renaissance

RenaissanceRenaissance

Medieval or Modern?Medieval or Modern?

Key TopicsKey Topics• The politics, culture, and art of the The politics, culture, and art of the

Italian Renaissance Italian Renaissance • The powerful new monarchies of The powerful new monarchies of

northern Europenorthern Europe• Political struggle and foreign Political struggle and foreign

intervention in Italyintervention in Italy• Understanding the meaning of the Understanding the meaning of the

Renaissance. Renaissance.

What is the Renaissance?What is the Renaissance?

• A collection of ideas?A collection of ideas?• A revival of the classical world? A revival of the classical world? • A break with the medieval world?A break with the medieval world?• A springboard for modernity?A springboard for modernity?

Humanism Humanism

• A cultural and intellectual A cultural and intellectual movement of the Renaissance that movement of the Renaissance that emphasized secular concerns as a emphasized secular concerns as a result of the rediscovery and study result of the rediscovery and study of the literature, art, and civilization of the literature, art, and civilization of ancient Greece and Rome.of ancient Greece and Rome.

Medieval ArtworkMedieval Artwork

Abstract and Formulaic Abstract and Formulaic

The Renaissance The Renaissance PainterPainter

3-Dimensional Paintings Chiaroscuro & Linear Perspective

Architecture

• Middle Ages was steeped in Gothic Style Architecture.

• Most prominent structures were churches. • The Renaissance harked back to Antiquity

for models. • Greek columns and Romanesque Style.

Medieval Literature

• The Middle Ages focused on religious writing. Primarily theology and philosophy.

• Popular folk tales saw heroes who embedded the ideal of Christianity. – King Arthur – Roland – Robin Hood

Renaissance Literature

• The writers emulated the ancient Greeks and Romans and wrote in the vernacular.

• Dante Alighieri, Francesco Petrarch, and Giovanni Boccaccio concentrated on humanity and man’s struggle.

• The Birth of Non-fiction as entertainment.

Benvenuto Cellini

• “All men of whatsoever quality they be, who have done anything of excellence, or which may properly resemble excellence, ought, if they are persons of truth and honesty, to describe their life with their own hand.”

Renaissance in Italy• The late Middle Ages

was a time of creative fragmentation.

• Three Crises: Religion, Plague, Government.

• Italy flourished between 1300-1450 mainly because of location.

• The Italian City-State - merchants and bankers

Growth of City-States• Urbane culture was assisted by the constant

war between emperor (Ghibelline) and Pope (Guelf).

• This war strengthened the merchant oligarchies in the cities and by the 15th century led to despotism.

• Unlike Northern Europe ruled by kingdoms, Italy was made up of independent states.

A Nation DividedA Nation Divided• 1377 - The Church’s power starts to 1377 - The Church’s power starts to

fade. fade. • Avignon Papacy - splits the churchAvignon Papacy - splits the church• Bishops lose their power to wealthy Bishops lose their power to wealthy

families.families. • Merchants and Bankers flourish Merchants and Bankers flourish

among the chaos.among the chaos.

Mercantilism Mercantilism • The Italian Peninsula became the HUB The Italian Peninsula became the HUB

for Western Europe. for Western Europe. • Merchant Class developed Merchant Class developed • Birth of the Banking System Birth of the Banking System • Working Class - Manufacturing goods Working Class - Manufacturing goods

became popular.became popular.

