I. The Italian Renaissance

1. I. The Italian Renaissance Intellectual movement began in Italy in 14th c. 2 key characteristics: 1. extreme hostility to culture of Middle Ages 2. fascination with the ancient world Renaissance was the first, to use the term "Dark Ages" to describe the period after the fall of Rome. Why might they have used the term Dark ages? Fascination with the ancient civilizations led to an increasing literacy in Latin &Greek

2. Italian Renaissance cont. • Main emphasis of Renaissance centered around individual & potential of human nature • Initially, was restricted to small group of educated elites (upper class), but it spread out to other social classes • Renaissance marks the beginning of the modern world

3. II. Why did it begin in Italy? • Northern Italian cities led way in economic revival of 12th & 13th c. - art flourishes in a society with $$$ • Florence, especially, at end of 13th c. became bankers to the pope • Italian middle classes wanted to ‘show off’ pride in their city states • Nobles lived in cities, so ideas could spread more rapidly than in isolated manors of northern Europe

4. III. Art • Paintings became popular because cheaper to produce than mosaics • Gold leaf that adorned paintings of Middle Ages disappeared & cost of paintings decreased • More people able to display art, thus increasing social status

5. Art cont. • Church commissions artwork to adorn chapels & cathedrals • Virgin Mary was often painted surrounded by worldy objects Why do you think the Virgin Mary would be portrayed with ‘worldly’ objects? • Geometry & science/anatomy infused into new artistic techniques What examples of scientific & geometric influence can you describe?

6. • John the Baptist - Donatello The Sistine Chapel in Rome - Michelangelo

7. The Last Supper - da Vinci The Coronation of the Virgin - Raphael

8. The School of Athens - Raphael

9. IV. Humanism • Focused on human achievements & potential rather than religious themes. • Focused on man and his world. • Concentrated on everyday human problems & relationships. • Focus on pleasure rather than morality. • Petrarch - father of Humanism

10. IV. Humanism cont. • Secular nature of humanism, brought it into conflict with traditional teachings of Catholic Church • Northern Humanists stressed education & classical learning, however, unlike Italian humanists, emphasized religious themes.

11. V. Renaissance Writers • Began to use vernacular (native language) instead of classical Latin. • Machiavelli, wrote The Prince, a handbook for behavior. • Machiavelli was political philosopher • ‘The Prince’ advised kings how to rule.

12. VI. Printing Press • 1456 - Johann Gutenberg printed bible using movable metal type on machine called Printing Press. • Printed books became cheaper & easier to produce than hand copies.

13. VI. Printing Press cont. • Now, readers gained access to broad range of knowledge (Medicine to Religion) • Printing press would greatly contribute to spread of new ideas & Protestant Reformation.