 cultural era of creativity, learning from 1300s –1500s
 Began in Italy

 Italy is made up of independent City – States
 Florence – important city – state = center of banking, trade, manufacturing

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New aristocrats live in cities; money comes from trade / business not land.
Rich build large homes; have best food, clothes, jewels
- emphasize education, arts

 Rich citizens become patrons; give artists, scholars money, housing
 Hire architects for churches, buildings, sculptures, fountains
 Pride in city-states makes patrons seek top artists, scholars, poets

 The most famous family of patrons were the
Medici.
 They ran the city of Florence from the 1400’s
– 1700’s.

 Renaissance artists create religious works, but also other subjects
 portraits of patrons; historical, mythological paintings

 Leonardo da Vinci — famous artist and scientist

 Renaissance’s inspiration spreads to
Northern Europe
 William Shakespeare —English playwright in late 1500s, early 1600s