 Pre-assessment—Quizzizz
 PPT– Renaissance
 Please take 5 minutes to review before your quiz.
 Agenda:
 - Quick Review before Quiz
 - Turn in your review packet 100% completed for extra
credit on the quiz
 - Quiz
 - Introduce The Renaissance
 “rebirth”
 In this case a rebirth of art and language.
 Northern Italy
 Began around 1300 and lasted until 1600. It later
spread north.
 Thriving cities
 A wealthy merchant class
 Classical heritage of Greece and Rome
 These 3 advantages help foster the Renaissance in Italy.
 The reason why Northern Europe lagged behind Italy
during the renaissance is because England and France
were locked in a hundred years’ war.
 Overseas trade sparked by the Crusades led to the
growth of large city-states in northern Italy.
 The rest of Europe was mostly rural
 Why would cities help the renaissance?
 Cities are often places where people exchange new
ideas.
 Also called the “Black Death”.
 Killed up to 60 percent of the population in these
cities.
 - i.e. Florence population went from 85,000 to 30,000.
 Because of a reduced population there was a shrink for
business expansion. Wealthy merchants began to
pursue other interest, such as art.
 City-states were small and ran their own affairs.
 Many citizens were very active in the political life.
 Merchants were the wealthiest, most powerful class
and they dominated politics.
 Merchants earned their social rank.
 - They believed they deserved power and wealth
because of their individual merit.
 The Medici family ruled Florence.
 1434- won control of Florence’s government.
 Influenced members of the ruling council by giving
them loans.
 Virtually the dictator for 30 years.
Florence, Italy
Who are
the FIVE
main
powers
that
dominated
the Italian
peninsula?
How did they
ensure no one
city-state
became too
powerful?
The States of Italy during the Renaissance, c.1494
1. Trade and Commerce
2. Closeness to classical Roman and Greek artifacts,
etc.
3. Closeness to Byzantine Empire – preservers of
history in Dark Ages
4. Not effected by Feudalism
5. Bankers and wealthy patrons
The Renaissance was a
time of great
economic changes
bUT not an economic
boom.
 1494 French army under King Charles VIII took
Florence, Rome and Milan. Alliance forced French
out.
 1508 Cousin King Louis XII formed League of
Cambria with Pope, HRE to take Venice’s land
 New alliance formed by Pope with Spain and HRE to
kick out France again
The birth of the
Renaissance
 “He combined interest in classical culture and Christianity
and left deep influence on literature throughout Western
Europe. A prolific correspondent, he wrote many important
letters, and his critical spirit made him a founder of
Renaissance humanism.”