what is the renaissance?? -a 300 year period in western europe that marked the revival of art,...
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WHAT IS THE RENAISSANCE??
-A 300 year period in Western Europe that marked the revival of art, literature and learning.
- a transition period between medieval and modern Europe.
-A time of creativity and change in the areas ex. Politics, culture,society and economics.
-A spiritual reawakening
- A renewed interest in the classical learning of the past.
Medieval Europe had been a fragmented feudal society with an agricultural economy
Its thought and culture dominated by the church
Renaissance Europe, especially after the 14th century was characterized by growing national consciousness and political centralization
An urban economy based on organized commerce and capitalism
With ever greater lay and secular control of thought culture and religion.
WHY ITALY??
-Center of Ancient Roman History.
-Italian cities survived the Middle Ages and the Plague
-Milan, Florence, Genoa, and Venice in the north Rome in the center and Naples in the south all make an impact.
-Centers of trade
-Powerful merchant class evolves and promotes a cultural rebirth.
RENAISSANCE CITY-STATES
Venice- Controlled by a Merchant Oligarchy, also home of the “12 Families”
Milan- Controlled by the despots of the Sforza Family
Papal States- Controlled by the traditional, powerful families of Rome
Naples- Controlled by the nobility of the House of Aragon
Florence- Controlled by the famous Medicis
Social Strife and competition for political power was so intense within cities that most had evolved to despotism. Florence was the most striking example
There were 4 social groups in Florence
•the old rich or nobles
•newly rich merchant class “poppolo grosso” or fat people
•the middle-burgher ranks: guild masters, shopkeepers, professionals
•Finally, the little people, popolo minuto
-The Medici family of Florence starts a banking business, which prospers
-Family expands empire to include other things- wool,mining etc.
- wealthiest family in Florence
-Translates into power
-Uncrowned king of Florence for years
-Best known is Cosimo
-Patron or financial supporter of the arts
POLITICAL HUMANISM
Niccolo Machiavelli- Author of important political treatise “The Prince”
Had served as a minor government official in the Republican government of Florence
Wrote to stress that rulers must be concerned with “the way things are, not the way they wish them to be.”
Wanted the Italian city- states to unite so that they would become stronger!
-An intellectual movement, study of classic culture of Greece and Rome.
-focus on worldly subjects rather than religious issues.
-Use wisdom of ancients to increase the understanding of their own times
-Education should stimulate a person creativity
-Humanist do not accept texts without question but, studied them in light of their own experiences. Leonardo Da Vinci
RENAISSANCE HUMANISM
Humanists advocated the study of the Classics in Greek and LatinStressed the worth of the individual, individualism, as opposed to the traditional teachings of scholasticism and the ChurchHumanistic education was seen as a way for a man to become complete; consisted of reading, writing, music, and rhetoricSeen in works of men such as Petrarch, Lorenzo Valla, and Pico della Mirandola
PETRARCH
Francesco Petrarch, Florence
Early humanist
Found and preserved ancient Greek and Roman manuscripts
Encouraged others to read and preserve these works as well
Wrote sonnets
“one thing that I know, is that I know nothing”
-Art the best expression of humanism in the Renaissance
-Patrons played large part in artists evolution
-Renaissance reflect humanist concerns
-Produced portraits of well-known figures of the day reflecting importance of individual achievement.
-Studied ancient Roman works, revived classic forms
-Represented both people and landscape in a realistic fashion.
Artists begin using the rules of perspectives
Making distant objects smaller
Use of shading to make objects look round or real
Studied the human anatomy
Allowed them to paint people more accurately