Republic of FlorenceRepublic of Florence • Ciompi Revolt - 1378 was a result of the Ciompi Revolt - 1378 was a result of the

staggering social divisions. staggering social divisions. • In 1434, Cosimo de’Medici arose to power In 1434, Cosimo de’Medici arose to power

from behind the scenes. from behind the scenes. • Signoria - Signoria - Council that ruled Florence, which Council that ruled Florence, which

was controlled by wealthy guilds. was controlled by wealthy guilds. • By 1478, Despotism emerged -> Pazzi ScandalBy 1478, Despotism emerged -> Pazzi Scandal

– podestà

The PrinceThe Prince• Cities fought within - families seeking Cities fought within - families seeking

power. (Medici and the Pazzi) power. (Medici and the Pazzi) • Despots like Lorenzo de’ Medici hired Despots like Lorenzo de’ Medici hired

military brokers called military brokers called condottiericondottieri• Political turbulence and warfare gave birth Political turbulence and warfare gave birth

to positive attributes as well. to positive attributes as well. – Diplomacy and Growth Diplomacy and Growth – Renaissance culture and Patronage Renaissance culture and Patronage

Humanism Humanism

• A cultural and intellectual movement A cultural and intellectual movement of the Renaissance that emphasized of the Renaissance that emphasized secular concerns as a result of the secular concerns as a result of the rediscovery and study of the literature, rediscovery and study of the literature, art, and civilization of ancient Greece art, and civilization of ancient Greece and Rome.and Rome.

French Nationalism French Nationalism

• Charles VII:1422-1461 Charles VII:1422-1461 “The Well-Served” “The Well-Served” unified France following unified France following the Hundred Years War. the Hundred Years War. – Strong National Identity Strong National Identity

and Armyand Army– Jacques Coeur Jacques Coeur

developed an economic developed an economic systemsystem

• Louis XI: (1461-1483) Louis XI: (1461-1483) made France a great made France a great power.power.

• Mastermind of DipolmacyMastermind of Dipolmacy• League of the Public WealLeague of the Public Weal• Collapse of the English Collapse of the English

Empire and the defeat of Empire and the defeat of Burgundy in the battle of Burgundy in the battle of Nancy 1477. Nancy 1477.

Nation-Building Nation-Building

• Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of

Aragon married in 1469. Aragon married in 1469. • Kicked out the Moors and Christianize Kicked out the Moors and Christianize

SpainSpain• The Inquisition = National Unity The Inquisition = National Unity • Invested money in Ship TravelInvested money in Ship Travel

– Columbus’ Voyage 1492 Columbus’ Voyage 1492

Spanish Unification Spanish Unification

Isabella & FerdinandIsabella & Ferdinand

War of the Roses

• 1455-1485 • England’s first

major Civil War• Dynastic instability

following the death of Edward III.

• Politics and Wealth controlled England.

Henry VI: House of LancasterHenry VI: House of Lancaster

• 1422-1461, 1470-71 • Son of Henry V

became King of England and France at 9 months old.

• Went insane and killed in the Tower of London

Edward IV: House of YorkEdward IV: House of York• 1461-1470, 1470-

1483• Ambitious, cruel,

selfish, and extremely able.

• Seized the throne from Henry based on the his father’s claim.

Richard III - YorkRichard III - York• 1483 – 1485 • Duke of Gloucester

brother to Edward IV.• Richard III was

supposed to be the avuncular protector of his two young nephews.

“A horse, a horse, My Kingdom for a horse!”

Gloriana AngelorumGloriana Angelorum

• Henry VII: Tudor Henry VII: Tudor DynastyDynasty

• Bosworth Field Bosworth Field 1485 ends the war. 1485 ends the war.

• The Court of Star The Court of Star ChamberChamber 1487 1487

Holy Roman EmpireHoly Roman Empire

• Extremely backwards, the system based in feudal society.

• Germany was divided into 300 autonomous political entities.

• 1356 – Golden Bull established a seven-member electoral college.

• Imperial Diet – Reichstag

Italy’s Political Decline

• Treaty of Lodi: 1454-1494 brought peace Treaty of Lodi: 1454-1494 brought peace between Milan and Naples. Together between Milan and Naples. Together they joined an alliance with Florence. they joined an alliance with Florence.

• Florence’s chief enemy was Venice and Florence’s chief enemy was Venice and the Papacy. the Papacy.

Ludovico il Moro

• Comes to power in Comes to power in Milan 1490 and ends Milan 1490 and ends the Treaty of Lodi. the Treaty of Lodi.

