Chapter 12 - Renaissance

Impact of the Printing Press (c. 1450, Gutenberg, Mainz)

• Mass-produced books at far lower cost, rapidly increasing literacy among urban populations.

• Spread humanist texts, classical works, and later religious criticism across Europe.

• Undermined Church control over knowledge and accelerated cultural change.

Humanism (c. 1300–1600, Italy → Europe)

• Intellectual movement emphasizing classical Greek and Roman texts.

• Focused on grammar, rhetoric, history, poetry, and moral philosophy.

• Encouraged belief in human potential and individual achievement.

Neoplatonism (15th c., Florence)

• Revival of Plato combined with Christian theology.

• Emphasized spiritual beauty and the soul’s ascent toward God.

• Strong influence on Renaissance art and philosophy.

La Querelle des Femmes (15th–16th c.)

• Ongoing debate over women’s nature, education, and moral capacity.

• Included both male and female authors.

• Early foundation for feminist intellectual history.

Estates General (France, first met 1302)

• Assembly of clergy, nobility, and commoners.

• Used mainly to approve taxes like the taille.

• Declined in power as monarchy centralized.

Taille (France, permanent by 15th c.)

• Direct tax on peasants.

• Funded standing royal armies.

• Strengthened monarchial authority.

Louis XI (r. 1461–1483, France)

• Expanded royal bureaucracy and taxation.

• Weakened feudal nobility.

• Key figure in French state-building.

Ferdinand & Isabella (r. 1479–1516, Spain)

• Unified Spain politically and religiously.

• Sponsored overseas exploration (Columbus, 1492).

• Used the Inquisition to enforce Catholic unity.

Charles V (r. 1519–1556)

• Ruled Spain, Holy Roman Empire, and overseas territories.

• Faced religious division and constant warfare.

• Represented peak of Habsburg power.

Maximilian I (r. 1493–1519)

• Expanded Habsburg influence through marriage alliances.

• Strengthened imperial administration.

• Predecessor to Charles V.

Ivan III “the Great” (r. 1462–1505, Russia)

• Ended Mongol dominance.

• Centralized Russian power.

• Claimed legacy of Byzantium (“Third Rome”).

Sejm (Poland-Lithuania)

• Noble assembly that limited royal authority.

• Reflected weak centralization.

• Contrast to absolutist monarchies.

Florence

• Banking and textile center.

• Ruled by merchant elites.

• Cradle of Renaissance art and humanism.

• Medici Family

Venice

• Maritime trading republic.

• Wealth from Mediterranean commerce.

• Stable oligarchic government.

Milan

• Militarized city-state.

• Ruled by Sforza family.

• Frequent use of mercenaries.

• Northern Italy

Naples

• Southern Italian kingdom.

• Politically unstable.

• Less influential culturally.

• Wealthy

• Contested Frequently

• Known for its strategic location.

• Renowned for its vibrant culture and cuisine.

Condottieri (15th c.)

• Mercenary military leaders.

• Employed by city-states.

• Reflected decline of feudal armies.

Medici Family (Florence, 15th c.)

• Banking dynasty.

• Major patrons of Renaissance art.

• Controlled Florentine politics indirectly.

• Woolen/TExtile Industry

• Patronized Michaelangelo/Leonardo Da Vinci

• Lorenzo de Medici (Magnificent)

• Cosimo de Medici

• Influential in the development of Florence.

Lorenzo de’ Medici “the Magnificent” (1449–1492)

• De facto ruler of Florence.

• Successor of Cosimo de Medici

• Patron of Michelangelo and Botticelli.

• Promoted stability and culture.

Borgia Family (Rome, late 1400s)

• Powerful papal family.

• Known for corruption and political ambition.

• Symbol of papal moral decline.

• Established dynastic rule in Italy.

• Included Pope Alexander VI and Cesare Borgia.

• Papal States/Spain

Cesare Borgia (1475–1507)

• Son of Pope Alexander VI.

• Ruthless political leader.

• Model for Machiavelli’s ideal ruler.

• Duke of Valentinois

Savonarola (1452–1498)

• Dominican friar in Florence.

• Condemned luxury and corruption.

• Executed for heresy.

• Excommunicated

• Very Radical preacher who called for moral reform in the Church (destruction of secular art)

Petrarch (1304–1374)

• “Father of Humanism.”

• Rediscovered classical manuscripts.

• Emphasized personal reflection and classical learning.

• Mainly Elites Knew Him

• His work laid the foundation for Renaissance humanism, influencing literature and education.

Dante Alighieri (1265–1321)

• Divine Comedy (1308–1321).

• Written in vernacular Italian.

• Bridge between medieval and Renaissance thought.

Giovanni Boccaccio (1313–1375)

• The Decameron.

• Focused on human behavior and realism.

• Influenced Renaissance prose.

Pico della Mirandola (1463–1494)

• Oration on the Dignity of Man (1486).

• Celebrated human potential.

• Core humanist text.

• Free will

• Italian Philosopher

Marsilio Ficino (1433–1499)

• Translated Plato.

• Promoted Neoplatonism.

• Influenced Renaissance spirituality.

Lorenzo Valla (1407–1457)

• Used philology to expose forged Church documents.

• Criticized scholasticism.

• Strengthened historical criticism.

• “Donation of Constantine” was a forgery, his most famous production.

Leonardo Bruni (1370–1444)

• Civic humanist.

• Emphasized active political life.

• Influenced Renaissance education.

• “History of the Fortunate People”

• Florentine Historian

Machiavelli (1469–1527)

• The Prince (1513).

