The Renaissance 1350 1650 SOL WHII 2 Review

The Renaissance 1350 -1650 SOL WHII. 2

Review of the Medieval Period/Middle Ages (750 -1500) • Europeans first introduced to the luxury goods of Asia during the Crusades • Trade grew due to the rise of cities

Cities grew when agricultural success enabled more serfs to move away from feudal manors.

Renaissance • The glorification of classical (Greek and Roman) civilizations • Rebirth of society.

• The Renaissance began around 1300 A. D. and lasted until around 1600 A. D. – It was a time of cultural awakening for Europe – The Renaissance was also a time of reforming education. People began to develop new ideas about self and the world around them.

City Life • Italy had not become unified like France and England. • 3 cities played leading roles in the Renaissance – Florence, Rome and Venice • Italy was culturally and economically more prepared for the Renaissance because : – 1) no central authority/more individual freedoms – 2) center of international trade

• The Medici family in Florence was evidence that the power of government in the city-states originated with the merchants • The Medici were a famous ruling family that were patrons of the arts and generally credited with supporting the beginning of the Renaissance. • Florence = birthplace of the Renaissance • Cosimo de’Medici: – Used taxes to make city improvements • Lorenzo “the magnificent” de’Medici: – supported artists, philosophers and writers

Humanists • Humanists believed learning about the “classics” was the key to reforming society (Society was in need of reform because of the “Dark Ages”. • Humanists believed the individual had self-dignity and worth to society. – Consequently, they strongly supported education for everyone. • Early Humanists were orators, poets, and writers. – They studied original manuscripts…. similar to studying primary sources today. – Petrarch wrote 366 sonnets (short poems) “Sonnets to Laura” – Cellini wrote one of the first autobiographies • Today, a “Renaissance Person” is one who is wellrounded and successful in many varied fields.

Political Science (the study of government) • Niccolo Machiavelli wrote “The Prince” • Advocated the idea that the end result justifies the means and provided a set of rules for rulers to take and hold power.

Artistic Achievements • Renaissance art was famous for using perspective (Depth/ 3 D). • Architecture: – Brunelleschi: • Dome design • Sculpture: – Donatello: • first since ancient times to cast a statue in bronze • Ghiberti: – 21 years to complete 10 New Testament scenes in bronze.

• Painting: – Giotto; human emotions • Masaccio: – lighting, life-like human bodies • Leonardo da Vinci: – Mona Lisa and The Last Supper • Michelangelo: – sculpted statue of David, La Pieta, Moses – 1505 – Pope Julius II hired him to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel with scenes from the Bible

Don’t Look!

The Renaissance of Northern Europe • Spread of Renaissance to Northern Europe aided by invention of Printing Press (around 1440) by Johannes Gutenberg • Prior to 1500, the compass, numerical system, and silk were exchanged, but not the printing press. • The Renaissance in Northern Europe had

The Renaissance of Northern Europe • Erasmus = Christian humanist who was renowned for his accomplishments in intellectual ideas. Wrote In Praise of Folly • Thomas Moore = Utopia • William Shakespeare – English playwriter = King Lear, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet – Wrote line, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell so sweet. ” • Cervantes = Don Quixote (The first novel!) • The novel became a widely popular form of literature during the 18 th century, because of its new form and it reached a much larger population.