The Italian Renaissance (1330-1527)

1. The Italian Renaissance(1330-1527)

2. What was it? A “rebirth of classical ideas” when Italian cities became the intellectual and artistic centers of Europe. It was the awakening of the human spirit - feelings and thoughts- that celebrated nature and the dignity of man with new learning and new styles of art.

3. What was it? It was not a religious or scientific change; but one that was moral, secular (non-religious) , and personal.

4. Where did it occur? Italian City-States: FlorenceRome Venice Milan Naples Genoa

5. Italian City-States at the time of the Renaissance

6. Who was involved? • Ruling families of the Italian city-states • Wealthy merchants who sponsoredthe artists • Pope and higher ranking church officials • Nobility & persons of power • Scholars & educated

7. Who was involved? • Renaissance culture applied almost exclusively to the upper classes (popolograsso). • Upper classes had the luxury of time to spend learning the classics. Women were also included. • Renaissance ideas had little impact on common people (popolominuto).Peasantry was largely illiterate and poor • ; Working classes and small merchants were far too • preoccupied with the concerns of daily life.

8. Who was involved? • The key individuals in art were • MichelangeloDaVinciRaphaelBotticelliTitianDonatelloBrunelleschi • Early innovators • GiottoMassacio

9. Who was involved? • The key individuals in literature were • Boccaccio: The Decameron • Dante: The Divine Comedy...Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradisio • Machiavelli: The Prince (1513) • Castiglione:The Book of the Courtier(1518)rules on the correct behavior of man • Early innovators • Petrarch: Revived Ancient Greek & Roman Themes- “Father of Humanism”

10. Why did the Renaissance occur? • Economic growth was the basis for the Renaissance • Northern Italy (centrally located) benefited from trade between the Middle East/Asia and the rest of Europe. • Extreme competition between city-states in Italy. • Italy recovered faster from the tragedy of the Plague and was unaffected by war, unlike England & France.

11. How did it occur? • It started in Florence as the Medici family, powerful merchants, gained control of papal banking. • Merchants and nobility showed their wealth by patronizing the arts. • Individuals had a loyalty to their own city-states.

12. How did it occur? • Rivalries led to competition among cities and a rebirth of artists in Italy. • The popes attempted to compete with the monarchs of Europe- used their wealth to build a “palace”- the Vatican.

13. Results of the event • The Renaissance led to advances in culture throughout Europe; it also fostered a spirit of nationalism. • Renaissance was characterized by self-conscious awareness that Italians were living in a new era - supported by wealthy patrons.

14. Results of the event • The Renaissance was viewed as “the light” after the gloom of the Dark Ages. • A deep interest in Latin, a revival of the antique lifestyle, and a more secular spirit took root. • A new individualism appeared - Humanism.

15. Results of the event • City-state rivalries did not allow for a united Italy. • The region became a battleground in a series of power struggles between Spain and France, and later the Holy Roman Empire, over territory. • Sack of Rome in 1527 by armies of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V (who was also king of Spain) symbolized the end of the Renaissance in Italy.

16. Influence on later historical events • Italian Renaissance influences the Northern Renaissance in NW Europe. • The concept that “the state is supreme to the church”- New monarchs assert power over national churches. • Renaissance popes become worldly and corrupt.

17. Influence on later historical events • The rise of Portuguese & Spanish exploration- they were attempting to trade by avoiding the Italian controlled Mediterranean. • A split in the Christian church- Protestant Reformation