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Renaissance Life. Renaissance. - Rebirth of ideas and intellectualism -Greek and Roman ideals -Explosion of creativity in art, writing and thought -Revival of art and learning - Began in Italy – 1300-1600 -Ancient history was rich in Italy
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Renaissance -Rebirth of ideas and intellectualism -Greek and Roman ideals -Explosion of creativity in art, writing and thought -Revival of art and learning -Began in Italy – 1300-1600 -Ancient history was rich in Italy -Lots of trade contact – helped the Renaissance spread -Why Italy was the birthplace of the Renaissance: -Thriving cities -A wealthy merchant class (it was an upper class movement) -Classical heritage of Greece and Rome
Italian City States -Italian City States -Centers of trade -Overseas trade, helped by the Crusades, led to the growth of large city-states in northern Italy -Northern Italy was urban while the rest of Europe was rural at this time -Milan, Florence, Venice -1300s – Bubonic plague struck these cities hard – killed up to 60% -Wealthy merchant class emerges from the plague – work needs to be done and they can determine their wage -Ran by wealthy merchants or families -Milan – Sforza family -Florence – Medici family -Banking industry
New Politics -Renaissance time period marks the beginnings of a new age of monarchs -Niccolo Machiavelli -The Prince - 1513 -How to rule effectively -How to keep one’s power -Rejected morality as the number one motive of a ruler -Most people are selfish, fickle and corrupt -To succeed in such a wicked world a Prince most be as strong as a lion and shrewd as a fox -In the real world of power and politics a Prince must sometimes mislead the people and lie to his opponents -Keeping power becomes the goal of every ruler -Machiavellian – crafty or deceitful action used for one’s own advantage
Humanism -Humanism – an intellectual movement that focused on human potential and achievements -Classical education – history, literature and philosophy (called humanities) -Humanists suggested that humans may enjoy life without offending God -Secularism – worldly rather than spiritual and concerned with the here and now (more materialistic) -Individualism – you are number 1 -Petrarch – first man of the Renaissance -1304-1374 -Revived forgotten works -Interest in civic duty
Nobility -Society – 3 Main Classes -Clergy -Nobility -Peasants -Baldassare Castiglione -The Book of Courtier -A guide book for proper manners of noble people -How to be a Renaissance Man and Renaissance Woman -Renaissance Men – charming, witty, well educated in the classics, dance, sing, play music, write poetry, be a skilled rider, wrestler and swordsman -Renaissance Women – know the classics and be charming but not expected to seek fame like the men – expected to inspire art but rarely create art
Commoners -Peasants were 85-90% of the population -Urban poverty was great -Parents often continued to arrange marriages -Dominant role of the male in society and family -Did not become Renaissance people – that was for the wealthy -Blue collar working class
Everyday Life -Lots of physical work for most people -Housing varied greatly -Most lived in small thatch roofed houses -Little furniture -Straw sacks for beds - “Bed bugs” -Some lived in lavish mansions – very small percent -Diets became more varied through trade and new food items from the new World -Recreation -Gatherings, Holidays, Plays
Superstition -Belief in Superstition -Christian in faith, but wanted some explanation for daily events -Witchcraft -Some called Good witches or wise people -Others called Bad witches – Deal with Satan -Witchcraft accusations mostly centered on women -Witch hunting begins
Learning Advances -Few people could read but printing expanded -1300s – block printing reached Europe from China -This process was too slow to satisfy the Renaissance demand for knowledge, information and books -Moveable Type Printing Press -Johannes Gutenberg around 1450 -Created a new process to produce books quickly and cheaply -For the first time books were cheap enough that many people could buy them -Started with Religious works -Gutenberg Bible – 1455 – first full-sized book printed with movable type -Almanacs, travel guides and medical manuals -A copyist took 5 months to produce a single book – 1 man and a printing press could produce 500 books in that time span
New Roles -Traditional views decline -Superstitions start to fade with the Renaissance -Self-sufficiency declines as people move to cities -Governments play larger role in peoples’ lives