Ap Exam U1 Review

Overview of the Renaissance

Time Period: Approximately 1300 - 1527

Characterized by political fragmentation with city-states (e.g., Florence, Genoa, Venice).

Lack of national government; many states ruled by despots or independent military leaders (Condottieri).

Political Landscape

• Florence became a republic later in the Renaissance, specifically around the mid-15th century (1434).

• City-states engaged in warfare (e.g., the Italian Wars) with one another, making them vulnerable to outside attacks.

  • Example: Charles V's troops attacked in 1527, marking the end of the Renaissance in Italy.

• The Habsburgs' Holy Roman Empire faced several adversaries, including:

  • The Valois dynasty in France

  • Ottoman Empire and Muslim forces in the Mediterranean region.

Economic Factors

The Medici Family:

• Wealthy merchant family based in Florence.

• Loaned money to European kings, significantly influencing politics and culture.

• Key figures: Cosimo de' Medici (1389-1464), known for his patronage of the arts and politics.

The Fugger family from the North was similarly influential around the same period.

• Established banking and trade networks in Europe.

The establishment of basic institutions of banking, law, government, and economic production during the Middle Ages refined during the Renaissance.

• Florence's golden florin became the standard European currency.

• Major merchant cities: Venice and Genoa, pivotal to trade routes.

• Rise of merchant capitalism weakened nobility and allowed merchant families to ascend social ranks.

• Two women from the Medici family, Catherine de' Medici and Marie de' Medici, married into French royalty in the 16th century, highlighting connections across regions.

Cultural Developments

Northern Renaissance

Technical Innovations:

• Advancements in printing (circa 1450) with Johannes Gutenberg's printing press leading to the spread of literature and ideas.

• Developments in mathematics, cartography, and optical devices (e.g., lenses, telescopes), contributing to exploration.

Religious Context:

• Mysticism flourished, promoting the belief of individual communion with God, leading to roots of the Reformation (1517).

• Christian humanists like Erasmus studied Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, providing a blend of new and old religious practices.

Social Change

• Shift from focusing solely on the afterlife to recognizing human capacity to influence the world.

• The Pope's use of art during the High Renaissance (circa 1500-1530) to reinforce power, notably with works commissioned by Michelangelo and Raphael.

• Celebration of human potential in various fields.

  • Civic humanism emphasized public projects (e.g., hospitals, parks, fountains) prioritized over cathedrals.

• Renaissance Man ideal: Achievements in war, poetry, knowledge of arts, sciences, and culture, exemplified by figures like Leonardo da Vinci.

• Castiglione's "The Courtier" (1528) set standards for manners and decorum, highlighting class divisions between nobility and rising middle class.

• Women: Some educated to manage affairs, while others confined to convents; marriages often arranged among merchant families.

Intellectual Developments

• Revival of Classical knowledge, especially focused on Roman and Greek cultural heritage.

• Renaissance scholars sought ancient manuscripts to solve contemporary problems, securing works from monastic libraries.

• Printing technology spread knowledge, increasing accessibility of learning materials.

• Writers like Dante (1265-1321) and Petrarch (1304-1374) wrote in vernacular, making literature more relatable and promoting national languages.

Artistic Advancements

• Architecture and sculpture drew inspiration from ancient Greece and Rome, using classical forms and proportions.

• Independent and freestanding sculptures, including portrait busts and nudes, marked a departure from medieval styles.

• Innovations in painting techniques:

  • Use of oil painting from Northern Europe; merges with fresco methods of application.

  • Perspective techniques (e.g., chiaroscuro and sfumato) developed to create depth in artwork.

Key Artists:

• Michelangelo (1475-1564): Known for the Sistine Chapel and the statue of David.

• Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519): Famous for the Mona Lisa and the Last Supper, innovating techniques of light and shadow