Western Civ Renaissance

Political Shape of Europe (14th-15th Centuries)

Time Period: 1300s–1400s
Key Changes:

• Decline of feudalism

• Rise of independent states (e.g., Spain & France)

• Growth of nationalism and patriotism

The 100 Years' War (1337–1453)

• Conflict: England vs. France

• Cause: English King Edward III claimed the French throne (Capetian lineage), but France rejected his claim.

• Major Campaigns:

  1. England introduced new weapons (cannon and longbow).

  2. England severely damaged France’s economy and territory.

  3. Burgundy and Orléans had family rivalries affecting France.

• Key Event: Treaty of Troyes (1420) – France briefly under English control.

• Joan of Arc (1429): Led French forces in a turnaround during the war.

• Outcome: England lost control of France except for Calais.

Consequences of the War

• England:

  • Parliament gained more power.

  • Increased aristocratic rivalry.

• France:

  • Strengthened monarchy.

  • National unity grew.

  • Military and taxation expanded.

  • Increased royal prestige.

England: Wars of the Roses (1455–1485)

• Conflict: Lancaster vs. York families

• Outcome: Henry Tudor (Lancaster) defeated Richard III (York).

• Result: Henry Tudor became King Henry VII, beginning the Tudor dynasty.

France: Louis XI (1461–1483)

• Nickname: "Universal Spider" (skilled diplomat).

• Achievements:

  • Avoided unnecessary wars.

  • Seized Burgundy (hired Swiss mercenaries).

  • Gained power over feudal lords.

Spain: Unification & Religious Policies

• Key Kingdoms: Castile, Aragon, Navarre, Portugal, Granada

• Major Events:

  • 1469: Isabella (Castile) married Ferdinand (Aragon), unifying Spain.

  • 1492: Spain conquered Granada.

  • 1512: Spain conquered Navarre.

• Religious Policies:

  • Clergy and nobles were under royal control.

  • Forced Jews and Moors to convert or leave (seeking national unity).

  • Jews & Moors became Spain’s working class.

End of the 1400s: Religious & Political Changes

• Decline in demand for Church councils.

• Pope retained authority, but ideas challenging Church’s power spread.

Renaissance (14th–16th Centuries)

• Definition: A cultural rebirth based on Greek & Roman ideals.

• Characteristics:

  • Philosophical & artistic movement.

  • Focus on reason, realism, and inventions.

  • Printing Press: Greatest invention of the second millennium.

Why Italy?

• Inspired by Roman heritage.

• Wealthy cities supported artists.

• Less bound to feudal traditions.

Chronology of the Renaissance

• Mid-14th Century: Beginnings of the movement.

• Mid-15th Century: Lorenzo de Medici promoted the Renaissance in Florence.

• Late-15th Century: Other Italian city-states followed.

• 1500: Renaissance spread beyond Italy into Europe.

Renaissance and Early Modern Europe

• Protests:

  • Occurred when people were upset about village traditions or behaviors.

  • Hardship and famine often led to protests, frequently led by women.

• Printing:

  • Broadsides: Royal decrees, crimes, etc.

  • Almanacs: Books that reflected common beliefs and concerns, including calendars, maps, weather predictions.

• Schools:

  • Protestants vs. Catholics battled for the loyalty of ordinary people.

  • Belief that school knowledge would lead people to accept the faith.

• Standards of Living:

  • After the Black Death: Fewer people, more land, and higher wages.

  • By 1550: Religious wars and rapid population growth, leading to inflation.

Food

• Increased trade introduced new foods like asparagus, spinach, tomatoes, melons, coffee, tea, and chocolate.

• Most people ate with fingers, and wooden plates were used.

• Knives, spoons, and forks were introduced later.

Housing

• Small houses made of brick and stone, no glass windows, shutters.

• Peasants lived in thatched-roof cottages with basic furniture like a table and bench.

Traditional Culture

• Food came from the shop, not the field.

• Local government helped when sickness struck.

• Fewer superstitions, and rational explanations arose, laying the foundation for modern science.

Renaissance Artists & Thinkers

• Raphael (1483–1520): Known for Madonnas and commissioned by the Pope to paint frescoes in the papal chambers.

• Titian (1488–1576): Known for vivid colors and drama, notably “The Assumption of the Virgin.”

Patrons and the Arts

• Princes and rulers supported artists to achieve lasting fame.

• Patronage fostered economic creativity.

Northern Renaissance

• Spread through mountain passes in the Alps and rivers like the Danube, Rhine, and Rhône.

• Printing Press (1450, Gutenberg): Enabled mass book production, literacy rise.

• Erasmus: Criticized Church corruption in The Praise of Folly.

• Thomas More: Wrote Utopia (1516), describing an ideal society.

Humanist Thinkers

• Desiderius Erasmus: Dutch scholar, most influential humanist of Northern Europe.

• Thomas More: English humanist, friend of Erasmus.

• William Shakespeare (1564–1616): English playwright who explored personality and human emotions.

Art and Printing Innovations

• Flemish School: A group of Northern Renaissance painters perfecting oil on canvas, including Jan van Eyck and Pieter Bruegel the Elder.

• Albrecht Dürer: German artist known for engravings and woodcuts.

• Hans Holbein the Younger: Painted portraits of famous people across Europe, including Erasmus and Henry VIII.

Science Names

Medieval & Renaissance Political Figures

• Joan of Arc: Led French forces to victory in the Hundred Years' War.

• Edward III: King of England, started the Hundred Years' War.

• Henry VII: Ended the Wars of the Roses and strengthened England’s monarchy.

• Louis XI: Strengthened the French monarchy.

• Isabella and Ferdinand: Unified Spain and completed the Reconquista.

Popes & Church Figures

• Boniface VIII: Pope who clashed with Philip IV, moved the papacy to Avignon.

• Urban VI and Clement VII: Popes during the Western Schism.

• Martin V: Ended the Western Schism in 1417.

Holy Roman Empire & Italian Renaissance Rulers

• Rudolf I: First Habsburg Holy Roman Emperor.

• Lorenzo de Medici: Patron of the arts in Florence, supporting artists like Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci.

Renaissance Artists

• Giotto di Bondone: Pioneering Italian painter.

• Masaccio: Developed perspective and naturalism.

• Hans Holbein the Younger: Detailed portraits, including those of Erasmus and Henry VIII.

• Flemish School: Key figures include Jan van Eyck and Pieter Bruegel the Elder.

Flashcards

• Definition: Flashcards are study aids that consist of a card bearing information on both sides, used as a learning tool.

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