Transcript Italian Renaissance

Renaissance
Renaissance
• The word Renaissance means
rebirth
• The Italians between 1350
and 1550 believed they had
witnessed a rebirth of
classical antiquity
What is classical
antiquity?
The world (literature, art,
architecture, etc.) of the
ancient Greeks and Romans!
Italian Renaissance
• Renaissance begins
in Italy… why?
Italian Renaissance
• Italy was a largely urban
society made up of powerful
city states
• A secular or worldly spirit
emerged as many Italians
began to enjoy day to day
activities
Italian Renaissance
• Day to day
activities:
– Theater
– Education/ School
– Art
– Discussion of
politics
– Participate in the
world around…
Italian Renaissance
• Also an Age of
Recovery
• Began to recover
from:
– The Black Death
– Political Disorder
– Economic recession
Italian Renaissance
• New view of human
beings…
• Placed an emphasis
on human ability
• Called humanism
Trends of the Period
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Middle Ages
Religious & community
Focus on God
(theocentric)
Agricultural/ rural
Reason & logic
Highest form of
existence = monk
Art glorified God
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Renaissance
Secular/ individualistic
Focus on humans
(humanistic)
Urban
Experience/ observation
Active in the world
• Art glorified humans
Italian States
• During the Middle Ages, Italy
failed to develop a centralized
monarchical state
• Lack of a strong ruler made it
possible for a number of citystates in northern and central
Italy to remain independent
• Three: Milan, Venice, and Florence
were very important
Milan
Milan
• Located at the
crossroads of the main
trade routes
• Richest Italian city
state
• 14th cent, members of
the Visconti family
established themselves
as dukes of Milan
• In 1447, Francesco
Sforza, a dynamic
condottiere conquered
city and became the new
duke
Venice
Venice
• Grew rich from
trading in the
eastern
Mediterranean
• A small group of
merchantaristocrats (who had
become wealthy
through trading) ran
the government
• This is called an
oligarchy
Florence
Florence
• A small group of
merchants established
control of the
government (fought
wars against their
neighbors)
• In 1434 Cosmo de’
Medici took control of
the city
• He “kept” the republican
government, but really
his family ruled the city