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THE RENAISSANCE

THE RENAISSANCE. Italy (1300-1600) . A New Beginning. The disorder and chaos of the late Middle Ages seemed to mark the beginning of a long-term decline for Europe.

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THE RENAISSANCE

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  1. THE RENAISSANCE Italy (1300-1600)

  2. A New Beginning • The disorder and chaos of the late Middle Ages seemed to mark the beginning of a long-term decline for Europe. • But the expansion of trade (due to the Crusades and Black Death), the re-discovery of Ancient learning (brought back from Muslim lands and hidden in monastic libraries), and new political structures lead to a rebirth centered in Italy in the late 14th century.

  3. Northern Italian Economy • Cities developed international trade: Genoa, Venice, Milan. • First large scale urban societies since Roman Empire. • popolo(middle class) took power in 13th century; republican gov’t short-lived in most. • signori (despots) or oligarchies (rule of merchant aristocracies) by 1300 • commenda: Contract between merchant and “merchant-adventurer” who agreed to take goods to distant locations and return with the proceeds (for 1/3 of profits) – fostered trade.

  4. Italian City States, 1454

  5. Politics of Italian City-States • Republic of Florence (Included Republic of Genoa) – Medici family • Important Banking center. • Cosimo De’Medici (1389-1464): allied with other powerful families of Florence and became unofficial ruler of the republic • Lorenzo the Magnificent (1449-1492): lavish patron of the arts

  6. Politics of Italian City-States • Girolamo Savonarola (1452-1498) – theocracy in Florence 1494-98; (predicted French invasion due to paganism and moral decay of Italian city-states); burned at the stake Charles VIII (1483-1498) • Began the decline of Florence. • French invasions of Italy - Italy became battleground for international ambitions

  7. Politics of Italian City-States • Duchy of Milan -- Sforza family (Caterina Sforza (1463-1509), great art patron) • Rome, the Papal States – papacy (“Renaissance popes”) • Venetian Republic – • Trade power on the Adriatic Sea • Oligarchy headed by the doge • Isabella d’Este (1474-1539): most famous Renaissance female ruler (ruled Mantua) • condottieri: leaders of private armies hired by cities for military purposes

  8. Humanism • Humanism -- Revival of antiquity (Greece and Rome) in literature • Individualism/ secularism: “man is the measure of all things” • virtú: the quality of being a great man in whatever noble pursuit • Education: (emphasis on Latin and Greek)

  9. Humanism • Petrarch—(1304-1374) “Dark Ages” metaphor; “father of humanism” and 1st modern writer, literature no longer subordinate to religion • Dante – Divine Comedy • Boccacio – Decameron: aimed to impart wisdom of human character and behavior. • Pico della Mirandola (1463-1494) Oration on the Dignity of Man; Platonic academy • Baldassare Castiglione(1478-1529) – The Book of the Courtier

  10. Humanism • Leonardo Bruni (1370-1444) – wrote history of Florence; division of historical periods; narrative form; civic humanist; first to use term “humanism” • Lorenzo Valla (1407-1457)—On the False Donation of Constantine (1444); study of Latin • Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) -- The Prince (1513) – Cesare Borgia

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