Birthplace of the Renaissance

Renaissance• Means “rebirth”

and refers to the revival of art and learning following the Middle Ages.

• It began in Italy and was based on Greco-Roman Culture.

City-States• Trade created by the crusades resulted in the growth of

large and powerful city-states in Italy.• The Bubonic Plague hit these cities hard and they were

forced to seek new ways of economic success.

Merchants and the Medici• A wealthy merchant

class developed in the Italian city-states as a result of the increased trade.

• The Medici were a wealthy merchant family in Florence who came to dominate all parts of Florence’s society.

Greco-Roman Influence• Scholars looked down

on Medieval literature and instead learned from the Ancient Greeks and Romans.

• They studied ancient texts found in monasteries and examined the ruins of the Romans and Greeks.

Humanism• It is an intellectual

movement that focused on human potential and achievements.

• Instead of trying to apply ancient texts to Christian thought, humanists accept Ancient material for what it is.

• Promoted subjects that are today called the Humanities.

Secular• During the

Renaissance, people began to view the world in a present rather than a spiritual way.

• In other words they interpreted the world more simply and literally.

Patrons• Church leaders and

wealthy merchants who spent massive amounts of money on art, literature, and architecture in order to beautify city-states.

• It became a way of the wealthy demonstrating their importance.

The Renaissance Man and Woman• Men an women who

excelled in many fields were considered Renaissance Men and Women.

• The idea was that an individual should not limit themselves and should strive to attain skills in all parts of life.

Perspective• Renaissance began

to change the way the depicted the world.

• Perspective was the idea and practice of creating paintings that were multi-dimensional and realistic.

Leonardo da Vinci• A painter,

sculptor, inventor, and scientist who was interested in how things worked.

• Some of his famous paintings include the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper.

Raphael and Michelangelo• Both are famous

artists, sculptors and thinkers well known for their drive to depict the world realistically.

• Michelangelo is most known for the Sistine Chapel and the Statue of David and Raphael for his portraits of Renaissance figures.

Anguissola and Gentileschi• Two of the first

female artists of the Renaissance who were both well known for their paintings of various royalty.

Vernacular• Renaissance writers

began creating works in their native and common languages. The result was more people having access to knowledge and more personal/realistic works of literature.

Machiavelli• He was a philosopher and

political thinker.• One of his most famous

works is The Prince. In it, he examines how a ruler can gain and keep power in the face of their enemies.

• He believed an effective leader must be intelligent and crafty in order to outwit his opponents.

Vittoria Colonna• A female

writer who was well known for her poetry and work for various noble families.

Video Clips

• The Medici: 55 Minute Documentary Clip• The Renaissance Song: 3 Minutes• Humanism: 2 Minutes• Machiavelli: 5 Minutes