Transcript Renaissance
Renaissance (ITALIAN) RENAISSANCE Politics and the State • It was the awakening of the human spirit - feelings and thoughts • High culture so only affected a few • Was not religious or scientific but moral and personal • In Italy an almost secular attitude appeared Economic growth was the basis for the Renaissance Northern Italy (centrally located) benefited from the crusades and the spice trade Renaissance started in Florence and follows the success of the Medici family Florentine merchants gained control of the papal banking 1397 Giovanni de’Medici founded the Medici Bank Medici family Even marriage vows were business arrangements The popolo (poor class) hated their position and used force to take over the cities The popolo could not retain power and were later replaced by despots or oligarchies Northern Italian cities were communes Despots showed their wealth by patronizing the arts - Medici Individual had a loyalty to their own citystate Five city-states dominated the peninsula: Venice, Milan, Florence, the Papal State, and the kingdom of Naples Cesare Borgia (Machiavelli’s hero and son of Pope Alexander VI) tried to unite the peninsula Northern Europe was uniting - Italy remained fragmented Signing and breaking alliances was common Savonarola of Florence attacked paganism, vice, undemocratic government of Lorenzo de Medici, and corruption of Pope Alexander VI. Initially people supported him but later he was burned *People did not share his opinions of the commercial elite Renaissance was characterized by selfconscious awareness that Italians were living in a new era One of the founders of this movement was Petrarch The Renaissance was the light after the gloom of the Dark Ages The Roman Empire was the peak of human civilization Artists of the Renaissance had contempt for medieval predecessors But most people lived exactly the same in the Renaissance period as the medieval period A new individualism appeared A deep interest in Latin, a revival of the antique lifestyle, and a more secular spirit. Individualism stressed: a) personality b) uniqueness c) fullest development of capabilities d) the quest for glory Humanism The study of the classics became known as “new learning” or “humanism” Cicero considered this important for anyone who considered himself civilized Humanism emphasized: a) human beings b) human achievements c) human capabilities Italian humanism became more of an interest to place people Italian Humanists i) Deeply religious viewed the classics in a new light ii) Skeptical of the authority of the classics because of distance from the author iii) Studied classics to understand human nature iv) Very Christian - men and women were in God’s image v) Rejected classical ideas that opposed Christianity but sought a harmony between paganism, secularism, and Christianity. vi) Loved the language of the classics Secularism Concerned with the material world not the eternal world Lorenzo Valla On Pleasure defended pleasure also wrote On the False Donation of Constantine which weakened the pope’s authority. Boccaccio Decameron about a worldly society. Papal interests actually encouraged worldliness Politics The Prince - Machiavelli For Machiavelli the test was a ‘good’ government was an effective government. Machiavelli’s work rests on two principles: 1) Permanent social order reflecting God’s will is impossible 2) Politics should be considered a science. NORTHERN RENAISSANCE Politics and the State More of a blend of old and new Much more religious than in Italy Studied Greek and Hebrew texts for a greater understanding of Christianity Students from England, Holland (Netherlands), France, and Germany went to Italy for the ‘new learning’ Northern humanists interpreted Italian ideas in terms of their own traditions. a) They were more religious b) They stressed the Bible and early Christian themes c) They developed an ethical way of life d) Classical and Christian cultures should be combined e) They had a profound faith in the human intellect f) People could be improved through education Northern Humanists • In Germany: • Western and southern Germany were economically advanced • 14th century - mystics like Thomas a Kempis believed the human soul could communicate with God • They did not rebel against the Church but wanted a deeper religion In France Jacques Lefevre d’Etaples applied humanism to religion Believed in education Rabelais was secular Wrote Gargantua and Pantagruel In England Thomas More was trained as a lawyer Deeply interested in the classics Entered government under Henry VIII Thomas More Wrote Utopia where all children receive a humanist education. More believed private property caused vices and civil disorder Lost his life to maintain his convictions Low Countries Erasmus had a deep