The Italian Renaissance The objectives for this powerpoint

The Italian Renaissance

The objectives for this powerpoint are: • Identify the change in human outlook that occurred during the time of the Renaissance • What were some of the civic monuments that were built to show this change? • Who created some of the masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance—and what were the new techniques that enhanced their art. • You will be able to identify Dante, Petrarch and Machiavelli’s ideas and importance in literature and political thought.

The Renaissance marked a new age in thought and feeling The focus on heaven and the afterlife changed to the here and now.

What was the Renaissance It was the awakening of the human spirit emphasizing feelings and thoughts It involved high culture and therefore only affected a few It was not religious or scientific but moral and personal In Italy an almost secular attitude appeared

Origins of the Renaissance - Economic growth was the basis for the Renaissance - Northern Italy was centrally located and benefited from the crusades and the spice trade - The Renaissance started in Florence and follows the success of the Medici family - Florentine merchants (the Medicis) gained control of the papal banking - 1397 Lorenzo de’Medici founded the Medici Bank - The Black Death and great Schism led to people looking to other sources for Truth

Giovanni De'Medici

The City States The city-states in Northern Italy began as Republics Five city-states dominated Italy: Venice, Florence, Milan, The Papal States, and the Kingdom of Naples All of the Republics were overthrown and despots or oligarchies took over People were very loyal to their city states In order to maintain power and show prestige the despots would patronize the arts in order to make their city look beautiful and gain prestige Whereas Northern Europe was uniting, Italy was fragmenting Signing and breaking alliances was very common, as was the use of outside mercenary troops

Many civic (city) projects were built • • • Orphanages Hospitals Town halls Schools Squares Bridges

Renaissance City States • Florence Italy

Venice

Genoa

Different Governments • Some were republics • Others were Merchant Oligarchies • Others were controlled by despots (absolute power) • Some were controlled by military leaders (condottiere) • The states were small—there was constant friction among them.

Machiavelli (1469 -1527) Some writers wrote about politics

Machiavelli was concerned that Italy was not united. He wrote The Prince as a guide for rulers.

Ideas from The Prince • The end justifies the means • It is better to be feared than loved • It is better to kill a person than take away his property. • Human nature can be predicted; most humans are selfish • Politics is not about morals or religion—it is about keeping a realm strong and peaceful.

Machiavelli admired the New Monarchs in other countries • He was depressed that Italy was disunited and fighting. • He looked with envy on those monarchs who were busy united their realms, including England’s Henry VII, France’s Louis XI, and Ferdinand Isabella. • Italy would not unite until the 1860’s— almost four hundred years after his birth in 1469.

Condottiere, Renaissance War. Lords.

The Medici were the most famous Merchant family. Their home was Florence.

Are you a Renaissance Man? • Are you excellent in all things? • Do you define the age? • Are you musical, literary, a fine swordsman • Can you appreciate the opposite sex?

Are you a Renaissance Woman? • Are you submissive to your husband? • Can you bear many sons? • Can you run the domain while your husband is away? • Can you live past 40?

The Italian Renaissance ends. Various groups invade Rome and pillage and sack the city in 1527.

The literary (writing) movement of the Renaissance was called Humanism. More works were being written in the Vernacular (language of the people)

Humanism - The study of the classics became known as “new learning” or “humanism” - Humanists look to ancient Rome as the peak of Humanity and looked to the classical writers for Truth - Cicero had considered humanism important for anyone who considered himself civilized - Humanism emphasized: a) human beings as individuals b) human achievements c) human capabilities - Italian humanism became more of an interest to lay people over time

Scholars sought out the classical texts long forgotten • The area of law was the first area • Scholars examined old texts for the knowledge they contained • This thirst for authentic sources exploded in the Renaissance • Soon, the printing press would bring this knowledge to the rest of the Western World

• • • Italian Humanists Deeply religious viewed the classics in a new, more religious light They were skeptical of the authority of the classics because they were written before Christ but. . They studied classics to understand human nature Very Christian - men and women were in God’s image Rejected classical ideas that opposed Christianity but sought a harmony between paganism, secularism, and Christianity. Loved the language of the classics

Petrarch (1304 -1374) had a wide influence throughout the Renaissance • He loved to write letters and poems • Revived interest in classics by discovering a set of Cicero's writings • He encouraged reading of the Classics to better understand humanity, and believed Europe was living in a more enlightened age

Secularism and Valla • To be secular is to be concerned with the material world not the eternal world • Lorenzo Valla authored On Pleasure to defended pleasure • He also wrote On the False Donation of Constantine • Valla had come across the Donation of Constantine letter which was supposedly the proof that Constantine the Great had given the Papal states to the Catholic church and the Pope • Valla was able to prove the paper was a forgery, however he did this not to criticize the church, but to bring out the truth

Dante and the Divine Comedy • Dante (1265 -1321), considered a Renaissance writer, lived just prior to the Renaissance. • He is famous for writing the divine comedy in the vernacular • The Divine Comedy was a trip through Heaven, Hell, and purgatory—a half way house for sinners

Dante was in love with Beatrice, though he only spoke to her once, she remained a powerful inspiration

Both Laura and Beatrice were famous inspirations to these great writers. They became immortal.

The Italian Renaissance ends. Various groups invade Rome and pillage and sack the city in 1527.