THE RENAISSANCETHE RENAISSANCE
Italy (1300-1600)Italy (1300-1600)
A New BeginningA New Beginning
•The disorder and chaos of the late Middle Agesseemed to mark the beginning of a long-termdecline for Europe.•The disorder and chaos of the late Middle Agesseemed to mark the beginning of a long-termdecline for Europe.
•But the expansion of trade (due to the Crusadesand Black Death), the re-discovery of Ancientlearning (brought back from Muslim lands andhidden in monastic libraries), and new politicalstructures lead to a rebirth centered in Italy inthe late 14th century.•But the expansion of trade (due to the Crusadesand Black Death), the re-discovery of Ancientlearning (brought back from Muslim lands andhidden in monastic libraries), and new politicalstructures lead to a rebirth centered in Italy inthe late 14th century.
Northern Italian EconomyNorthern Italian Economy
•Cities developed international trade: Genoa,Venice, Milan.•Cities developed international trade: Genoa,Venice, Milan.
•First large scale urban societies since RomanEmpire.•First large scale urban societies since RomanEmpire.
•popolo (middle class) took power in 13thcentury; republican gov’t short-lived in most.•popolo (middle class) took power in 13thcentury; republican gov’t short-lived in most.
•signori (despots) or oligarchies (rule ofmerchant aristocracies) by 1300•signori (despots) or oligarchies (rule ofmerchant aristocracies) by 1300
•commenda: Contract between merchant and“merchant-adventurer” who agreed to takegoods to distant locations and return with theproceeds (for 1/3 of profits) – fostered trade.•commenda: Contract between merchant and“merchant-adventurer” who agreed to takegoods to distant locations and return with theproceeds (for 1/3 of profits) – fostered trade.
Italian City States, 1454Italian City States, 1454
Politics of Italian City-StatesPolitics of Italian City-States
•Republic of Florence (Included Republicof Genoa) – Medici family•Republic of Florence (Included Republicof Genoa) – Medici family
•Important Banking center.•Important Banking center.
•Cosimo De’Medici (1389-1464): alliedwith other powerful families of Florenceand became unofficial ruler of the republic•Cosimo De’Medici (1389-1464): alliedwith other powerful families of Florenceand became unofficial ruler of the republic
•Lorenzo the Magnificent(1449-1492): lavish patron•Lorenzo the Magnificent(1449-1492): lavish patron
of the arts of the arts
Politics of Italian City-StatesPolitics of Italian City-States
•Girolamo Savonarola (1452-1498) –theocracy in Florence 1494-98; (predictedFrench invasion due to paganism andmoral decay of Italian city-states); burnedat the stake Charles VIII (1483-1498)•Girolamo Savonarola (1452-1498) –theocracy in Florence 1494-98; (predictedFrench invasion due to paganism andmoral decay of Italian city-states); burnedat the stake Charles VIII (1483-1498)
•Began the decline of Florence.•Began the decline of Florence.
•French invasions of Italy - Italy becamebattleground for international ambitions•French invasions of Italy - Italy becamebattleground for international ambitions
Politics of Italian City-StatesPolitics of Italian City-States
•Duchy of Milan -- Sforza family (CaterinaSforza (1463-1509), great art patron)•Duchy of Milan -- Sforza family (CaterinaSforza (1463-1509), great art patron)
•Rome, the Papal States – papacy(“Renaissance popes”)•Rome, the Papal States – papacy(“Renaissance popes”)
•Venetian Republic –•Venetian Republic –
–Trade power on the Adriatic Sea–Trade power on the Adriatic Sea
–Oligarchy headed by the doge–Oligarchy headed by the doge
•Isabella d’Este (1474-1539): most famousRenaissance female ruler (ruled Mantua)•Isabella d’Este (1474-1539): most famousRenaissance female ruler (ruled Mantua)
•condottieri: leaders of private armies hired bycities for military purposes•condottieri: leaders of private armies hired bycities for military purposes
HumanismHumanism
•Humanism -- Revival of antiquity (Greeceand Rome) in literature•Humanism -- Revival of antiquity (Greeceand Rome) in literature
•Individualism/ secularism: “man isthe measure of all things”•Individualism/ secularism: “man isthe measure of all things”
•virtú: the quality of being a greatman in whatever noble pursuit•virtú: the quality of being a greatman in whatever noble pursuit
•Education: (emphasis on Latin and Greek)•Education: (emphasis on Latin and Greek)
HumanismHumanism
•Petrarch—(1304-1374) “Dark Ages”metaphor; “father of humanism” and•Petrarch—(1304-1374) “Dark Ages”metaphor; “father of humanism” and
1st modern writer, literature no longersubordinate to religion1st modern writer, literature no longersubordinate to religion
•Dante – Divine Comedy•Dante – Divine Comedy
•Boccacio – Decameron: aimed to impartwisdom of human character and behavior.•Boccacio – Decameron: aimed to impartwisdom of human character and behavior.
•Pico della Mirandola (1463-1494) Orationon the Dignity of Man; Platonic academy•Pico della Mirandola (1463-1494) Orationon the Dignity of Man; Platonic academy
•Baldassare Castiglione (1478-1529) – TheBook of the Courtier•Baldassare Castiglione (1478-1529) – TheBook of the Courtier
HumanismHumanism
•Leonardo Bruni (1370-1444) – wrotehistory of Florence; division of historicalperiods; narrative form; civic humanist;first to use term “humanism”•Leonardo Bruni (1370-1444) – wrotehistory of Florence; division of historicalperiods; narrative form; civic humanist;first to use term “humanism”
•Lorenzo Valla (1407-1457)—On theFalse Donation of•Lorenzo Valla (1407-1457)—On theFalse Donation of
Constantine (1444); study of Latin Constantine (1444); study of Latin
•Niccolo Machiavelli•Niccolo Machiavelli
(1469-1527) -- The Prince (1469-1527) -- The Prince
(1513) – Cesare Borgia (1513) – Cesare Borgia