• Naples and Florence Naples and Florence side with the Borgia side with the Borgia family. family.

• Appeals to France Appeals to France for aid. for aid.

Charles VIII de France Charles VIII de France

• r. 1483-1498 • Conquered Florence

and Papal States. • Savonrola – 1452-

1498 Dominican Monk who preaches the coming of Charles as godsend.

Pope Alexander VIPope Alexander VI

• r. 1492-1503• Corrupt member of

the Borgia Family. • Machiavelli both

admired and despised this guy.

• Allied with French Louis XII

Pope Julius IIPope Julius II

• r. 1503-1513 r. 1503-1513 • Patron of Arts, Patron of Arts,

“Warrior Pope”“Warrior Pope”• Suppressed the Suppressed the

Borgias and placed Borgias and placed Romagna under Romagna under papal jurisdiction. papal jurisdiction.

• Holy League against Holy League against FranceFrance

Concordat of BolognaConcordat of Bologna

• In 1515, the French once again invaded In 1515, the French once again invaded Italy under the rule of Francis I. Italy under the rule of Francis I.

• The Concordat of Bologna 1516 gave the The Concordat of Bologna 1516 gave the French King control over French clergy French King control over French clergy in exchange for French recognition of the in exchange for French recognition of the pope’s superiority over church councils. pope’s superiority over church councils.

Niccolo’s SmileNiccolo’s Smile

The Modern StateThe Modern State• The biggest argument against The biggest argument against

Machiavelli resides in his philosophyMachiavelli resides in his philosophy

• If we say If we say The PrinceThe Prince is a political is a political theory, then we acknowledge his theory, then we acknowledge his amorality.amorality.

MachiavellianMachiavellian• “Smile in men’s faces,

smooth, deceive, and cog.” ~Richard III

• “One may smile and smile and still be a villain.” ~Hamlet

• The robbed that smiles, steals something from the thief.  ~Othello

• “Where we are, there are daggers in men’s smiles.” ~Macbeth

State of Nature State of Nature • Machiavelli purports the idea of a Machiavelli purports the idea of a

state of nature, but he does not state of nature, but he does not theorize on the state’s issues. theorize on the state’s issues.

• Political Activist = Concrete ThinkerPolitical Activist = Concrete Thinker

Modern ManModern Man• What made Machiavelli truly What made Machiavelli truly

unique was his lack of an ideal state. unique was his lack of an ideal state. • People are simply EVIL, so stop People are simply EVIL, so stop

trying to be something you’re NOT. trying to be something you’re NOT. • By lowering the bar, he liberates By lowering the bar, he liberates

man. man.

Burckhardt’s RenaissanceBurckhardt’s Renaissance

• Writing during the 1860s in Writing during the 1860s in Germany. Germany.

• Why does Burckhardt think the Why does Burckhardt think the Renaissance was the beginning of Renaissance was the beginning of Modernity? Modernity?

Rediscovery

• Burckhardt makes a lot solid points regarding Renaissance Italy. – Revival of Classical Studies – Self-Conscious Individuals – Growth of Secular Ideas of the State

• But were the Middle Ages an irrelevant interruption in the development of Modern Society?

Revolt of the Medievalists

• Medievalists have pointed out that the Middle Ages have produced:– Passionate, fully self-aware individuals– Coherent theories of state– Great Nationalistic Art

• Changes made in the 14th & 15th centuries not significant

Medieval Institutions

• Parliamentary Government

• University Education • Legal Tradition

Recasting the Renaissance

• One cannot deny the changes that occurred from the 14th to the 15th century, but these were not dramatic changes.

• The culture of the Renaissance can be described as a boy growing into a man … it is a gradual process, not immediate.

Next Week

• Next week we will look to developments in Europe during the Reformation. In many ways these developments were a continuation from the Renaissance period.

• What exactly was Martin Luther so hot and bothered about?