Renaissance (1400-1650)

Mr. Cummings

World History

"Rebirth" of classical ideas, transition from Middle Ages to Modern Greek/Roman ideas revived by Italians

Italy’s location fosters explosion of trade, wealth & freedom to evolve w/o religion

Plague & War bring end to Feudalism

Spreads to England, France, Germany, etc.

New importance to individual expression, self-consciousness & worldly experience

Renaissance Man = master of all things

Scholars, poets, craftsmen & artists were supported by patrons (One that supports, protects, or champions someone or something), not just church

Middle Ages vs. the Renaissance

Suffer for Church ----------------- Humanism

Feudalism--------------------- Nation-State

Church support ------------ Worldly Support

Europe is World ------------ World beyond

Europe

Rule by Divine Right ----- human strengths

Focus on classical ideals Realistic view of nature and man instead of

lofty attempts at perfection

Human values & capabilities stressed

Promoted balance between church/intellect

Humanism Affects Renaissance

Architecture -- Use of classical forms (arches, vaults, domes)Painting -- New use of perspective and color (“linear perspective”)Philosophy – Humanism - people have the power to be what they chooseWriting -- Writers question world around them - stories reflect realism over church

Renaissance Writers

Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527)

Political life a passion to him- not just a job or position but a driving force within him

Banished from Italy by Medici family b/c of extreme opinions

Wrote The Prince (1500’s) to convey his obsession with power/politics Written as instruction book for rulers- advice

letter to prince

The Prince (1500’s)

The Good… … and The Bad

Political leadership over Monarchial leadership

“The End Justifies the Means”

Compel people to obey whether they want to or not

Results over Ethics

Observe how people actually behave, as opposed to how they ought to behave

Thomas Moore (1478-1535)

Greatest of 16th century intellectuals

Broke mold of debate over the good of man

Wrote Utopia in 1516 Private property caused corruption & war

Society's institutions are flawed not Man

Utopian island described as the ideal socialistic society

Art in the Renaissance

Giotto's Arena Chapel (1307)

YO, what’s on all of these walls?

Masaccio, The Holy Trinity (1428)

Donatello, David, 1428

Sandro Botticelli, Primavera, c. 1478

Leonardo da Vinci, The Last Supper

Michelangelo, David

Michelangelo, Creation of Adam

Michelangelo’s Ceiling (1508-12)

Small chapel home to greatest Renaissance paintings

Sistine Chapel

Series depicts history of mankind before Christ

Visit the site!

Rafael, School of Athens (1510-1511)

Technological Advances of the Renaissance

Math and Science

Math: use of letters in algebraic equations

Astronomy: ethnocentrism – earth revolves around Sun, not other way around!

Anatomy: human brain dissected for 1st time in 1315

Johannes Gutenberg (1394-1468)

Inventor of the movable type printing press Idea borrowed from Chinese press (1288)

Gutenberg Bible first book printed

Made knowledge accessible to all, ending domination of the elites

Most influential invention of millennium What modern invention(s) aid our country?