The Renaissance

1. The Renaissance Edited By Mr. Barkhau Shamelessly stolen from: http://conaapwh.weebly.com/class-powerpoints.html

2. European State-Building • 2nd half of 15th century = began to recover from the plague and rebuild its population • State-building occurred as Europe rebuilt politically • Fragmented system of many separate, independent, and highly competitive states • Examples: Spain, Portugal, France, England, etc.

3. European State-Building • All of these states began to: • Tax their citizens more efficiently • Create more effective administrative structures • Raise standing armies • State-building driven by: • The needs of war  warfare very frequent in such a fragmented and competitive political environment

4. The Hundred Year’s War (1337-1453) • Between England and France • Fought over rival claims to territories in France • Result = French victory

5. Joan of Arc • Born a peasant girl; became a French female knight • Led the French army to several important victories in the Hundred Years’ War • Claimed divine guidance • Captured by the English and burned at the stake at 19 years old

6. The Renaissance (1300s-1600s) • Cultural awakening in Western Europe • Began in Italy • Means “rebirth” in French • Transition from the Dark Ages/Medieval Times to modern times • Embraced ancient Roman and ancient Greek traditions

7. So Why Italy? • Italy had avoided large economic crisis in Europe during Middle Ages • Italian cities = centers of Mediterranean trade • Italians = attached to classical Roman traditions • Italian towns = close contact with Byzantine and Muslim Empires which preserved Greek traditions

8. Major Themes of the Renaissance • Importance of classical learning • Emphasis on the individual • Adventurous spirit and willingness to experiment • Focus on realism in art and literature • Questioning of traditional religious ideas

9. Humanism • Renewed interests in the classics of Greece & Rome • Humanism = intellectual movement that focused on secular (worldly, nonreligious) themes rather than religious ideas that had dominated medieval thought • Believed in individualism = emphasis on the dignity & worth of the individual person • Believed that people should try to improve themselves

10. Insert scanned table

11. Education and Literature • Opened schools that taught the humanities • Greek, Latin, history, philosophy, etc. • New types of literature • Written in the vernacular = everyday language • Sonnets = short poems of 14 lines • Petrarch = wrote sonnets about love & nature

12. Education and Literature • New types of literature • Autobiographies • The Prince = book written by Niccolo Machiavelli • Discussed politics • Said rulers should use force & deceit to maintain power --> Do what you gotta do

13. Italian City States - Florence • Controlled by the Medici family • Rulers encouraged humanism • Birthplace of the Italian Renaissance • Medici wealth was used to support artists, philosophers, writers • City was wealthy due to wool production and banking

14. Italian City States - Rome • Renaissance popes had the ancient city rebuilt • Home of the Roman Catholic Church • Large churches, magnificent paintings, and sculptures • Most notable effort = rebuilding of St. Peter’s Basilica = largest Christian church in the world (this would eventually cause the Reformation)

15. Italian City States - Venice • Prospered as a trade city • Wealthiest city-state of the Renaissance • Trade link between Asia & western Europe • Known for its artistic achievements

16. Italian City States - Milan • Milan dominated the inland trade routes • Gateway from Italy to northern Europe

17. Renaissance Art • Subjects were lifelike • Used perspective in paintings • Studied human anatomy • Great artists were revered & had a prominent place in society • Art featured both classical mythology as well as religious themes

18. Architecture • Returned to the classical style • Domes, columns • Greatest architect = Brunelleschi

19. Renaissance Art

20. Sculpture • Nude figures in bronze & marble • Resembled ancient Greek & Roman statues • Donatello, Michelangelo, Ghiberti = came from Florence • Famous statue by Michelangelo = Statue of David

21. Painting • Realistic style • Giotto = painted famous frescoes = murals/paintings on walls • Leonardo da Vinci = painted the Mona Lisa & the Last Supper • Michelangelo = painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel

22. Leonardo Da Vinci • 1452-1519 • Thought of himself as an artist • Botany, anatomy, optics, music, architecture, engineering • Made sketches of flying machines and undersea boats centuries before actually built • Painted the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper

23. Michelangelo Buonarroti • 1475-1564 • Sculptor, engineer, painter, architect, and poet • Work reflects life-long spiritual and artistic struggles • David and the Pieta • Sistine Chapel in Rome • Dome of St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome

24. Raphael Sanzio • 1483-1520 • Artistic talent and “sweet and gracious nature” • Blended Christian and classical styles • Tender portrayals of the Madonna (mother of Jesus) • The School of Athens

25. The Northern Renaissance • Centered in the Low Countries – Belgium and the Netherlands • Art styles were determined partially by climate – few frescos, more stained glass, wooden carvings, canvas oil paintings • Jan van Eyck – Flemish painter famous for using oil paints • Albrecht Durer – German wood carver

27. The Printing Press • Johannes Gutenberg was first European to develop movable type – lead to the mass production of books. • Writings from Miguel de Cervantes, William Shakespeare, and many Protestant reformers spread across Europe as a result