance • Secular society – People were becoming more concerned with the material world, had more of a worldly focus – Still deeply religious, however they concentrated on the here and now, not on life after death • Individualism – People sought to receive personal credit for their achievements • Personal quest for glory – people want money and success

• This went against the medieval ideal of all glory going to God and contrasted with Church teachings that individuality and achievement were unimportant – The Renaissance Man – a person who could do many things well • The ideal Renaissance man = Leonardo da Vinci • Humanism – “new learning” – interest in and study of the Latin classics to learn what they reveal about human nature – Petrarch is considered to be the father of humanism

– Civic humanists = used their humanist education to serve the city governments • Also revived the Greek language

Renaissance Intellectuals • Machiavelli – Wrote The Prince, which is the most widely read and studied Renaissance book – The subject is about how a ruler should gain, maintain, and increase political power • Concludes that humans are “ungrateful, fickle, liars, and deceivers” • Decides that it is better for a ruler to be feared than loved

Renaissance Art • The Renaissance made its greatest impact in the area of art • New artistic styles: use of oil painting, free-standing sculptures, portraits, nudity, and single-point perspective • Many people sponsored the arts to glorify themselves and their families • Two major periods: – Early Renaissance – takes place in Florence – High Renaissance – takes place in Rome • Four major artists of the Renaissance:

• Four major artists of the Renaissance: – Michelangelo – painted the Sistene Chapel, sculptural masterpiece = David – Leonardo da Vinci – Mona Lisa and the Last Supper – Raphael – famous for his madonnas (images of Jesus and Mary) – Donatello – sculptor, lived during the Early Renaissance

The Northern Renaissance • Christian Humanism – Christian humanists believed they could achieve this higher understanding by studying early Christian works along with the Latin classics – Often criticized the Church • Erasmus – Criticized the Church and wanted to reform it, but not leave it

The Elizabethan Renaissance • The greatest achievement in the arts in northern Europe took place in England – Most of what is referred to as the Elizabethan Renaissance actually occurred during the reign of James I • Geoffrey Chaucer – The Canterbury Tales consists of a collection of stories told by a group of 29 pilgrims journeying to the tomb of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury • William Shakespeare – Wrote many plays that reveal an unsurpassed understanding of the human psyche