West Civ: Chp 12- The Renaissance

difference in characteristics of the italian renai.

difference in characteristics of the italian renai.

many elements of continuity with middle ages, but it has its own distinguished characteristics.

Humanism

• belief in the rebirth of classical culture

• urban and more secular society

• revived emphasis on individual ability

how did the attitude change

shifts from the art of dying (middle ages) to the art of living (the renaissance)

Jacob Burkhardt

• created the modern concept of the renaissance

• “Civilization of the renaissance in Italy” (1860)

what did jacob burkhardt’s book discuss

• revival of antiquity

• perfecting of the individual

• worldliness

why did the renai. begin in italy

1. birthplace of roman civilization, proximity to greece

2. tremendous wealth of the city states

3. catholic church encouraged learning and culture

4. higher level of literacy and lay education in italy.

what did humanists do

• looked back at the cultures of greece and rome for inspiration

• they emphasized humanities like grammar, rhetoric, history, literature, philosophy, languages, and art.

role of religion in the renai

• most humanists were devoted christians

• they would not focus on religious issues like the medieval thinkings, but more worldly subjects

francesco petrarch

(1304-1374)

• was one of the first humanists to reflect the new ideas

• was a poet and writer

• famous for his love poems to laura “sonnets to laura”

• nicknamed “father of humanism”

• wrote in vernacular

niccolo machiavelli

(1469-1527)

-published “the prince”

“the prince

• written by machiavelli

• was a hand book for rulers on how to keep power

• was based on the medici family

• theme: morality is not important, the end justifies the means

baldassare castiglione

(1478-1529)

• published “the book of the courtier”

“the book of the courtier”

published by castiglione in 1528

became one of the most widely read books in the renai

what reflected the humanist thought the most

art

aspects of renai. art

• portrayed religious themes

• however, they often set religious figures in classical greek and roman background

• they glorified god by glorifying humanity

• portrayed secular figures of the day

• artists studied ancient greek and roman works to revive classical forms

new artist techniques

1. rules of perspective that allow more realistic works

2. use of shading to make objects look real and round

3. use of new oil paints

4. artists studied human anatomy thus they were able to portray the human body much more accurately than the medieval artists

how did the artist change from middle ages to renai.

the artist was no longer an anonymous laborer, but thanks to wealthy patrons, some will be well paid and accepted as a part of society’s elite

***they were no longer regarded as artisans but as artistic geniuses

• their creative energies akin to the divine

Leonardo Da Vinci

(1452-1519)

• mona lisa, the last supper

• was known as the “renaissance man” because he was talented at many things

michelangelo

(1475-1564)

• david, pieta, sistine chapel

raphael

(1483-1520)

• madonna paintings, the school of athens

filippo brunelleschi

(1377-1446)

• cathedral in florence- The Duomo

why did the renaissance spread

by the 1400s, the cities in northern europe began to enjoy the economic growth and wealth that allowed them to develop their own renaissance

also because of the gutenberg press

johann gutenberg

• a german who aided in the spread of new ideas

• perfected the printing press and moveable type in the mid 1450s

how did the gutenberg press affect society

• it is estimated that the number of books in europe went from a few thousand in the 1450s to aprox. 40k titles and about 8-10 million copies by 1500.

the expansion of printing

by 1500, there were 1000 printers

• venice emerges as a printing center with almost 100 printers producing almost 2 million volumes

flemish artists

jan van eyck

pieter bruegel

hieronymus bosch

jan van eyck

(1390-1441)

• arnolifini wedding, ghent altarpiece

pieter bruegel

(1525-1569)

• peasant wedding, peasant dance, children’s games

hieronymus bosch

(1450-1516)

• garden of earthly delights

german artists

albert durer

albert durer

(1471-1528)

• known as “the leonardo of the north”

• self portrait, woodcuts

five city states in italy

1. Milan

2. Republic of venice

3. Florence

4. Papal states

5. Kingdom of naples

medici family

• The medici’s were the wealthiest family in italy

• Wealth came from banking and commerce

• They lost a lot of their wealth when their assets came into different hands and they made bad deals. 

liberal studies

1. Things like grammar, rhetoric, history, literature, philosophy, languages, and art. 

2. Were emphasized in the renaissance 

3. Lower classes were able to study them because of the new printing press.

social structure

• Was divided into three sects: clergy, nobility, peasants/ everyone else

marriage

• Women were married young, men were married old

• Women were owned by their husbands basically

• They took care of the house and kids and rarely had jobs

• They often had a LOT of kids because a lot of them died rip

• Were arranged and used to strengthen political ties

• Average age gap was 13 years. 

role of women

1. Women who were educated in the humanist fashion had the power and could establish literary careers. 

2. For the most part, women were more restricted in the renai. and found themselves more subject to men

Isotta Nogarola

1. Wrote letters and treaties

Cassandra fedele

1. Educated in latin and greek 

2. Was an orator

Laura cereta

1. Was educated in latin 

2. Defended women's ability to pursue scholarly things

erasmus

popularized the reform of christian humanism

wrote “the handbook of the christian knight”