The Renaissance World History

1. The RenaissanceWorld History

2. Johann Gutenberg & The Printing Press • Printing pioneered by the Chinese • German Gutenberg dev. movable type techniques • Process more efficient • 1st printed work: certificates of indulgences • Gutenberg Bible (1455) 200 copies printed • 1st mass produced work • Cost 300 Florins • Cheaper & faster than monk, hand-written copies • Caused a cultural rev. in Europe • Enabled the spread of new ideas: Renaissance and Reformation • Turning point btwn. Middle Ages and Early Modern Period • Resulted in a rise in literacy

3. Town Life during the Renaissance • Guilds and the middle class continue their ascent to power that began in the Middle Ages • Merchants and bankers became the most important segment of society • Society • Towns grew as commerce grew, people began to urbanize and farm less • Power • Middle class held most of the power by forcing lords to grant charters for new towns and controlling banking • Status • Determined by wealth and ability

4. The Growth of Italian City-States • What is the Renaissance, & why Italy? • French for “rebirth”; a revival in arts and learning • Renewed interest in ancient Greek and Roman culture • Italian city-states displayed their wealth by supporting artists • Why were Italian City-States so powerful? • Strong ties w/ Byzantine and Muslim merchants • Each city-state specialized in one economic area • Milan: metal goods and military armor • Florence: banking and textiles • Venice: Asian Goods • Rome: religious center for pilgrims

5. Florence: the most influential city-state • Maintained a thriving wool and silk industry • acted as the “middle man” in exchange of goods from the East • sold insurance to sea traders • created banks that made loans to monarchs and popes and exchanged currencies • Medici family promoted trade, banking, art, learning, and intense civic pride

6. A new interest in Ancient Culture Knowledge of classical works was rediscovered in the Middle Ages- only those in holy orders could read the Greek and Roman writings Crusades made people eager to learn about the world outside of Europe Scholars believed classical writings would help solve modern problems A Fascination with Classical Culture Artists used ancient art as models Donatello copied the Roman ideal of the human body Brunelleschi designed buildings after studying ancient ruins in Rome The practice of copying ancient style led to innovations in technique Humanism: The Spirit of the Renaissance

7. Donatello’s Atys Donatello’s David

8. Brunelleschi’s il Duomo

9. Studied ancient writings Studied Latin, Greek, history, and mathematics Opened schools Emphasized studying works in language they were written in Studied and wrote literature written in the vernacular Secularism was emphasized by many while maintaining Christian beliefs A Belief in Human Potential Believed each person could achieve great things. Claimed people educated in the classics could create a better world Emphasized human achievement on earth, rather than the afterlife A New Type of Scholar Called a Humanist

10. Petrarch (Petrarca) 1304-1374

11. Background 1st Humanist (1300s) Petrarch and Dante are considered the fathers of the Renaissance Scholar, poet Wrote in Latin Works include: a guide to the Holy Land, sonnets to his love Laura, an early self-help book, letters to historical figures Philosophy Believed in the value of studying ancient history and literature Study of human thought and action Saw no conflict with realizing humanity’s potential and having religious faith Emphasized solitude & study or a contemplative life, rather than an active life experiencing the world

12. Dante Alighieri 1265-1321

13. The greatest literary statement produced in Europe in the late Medieval Period Written in vernacular, the Tuscan dialect Established the vernacular as an appropriate language for all works, replacing Latin (access to more people) This dialect became the basis for the modern Italian language Describes a fictionalized account of Dante’s journey through Hell (Inferno), Purgatory (Purgatorio), and Paradise (Paradiso) Inferno described as having 9 levels, each level getting worse and being the home to worse sins 9th level is home to those who commit treachery La Divina Commedia The Divine Comedy

14. Erasmus of Rotterdam 1466-1536

15. Northern Europe was still more religious Christian Humanism – reform the Church by eliminating abuses and restore piety Promoted learning as a way to understand Christianity better Studied original versions of the Bible written in Hebrew and Latin Criticized Renaissance Popes as corrupt and unconcerned with religious matters Wrote in Latin, but encouraged the works to be translated into the vernacular Blamed for introducing the ideas that led to the Reformation, he “laid the egg” according to the Church Known to question some Church practices and Luther’s ideas Many of his translations are still in use today Philosophy and Contributions

16. Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) • Florentine statesman • The Prince • A handbook for politicians • Offers a realistic analysis of politics • Put ideas that already existed on paper • “The End Justifies the Means”