Part ISeptember 14, 2009

The mid 1400’s saw both chaos, and the flowering of new thoughts and ideas.

Europe was dealing with 3 major crisis; two of which it was recovering from

1375-1527 Not just a single event, but a culmination

of 150 years of changing thought Renaissance = French for rebirth A time of transition from medieval to

modern times.

Renaissance was characterized by: Growing national consciousness Political centralization Growing secular control of thought and culture Growing challenges to the standing religious

culture

Italy fragmented into competing city states (see map page 319)

Major conflict between the pope in Rome and Holy Roman Emperor

The Holy Roman Empire was one of the first attempts at providing for a unified political body to govern the 300+ German Territories (see page 337-338)

6 main centers of power: Duchy of Milan Republic of Genoa Republic of Florence Republic of Venice Papal States Kingdom of Naples

Renaissance society first took distinctive shape within the merchant cities of late medieval Italy.

Italy had a cultural advantage over the rest of Europe It’s geography made it a natural gateway

between East and West (See map on the wall!)

Social Class and Conflict There were many sources of conflict within Italy at

this time Many of these were the conflicts between classes. There were 4 main classes in Italy:

Grandi – The “Old Rich” : Made of Nobles and Merchants

Popolo Grosso – The “Fat People”: Newly emergent rich merchant class, bankers and capitalists

Middle class ranks of show owners, guild masters, etc.

Popolo Minuto: The “Little People” – The lower economic classes

Paupers: Those having no wealth at all.

Most of the city states were run by a strong man or a strong family who tolerated no challenge to their rule. The exception was Venice, which developed

a merchant controlled republican system Some ruled behind the scenes, while

some took a more direct role The art of diplomacy also began to

develop as the city states established embassies in the territory of each city state and kept an eye on not only of foreign developments, but on developments within Italy.

Some of the most important families of the time in Italy: De’ Medici’s of Florence Visconti’s and Sforza’s of Milan