Transcript Renaissance

Notes on Renaissance
Notes: “Renaissance”
Social
 Political
 Religious
 Intellectual
 Technological
 Economic

Renaissance in a
Nutshell
Rebirth of Classical Antiquity

The world of the Greeks and Romans
Urbanization of society

Cities the center of Renaissance Europe
Individualism
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The glory of God is reflected through human potential and
achievement
Man becomes more of the center and measure of all things
A well-rounded individual is the ideal
Secularism

Decreased singular importance of religion
Social
Urbanization fueled major social
changes
Growth of the merchants/bourgeoisie
Importance of Guilds in Renaissance
Persecution of Jews
Urbanization
Europe remained predominantly rural, but
cities rapidly

Strong relationship between trade, manufacturing
and urbanzation

Northern Italian cities and Flanders
Growth in Bourgeoisie and Petit Bourgeoisie

Bourgeoisie- Owners of capitalistic enterprises
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Served as patrons of culture
Petit Bourgeoisie- Shopkeepers, artisans,
guildmaster who provided goods and services for
local consumption
Guilds
Trade associations that regulated the
practice and access to trades
Served to limit competition and perpetuate
male dominance in trade/business
 Resulted in continued inequalities
 Discriminated against Jews

Persecution of Jews
Most Jews resided in Europe’s cities
Urban-oriented because of focus on
trade and business (money-lending)

Jews often excluded from other
professions
Persecuted Jews in times of crisis
Expelled from Spain in 1492 after many
years of persecution
Political
End of Papal Supremacy
Rise of the “New Monarchies” (France,
England, Spain)
Political Fragmentation in Italy and Holy
Roman Empire
Varying Power of Nobility
Advent of “Machiavellian” Politics
End of Papal Supremacy
End of papal supremacy epitomized by
Pope Bonaface VIII (Pope is superior to
every living creature)
Pope arrested by King Phillip of France
Establishment of “alternative” papal seat
in Avignon, France
Monarchical power over popes
increased
Rise of New Monarchies
France- Enmity towards England during
Hundred Years War (1337-1453) increased
nationalistic feelings
England- First Tudor King (Henry VII)
established strong monarchy and reduced
power of nobles by taking away armies
Spain- Isabela (Castile) and Ferdinand
(Aragon) marriage unified Spain
Political Fragmentation
Holy Roman Empire (A Confederation of
independent states in present-day
Germany)
Italy- Lack of centralized political
authority with many city-states
(Florence, Siena, Venice)

Ensuing competition between France and
Spain for control of Italy
Varying Power of
Nobility
England- Nobility secured guarantee of
hereditary rights through Magna Carta
Other Locations- Weakened by new
military technology that made reduced
impenetrability of fortesses
Advent of Machiavellian
Politics
Machiavelli (1469-1527)
Focus on how leaders could acquire,
maintain, and expand political power

Contrasted with ruling according to
Christian-based moral principles
“Ends justify the means”
Morality NOT a part of political activity
Religious
End of Church’s supremacy in “national
affairs”
Rise of Skepticism (Impact of Black Death)
Advent of Christian Humanism and
Scholasticism
Increased Corruption of Papacy
Fusion of Official Christianity and
“Nationalism” in Spain
End of Church
Supremacy in Nat’l
Affairs
Major challenges to Church supremacy
by France (political)
Cultural supremacy challenged by
Renaissance patrons of the arts
(Medici)
Scientific advancements directly
contradicted Church doctrine
Forces for Change
Rise of Skepticism
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Result of the Black Death
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A major questioning of religion and even the existence of
God
Worldly, Corrupt Nature of Renaissance
Popes
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Series of corruption scandals
Involvement in worldly affairs

Julius II (1503-1513) led armies personally against
Venice
Advent of Christian
Humanism and
Scholasticism
Christian Humanism (Erasmus- 14661536): Believed that Christianity should
be a guiding philosophy for the direction
of daily life rather than a system of
dogmatic beliefs
Scholasticism- Effort to synthesize faith
and reason with Aristotle

Thomas Aquinas (Summa Theologica)
Intellectual
Development of secular, individualist
literature
Stunning development “naturalist”
painting with focus on the human form
(Da Vinci, Raphael, and Michelangelo)
Popularization of the intellectual literary
realm
Development of secular,
individualist literature
Written in vernacular to reach broad
audiences
Focus on the individual and individual
attitudes
Often quite secular
Dante: Divine Comedy
 Chaucer: Canterbury Tales
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Artistic (Big Three)
Focused on persuading audiences of
the reality of the event/person they were
painting/sculpting
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Da Vinci- Focused on realism
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Mona Lisa and Last Supper
Raphael- Best known for frescoes
 Michelangelo- Focused on ideal human
with perfect proportions
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Sistine Chapel and the David
Popularization of the
Intellectual
Printing press led to the popularization
of literary works

1500- 10 million books printed in 238
towns in W. Europe
Led to greater focus on secular
literature
The Elizabethan Age
Renaissance spreads
to England in mid1500s
Period known as the
Elizabethan Age after
Queen Elizabeth I
She reigns from 1558
to 1603
As queen she did
much to support the
Shakespeare- the greatest
writer
Often regarded as the
greatest playwright
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Wrote Hamlet, Macbeth,
Othello, and Taming of the
Shrew
Also wrote countless poetry
Revered classics and drew
on them for inspiration and
plots.
1554 to 1615 in England
Plays performed at Globe
Theater in London
Technological
Advent of Water Wheels
Major changes in military technology
Invention of the movable metal-type
printing press
Significant architectural achievements
(Gothic churches)
Key maritime invention and
improvements
Technological
Advancements
Water Wheels>>>>>> Advances in ironrelated industries
Improved Crossbow (NOT “humble
arrow”)>>>>> Reduced power of
knights and manorism
Firearm and Gunpowder>>> Could
penetrate fortesses. Led to reduced
power of manorism
Technological
Advancements
Great improvements on Chinese carved
wood blocks: movable pieces of type,
new ink, printing press
Johann Gutenberg (1394-1468)
Led to tremendous proliferation of
books in Europe
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Expansion of unorthodox ideas
Economic
Tremendous economic improvement in
Europe during Renaissance
Rapid development of trade (Venice,
Genoa, Flanders and Hanseatic
League)
Increased European self-sufficiency