• Argued politics should be judged by results.

• Separated morality from power.

• Italian Florentine Thinker

• No Morals, solely political security.

• “Ends Justify the Means”

Castiglione (1478–1529)

• The Book of the Courtier (1528).

• Defined ideal Renaissance courtier.

• Emphasized grace, education, and self-control, nonchalance, etc.

• Italian Writer/Courtier

Laura Cereta (1469–1499)

• Female humanist writer.

• Advocated women’s education.

• Participant in Querelle des Femmes.

• Italian Feminist

• Known for her letters advocating women's rights and education.

• Her works challenged traditional gender roles during the Renaissance.

Giotto (c. 1267–1337)

• Early realism.

• Emotional expression.

• Broke medieval flat style.

• Father of “Renaissance Art”

• 3D Painting (Perspective)

• Frescoes Expert

• Italian

Masaccio (1401–1428)

• Linear perspective.

• Realistic anatomy.

• Influenced later painters.

• Frescoes in the Brancacci Chapel

Brunelleschi (1377–1446)

• Dome of Florence Cathedral.

• Developed linear perspective.

• Classical architectural revival.

• The Duomo (Based it off the nature of an Egg)

Donatello (1386–1466)

• Realistic sculpture.

• Classical inspiration.

• Emotional depth.

• Italian Sculptor

• Realism

• Bronze David Statue (Italian Renaissance Depiction)

Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519)

• Mona Lisa,

• Last Supper.

• Artist, scientist, engineer.

• Ideal Renaissance Man.

• Dissected real bodies for accuracy

Michelangelo (1475–1564)

• David,

• Sistine Chapel.

• Focus on human form.

• Artistic genius and individuality.

Raphael (1483–1520)

• Balanced composition.

• School of Athens (not religious)

• Classical harmony.

• Italian Painter

• Perspective

Botticelli (1445–1510)

• Birth of Venus.

• Primavera

• Italian Painter

• Early Renaissance Art

• Mythological themes.

• Neoplatonic influence.

Titian (c. 1488–1576)

• Venetian painter.

• Master of color.

• Portraiture and myth.

• Middle Ages/Italian Renaissance Art

Tintoretto (1518–1594)

• Dramatic movement.

• Late Renaissance style.

• Emotional intensity.

• Venetian Painter

• Perspective

• Mannerism Specialist

Benvenuto Cellini (1500–1571)

• Sculptor and goldsmith.

• Celebrated individual genius.

• Wrote influential autobiography.

• “Pursues with the Head of Medusa”

• Autobiography

Leon Battista Alberti (1404–1472)

• Architect and theorist.

• Wrote on proportion and beauty.

• Classical ideals in architecture.

• Presented the idea of a “Renaissance Man”

• Art Theory

Andrea Palladio (1508–1580)

• Classical architectural symmetry.

• Influenced later European buildings.

• Emphasis on harmony.

• Italian Architect

• “Four Books of Architecture”

Jan van Eyck (c. 1390–1441)

• Oil painting innovation.

• Extreme realism.

• Northern Renaissance pioneer.

• Anolfini

• Flemish Painter

Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528)

• Printmaker and painter.

• Blended Italian and Northern styles.

• Humanist artist.

• Woodcuts/Engravings/Perspective Specialist

• German Painter

Pieter Brueghel the Elder (c. 1525–1569)

• Peasant life scenes.

• Social and moral commentary.

• Focus on everyday people.

• Flemish Renaissance Painter

• Hunters in the Snow

Hieronymus Bosch (c. 1450–1516)

• Surreal religious imagery.

• Moral warnings.

• Medieval influence.

• Dutch Painter

• Explored Human “Sin”

• Vivid Depicts of Hell

• Known for fantastical landscapes and bizarre figures.

• Significant work: "The Garden of Earthly Delights."

Rembrandt (1606–1669)

• Emotional realism.

• Master of light and shadow.

• Dutch Golden Age.

John Wycliffe (c. 1320–1384)

• Criticized Church wealth.

• Translated Bible into English.

• Pre-Reformation thinker.

• Vernacular Language

• Christian Humanist

• Cassandra to Protestant Reformation

Jan Hus (c. 1370–1415)

• Criticized Church corruption.

• Influenced by Wycliffe.

• Executed for heresy.

• Bohemian Reformer

• Reform on the Church

• Influenced Protestant Movements

Marsilius of Padua (c. 1275–1342)

• Defensor Pacis (1324).

• Argued secular authority over Church.

• Early political secularism.

• Also known as Marsiglio of Padua

• Advocated for the sovereignty of the people

Isabella d’Este (1474–1539)

• Patron of Renaissance art.

• Political influence in Mantua.

• Model Renaissance woman.

• “First Lady Of The Renaissance”

Battista Sforza (1446–1472)

• Noblewoman and patron.

• Represented elite female influence.

• Featured in Renaissance portraiture.

• A Renaissance Women

• Apart of the Sofrza Family (Milan Family)

Jacob Burckhardt (1818–1897)

• Wrote The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy.

• Emphasized individualism.

• Shaped modern Renaissance interpretation.

• Celebrated the Time

• Secularism/Individualism Heavy

Jean Bodin (1530–1596)

• Political theorist.

• Advocated sovereignty.

• Foundations of modern state theory.

• French Political philosopher

• Absolutism Justifier for Louis XIV/Louis XIII/Louis XVI

Hugh Grotius (1583–1645)

• Dutch Philosopher

• Foundation in International Law

• National Law Theory

• Advocated laws securing peace, war, and maritime conduct