Chapter 12.1

Big Idea: Italian Intellectuals enter new age of achievement

Renaissance (1300’s -1400’s) • Renaissance=Rebirth /renewal

• 3 Characteristics– Italy -urban society=secular (worldly) views.– Recovery from disasters of middle ages.

(plague, political instability, & decline of church power)

– Individualism (ability & universal person).

I am the Renaissance!

 

The Italian States

• Started –Italy – not united –independent

city-states -wealthy families control

– Urban (Cities)-trade -ideas spread fast • Milan -richest city-states. • Venice –trade link

between Asia & western Europe

• Florence -Controlled by Medici family & art patrons (support artist)

Italian Wars• Rest of Europe wants Italy’s Riches.• Foreign domination

– 1494 France & Spain fight over Italy - 30yrs. • Spanish hired to protect Italian states-no pay

– Spain sacked Rome =Spanish dominated Italy.

 

 Machiavelli on Power

• Niccolo Machiavelli, wrote “The Prince”– How to acquire & keep

political power – human nature is self-

centered. – Leaders should not focus

on morals to rule

Renaissance Society-p.402

• 1st estate-Clergy• 2nd estate -Nobility

• “The Book of the Courtier,” by Castiglione • nobles were….

• Born, not made • Warriors & educated.

• 3rd estate• Peasants- worked manors

• legally free (serfs)• Towns people

• patricians-wealthy (trade, industry, & banking)• burghers-shopkeepers, artisans, guild

masters/members.• workers & unemployed

Family and Marriage

• Family bond=security. • Arranged marriages with dowry• Father/husband -dominant,

– Children -adults when their father freed them.

Johannes Gutenberg

• Invented movable type • Gutenberg Bible. • rise of literacy -spreading of ideas• More books=Cheap books

Section 1 Review• Renaissance means what?• Rebirth• What are the most important characteristics

of the Renaissance?• Urban society• An age of recovery from plagues, political

upheaval, and decline of Church authority.• A higher regard for the value of the individual

human.

Section 1 Review• The Book of the Courtier was written by

who?• Castiglione• Means worldly?• Secular• This book said a noble should fulfill certain

ideas, perform military exercises, and gain a classical education.

• The Book of the Courtier

Section 1 Review• Sum of money given to the groom by the

wife’s family.• Dowry• Political work by Machiavelli• The Prince• He encouraged rulers and would-be rulers to

believe that human nature was self-centered.• Machiavelli

Section 1 Review• The city-state that was led by a group of

wealthy merchant-aristocrats was what?• Venice• Turning point that caused Charles VIII of

France to lose the Italian wars.• The invasion and sack of Rome in 1537• How did the printing press contribute to the

Renaissance?• It brought renewed interest in learning and

culture, spread ideas faster and more widely then ever before.