The Renaissance Italian States Government Italian Renaissance 13

The Renaissance – Italian States & Government (Italian Renaissance) 13 -2

Italian Renaissance n The Renaissance started in Northern Italy, because it was the center of trade and economics for Western Europe. n n Reminders of Rome from all of the Ruins. Italy was not united though, it was broken down into many independent republics. n City-states

Government n Each of the city-states had their own system of government, usually with some sort of prominent family, or figure heading things. City-State In Power n Florence – Medici n Venice – Doge n Milan - Sforza

Patrons n Not only were people and “the church” patrons, so were city-states and governments. They directed money towards many cultural projects. n n Supporting the arts and education i. e. ) Laurentian library The problem was that the Italian city-states were not unified, and therefore easily conquered by outside forces. n First the French in 1494 and then the Holy Roman Empire in 1559. n Laurentian library

The Prince n n The Prince, written by Niccolo Machiavelli, is one of the most well known Renaissance works of Literature. The book is about how to govern different types of city-states and also how to gain and keep power and control over them. n It supports the absolute power of the ruler.

n The Prince Use fear to control your Morally wrong actions subjects. Fear is more powerful than love. n Act swiftly and decisively. n Do good if possible, but do evil when necessary. n The end justifies the means. n n Do whatever it takes to accomplish your goal. Example) Mr. Cook wants everyone to turn in their homework. If students do not turn in their homework they will get one of their fingers cut off! are sometimes necessary to achieve morally right outcomes; actions can only be considered morally right or wrong by virtue of the morality of the outcome.

Humanists n Humanism – The study of classic human abilities and body. n n Old Greco-Roman teachings, History, Poetry, Rhetoric, Art. Individualism – Concern for the accomplishments of the individual (person). Being the best you can be. n Renaissance Man – Someone who excels in many fields. n n da Vinici Secularism – Activities and beliefs that stray away from church ideas.

Results n n Italy was the birth place of the Renaissance and supported the expansion of art and education to the rest of Europe (North). We see the rise of individual thought, an increasingly secular (non religious) world and more humanist ideas.