Chapter 2
How Did the Ideas of the Italian
Renaissance Spread Throughout
Europe?
Why Were Ideas Slow to
Spread?

Geography
– What could be some of the factors that
caused a slow spread of ideas?
– Mountains made
traveling from
Italia to the rest of
Europe, a long
and hard journey
Why?

Feudalism
– Upper Class members
wanted to protect their way
of living by repressing the
spread of new ideas
Why?

Religion
– Religious leaders
wanted to maintain the
status quo, because
they had a place of
power and influence in
the feudal system.
Why?

War
– Money was spent on
weapons & training of
the soldiers instead of
Art and the
Renaissance Ideas
SO?
What Allowed the Renaissance
Ideas to Spread?

The hundred years war between France and
England ended in 1453
– The continent became a safer place to travel


Many people moved from the Rural areas to
the cities to find work (Urbanization)
Feudalism started to decline in Europe,
therefore the monarchs started to centralize
their power

France and Germany attacked the
Italian City-States
–The invasion exposed the European
Monarchs and nobles to the Renaissance
worldviews
-The monarchs would then
have Italian craftsmen and
scholars to court.
What was Humanism?

Humanism was a new way of
thinking about life
How did Humanism
develop?

Studies of ancient texts
and contact with other
cultures led academics to
believe that humans had
potential to do great
things as individuals and
not be limited by the strict
social roles of the middle
ages.
What did Humanists
believe?
Middle ages
Humanism
Life on earth was to
prepare you for the
after life.
(suffering/giving to
the church)
Life on earth had
value and should be
enjoyed.

Middle Ages
–

Humanists Believed:
– Lives on Earth should be
rich and fulfilled


–
Surrounded with beautiful art &
architecture
Enjoyed ideas and sharing philosophies
– Humans had the potentials
to do great things as
individuals


They could use their
knowledge/creativity to improve society
Human potential should not be
restricted by social codes.

Middle Ages
–

Humanists Believed:
– Maintained their faith
and believed in the after
life

–
Although belief in God was
important, life on earth had
value
– Read ancient texts in
original language

To find their own truths and
not those of the translators
How did Philosophers Spread
the Renaissance Ideas

Travelled to
Universities
around Europe to
study and teach
– Their students
traveled to Italy
to learn more
about the humanist
ideas
What do the TMNT have to
do with the Renaissance?
Named after Renaissance
Artists
How/Why did art change from the
Middle Ages to the Renaissance

Doctors and scientists were now allowed to
dissect human bodies
– Artists were able to create more realistic images

More travelling led to shared ideas and
development of better techniques





Depicted a more personal reflection of how
they saw the world
Gained more freedom over their subjects and
style of creation.
Paid for their works
Gained status as they became respected for
their intellect and creative genius
Treated as important contributors to society
How did Ideas Spread Among
Scientists and Mathematicians

Science and math was slow to spread
– Religion focused on the afterlife; scientific
questioning was discouraged
– Europe was very superstitious
– Wealthy patrons were more interested in
art, so little money went to science
– Universities focused on liberal arts

But still, ideas led European thinkers to
build, expand on, and share knowledge.
Asked
questions
and were
interested in
searching for the
natural causes of
events rather then
accepting the
causes as
supernatural
How did Writers Influence
the Renaissance Worldview?

Writers started to compose in their native
language.
– Vocabularies, spelling, and grammar of the
different languages became standardized

Increased a common
sense of identity
among their speakers,
readers, and writers
Canada
Colour
Litre
Sulphur
Valour
U.S.
Color
Liter
Sulfur
Valor
How did the Renaissance Ideas
change Social/Economic
Systems?


Although quality of life was increasing
for all, the middle class benefited the
most.
The rising middle class contributed to
the growth of a capitalist society
based on trade and money
– An economic system that depends on
private investment and making a profit


Before people bartered, and traded
goods rather then using money
With an increase of trade goods,
manufactured money became widely
used
–This made it
easier to import
and set up
manufactured
systems

As the middle class became wealthy,
they were able to afford the luxuries
that were exclusively for the nobles
and higher clergy
– New architecture/art/literature ect.

People saw they could change their
status and became more than their
parents
The Renaissance Family



Extended family-Father, Mother,
Children, Grandparents, unmarried
and widowed aunts and uncles in one
house
They worked to support the family
Family life was valued and good
relations among family was important

Father:
– ruled the household-Managed finances and property
– made all the important decisions for everyone in the
household.

Mother :
– maintained the household-helped husband and
children succeed

Other Family :
– membersworked to support the family
The Role of the Children

Children:
– were considered small adults and
participated in family duties.
– Respected fathers authority until his death

Marriage:
– Most marriages outside lower class were
arranged
– Was a way to try to improve family wealth
and status

Create financial or political alliances between
families


Girls around the age of 16
Men in their mid 30’s to early 40’s
Women and the Renaissance


Although humanists believed in
educating both males and females
Reality was:
– The poor had no opportunity to attend
school
– Wealthy educated women were regarded
as unusual/exceptional

Rarely allowed to continue there education
when they got married

Some of the topics discussed by women
writers were:
– No intellectual difference between sexes
– Women should be educated beyond the
preparation for an ornamental life
– Some promoted Catholicism
– Defended the Reform movement, as well
as the right to preach/teach scriptures

Even though they were capable, women
were not able to take part in decisionmaking process
Education

Catholic Church was responsible for the
education of the nobles and clergy
– Taught grammar, rhetoric, logic and Church
teachings


They were also responsible for keeping
European knowledge in libraries
A rebirth of knowledge occurred when
scholars began to build on ideas
previously held by Islamic, and Jewish
scholars

From this, education changed;
– A new philosophy emerged promoting the
value of individual human life and
personal potential
– Students were taught to be good citizens
so that they would become leaders in
their communities and would carry out
civic work

People started to ask questions and
seek answers rather than accepting
what they were told by those in
authority
Education started to
promote the value of
human life and potential
Artists started to show
how they saw the
world in there Art
Bartering became less
popular due to the growing
middle class, and currency
became widely used
Mountains were
natural barriers, and
slowed the spread of ideas
(+) attacking armies
take home knowledge
that has been learned
People learned that they
should enjoy life instead
of just prepare for the
after life
War
(-) travels avoid the
conflict zones