Transcript Italy: Birthplace of the Renaissance

Chapter 17
Italy: Birthplace of the
Renaissance 17.1
During the late Middle Ages, Europeans began to
question the Church and the medieval system
and looked to the classical past for ideas.
Italy’s Advantages
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Renaissance—the rebirth of art and learning
Renaissance began in Italy b/c England and
France were locked into a 100 Year’s War
Urban Centers—northern Italy town grew into
cities because trade spurred by the Crusades
◦ Here, people exchanged new ideas
◦ Also, merchants began to build wealth
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Merchants began to achieve great wealth and
individual merit became a theme of the
Renaissance
The Medici family began to rule the city of
Florence
◦ Cosimo de Medici did not seek political office, but
instead controlled politicians with his money
Italy’s Advantages cont…
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The Medici were the most important patrons
of the Arts
Classical Heritage
◦ Artists drew inspiration from the classical ruins of
Rome
◦ Scholars studied ancient Latin manuscripts
Classical and Worldly Values
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Humanism—focuses on human potential and
acheivement
People tried to enjoy worldly pleasures
without offending God (food, housing, music,
clothing)
Patrons of the Arts began beautifying cities
Renaissance man—individuals strove to excel
in every area of study
◦ Baldassare Castiglione—The Courtier
◦ Women were expected to inspire art but not create
it
Renaissance Revolutionizes
Art
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Artists painted prominent citizens and
glorified the human body
New techniques
◦ Perspective—three dimensions
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Leonardo da Vinci—painter, sculptor,
inventor, and scientist
◦ Mona Lisa, The Last Supper
Renaissance Literature
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Vernacular—native language
Writers wrote about individuals and their
personalities
Machiavelli—The Prince
Towards the end of the 15th century,
Renaissance ideas began to spread
north from Italy to countries such as
France, Germany, and England.
Northern artists and thinkers would
adapt the Renaissance ideals in their
own ways.
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Rulers of northern
countries began to
hire Renaissance
artists to work for
them
Italian style mixed
with northern
traditions giving the
new art its own
character
Northern humanists
kept a religious theme
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Renaissance art
spread to Germany
and Flanders
Oil based paint was
invented which
made it easier for
painters to create
their art
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Humanists mixed with
Christianity were called
Christian Humanists
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Playwright, William
Shakespeare wrote in
England
◦ His plays examine human
flaws
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In 1440, Johann Gutenberg invented the
printing press
Gutenberg began to print the Bible and other
books
Books became cheap and available
Rise in literacy and exchange of ideas
Led to religious reform
Even though Church officials made
several important reforms during the
Middle Ages, problems still lingered.
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Problems in the Catholic Church:
◦ Corrupt leaders—marrying, gambling, drinking
◦ Patronized the arts
◦ Poorly educated and involved in secular affairs
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Calls for reform:
◦ Higher standards were expected from church leaders
◦ Bible was the final authority on religion
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Became a monk in 1505
In1517, he took a public stand against buying
indulgences—pardons for sin
95 Theses—attacked the church
His theses was reproduced and circulated
throughout Germany
3 main ideas:
◦ People could only win salvation by faith in God
◦ Church teachings should be based on the Bible
◦ All people with faith were equal
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The Church saw Luther as a threat to their
authority
◦ Excommunication
◦ Stand trial in Germany
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Edict of Worms
◦ No food or shelter
◦ Burn his writings
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Protestants—non-Catholic Christians
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Henry VII broke ties with the Roman Catholic
Church over personal reasons
Henry needed a male son to be his heir
Henry asked the Pope to annul his marriage,
but he would not
In 1529, parliament ended the Pope’s power
in England
His 5th wife eventually bore him a son
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Institutes of the Christian Religion—Calvin’s
book about religion
Predestination—people are predetermined to
go to heaven
Calvinism—religion based on Calvin’s
teachings
Theocracy
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Knox brought Calvin’s ideas to Scotland
Followers became known as Presbyterians
Followers of the Calvin who lived in France
were called Huguenots
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Led by Ignatius of Loyola
Spiritual Exercise—laid out a day-by-day plan of
meditation, prayer and study
Society of Jesus or commonly called Jesuits
3 main activities:
◦ Superb schools
◦ Convert non-Christians to Catholicism (missionaries)
◦ Stop the spreading of Protestantism
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Pope John III—Council of Trent (meeting of Bishops
and Cardinals
Pope Paul IV—carried out the council’s decrees