The Renaissance
Mr. Hedrich
World History
Objective
• Describe developments in Italy and
Northern Europe during the Renaissance
period with respect to humanism, arts and
literature, intellectual development,
increased trade, and advances in
technology.
The Middle Ages
• Darkness
An Exit From the Middle
Ages
• The Middle Ages saw
numerous disasters in
Europe
• The Black Death made
daily life scary and
dangerous
– People turned to God
during these hard times,
making the Church more
powerful
• People concerned with
getting to heaven, not
life on earth
Rebirth
• Europe began to grow and prosper after
the Black Death
• Interest in individual ability began to
increase
• Increasing wealth in areas created new
possibilities for enjoyment
The Renaissance
• Renaissance Man
The Renaissance
• Period of Western
Europe history between
the 14th and 17th
centuries
• The word “renaissance”
means rebirth
• Blended ancient
Greece with modern
engineering and art to
create a new style
• The Renaissance
began in Italy
– Spread through Europe
Why Italy?
• Italy’s urban societies
started turning to a secular
view of the world
• Brightest minds came
• Italian thinkers became
interested in their ancient
Roman culture
• Focus on individual ability
– High regard for human worth
– Well-rounded person was
capable of many
achievements
– “A Renaissance Man”
• New ideas largely accepted
by the wealthy class
The Italian City-States
• No strong central
government
• Italian city-states
remained independent
• City-states made riches
from trade, artists
guilds, and banks
– Florence, Milan, Venice
• Families and men ruled
over their city-states
– Used mercenaries to
take/maintain control
– Similar to mafia dons
Florence
• Cultural center of Italy
and birthplace of
Renaissance
• Controlled by the
Medici family
– Cosimo loved art and
donated to the cause
– Had money and
political power
Renaissance Society
• Nobility
– Dominated society
– Only 2 to 3% of
population
– Expected to have
character and grace;
classical education
– Showed off
achievements
• Peasants and
Townspeople
– 85 to 90% of
European population
– Peasants were slowly
gaining freedom
– Townspeople saw new
jobs
• Artists, bankers,
merchants
– Poverty increased
New Thoughts on Power
• Machiavelli
– Wrote The Prince
– How to acquire and
keep power
– Rejected the idea that
a ruler must have
Christian principles
– Throw out moral
principles
• “…[men] are
ungrateful, fickle,
liars, and deceivers,
they shun danger and
are greedy for profit.”
Machiavelli Continued
• Qualities of a successful ruler/leader
– Use violence to hold power
– Respect private property and traditions of
people
– Can be excused from using violence
Machiavelli Continued
• He believed that its best for
a ruler to be both loved and
feared
– Find greater security in
being feared
• Religion is man-made and
used to keep the masses in
check
– Prince should make his
people religious
• The end justifies the means
– Anything is reasonable if it
leads to an important and
meaningful result
• Has influenced many
(Tupac Shakur)
Summary
• Europe was coming out of the Middle Ages
• Italy became the birthplace of a new found
interest in art and individuality
– Birthplace of Renaissance
• Led to new thoughts on life, art, and
science
• Did not effect everyone