appreciation for the classics (Christian Humanist) Most well-respected man in Europe Influenced by John Colet in England Wrote The Education of a Christian Prince and The Praise of Folly Two main themes: 1) Education is the means to reform 2) ‘The philosophy of Christ’ Christianity is an inner feeling ‘New Monarchs’ • A new breed of leaders - ruthless, preferred security to love • Outside of Italy they were actively building states • They used the monarchy to guarantee law and order • The despots of Italy, Henry VII of England, Louis XI of France, Ferdinand of Aragon • All Machiavellian 1) invested kingship with strong authority and national purpose 2) Monarchy linked all classes of society within a boundary 3) Insisted on respect and loyalty 4) Ruthless oppressed rebellions and opposition 5) Loved the business of kingship 6) Tended to rely on the middle-class - new bourgeoisie FRANCE Charles VII revived the monarchy i) expelled the English ii) increased the influence of the middle class iii) strengthened finances through taxes like salt (gabelle) and land (taille) iv) created first permanent royal army v) by the Pragmatic Sanction of Bourges (1438) asserted French Church supremacy over the papacy vi) crown could appoint bishops • His son, Louis XI (Valois) was a Renaissance prince • Promoted industry improved the army signed international treaties • The Estates General met only once during his reign • 1516 Francis I signed the Concordat of Bologna which rescinded the Pragmatic Sanction - king could appoint bishops (keeping France Catholic) ENGLAND Decimated by the Black Death The Tudors (1485-1603) won War of the Roses They passed laws against nobles having standing armies The monarch did not depend on government for money so much more independent Royal Council (Star Chamber) was the center of authority The Royal Council handled the king’s business including arranging marriages. Aristocratic threats were dealt with by the Star Chamber Star Chamber used Roman Law and methods to enforce the law a) accused people were not entitled to see the evidence against them b) sessions were in secret c) torture was often used d) there were no juries The Tudors promoted peace and order Henry VII (1485) rebuilt the monarchy Ruled through unpaid officials a) he encouraged trade b) built up the merchant fleet c) crushed an invasion from Ireland d) secured peace with Scotland (his daughter Margaret married the Scottish king) SPAIN Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon married (1469) and united the regions They ruled through ‘hermandades’ Restructured the royal council - excluded the rich and powerful The church was the linchpin of the reform. Alliance with the Spanish pope Alexander VI Spanish monarchs gained great power and a national church reconquista (1492) - expulsion of the Jews and Moors from Spain lasted over 100 years Conversos- Jews that converted Moriscos - Christians of Moorish background Marranos - Christians of Jewish background inquisition - the ruthless court that decided if conversos were telling the truth later used against the Protestants Ferdinand and Isabella expelling all Jews from Spain had major economic consequences Absolute religious orthodoxy and pure blood were the foundation of Spain Ferdinand and Isabella’s daughter Joanna married Philip. Their son was Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor. Charles V - the ‘Universal Monarch’ Germany • Part of the Holy Roman Empire • Local lords recognized the supremacy of the Emperor, who was elected by 7 Electors • 1452 Archduke of Austria (Habsburg) was elected Emperor Maximilian I (1493-1519) • He married the heiress of the Duke of Burgundy • Their son, Philip married Mad Joanna, daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella • Their son was Charles V Politics The Prince - Machiavelli For Machiavelli the test was a ‘good’ government was an effective government. Machiavelli’s work rests on two principles: 1) Permanent social order reflecting God’s will is impossible 2) Politics should be considered a science. • Johann Gutenberg changed the course of history with the movable print. Printing made propaganda possible and forced people into groups i.e. church and state or Crown and nobility. • Printing stimulated literacy of lay people. Women The status of upper-class women declined women generally had less power than in the Middle Ages Renaissance humanism represented an educational advance for a small minority. Women had to choose marriage or education Education brought jealousy and envy Girls in the upper-class were taught how to dance, paint, and play music - they were decorative Women belonged at home Educational opportunities were severely limited Literary and art works had no effect on ordinary women Women were a sign of wealth.