World History Unit 3
Renaissance
Cultural and Intellectual Thought
Before the Renaissance
• Dominated by Christianity
• Dominated by Feudalism-political, economic, and social
structure
• Greek and Roman culture essentially forgotten
• Dominated by concerns for:
– Salvation
– Territorial disputes
– Black Death
– Lack of Education outside monasteries
– Small scale trade
Factors Influencing Shift Toward
Renaissance
• Crusades exposed Europe to the global world and
advanced civilizations—scholasticism exposure to rest of
world and Europe’s past
• Byzantine and Islamic cultures preserved the past
adding the knowledge of math and science Countries
unified under centralization
• Increased trade fueled further contact and learning
• Universities became centers of learning
• Other major movements emerged in addition to the
Renaissance—the Reformation, Scientific Revolution,
and Enlightenment
Shifts in Thought
• Europe was no longer backward, isolated, self-involved,
self-sufficient region on edge of world
• Desire to become dominant civilization grew
• Exploration and expansion grew from shift in thought
• Not quick or in equal proportions
• Took long time to penetrate all circles
• Guarded jealously by people with power
• Peasants didn’t participate—no education or position to
learn about it—lack of opportunity
RENAISSANCE
• Means the rebirth of Greek and Roman
culture
• Lasted approximately 1300-1600 A.D.
Why the Renaissance?
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Demand for labor high
Demand for products high
Population began to increase after Black Death
People moved to cities
Middle, or Merchant Class, emerged—bankers, merchants, traders, etc.
Huge influx of coined money
Interactions with Muslim world continued while Byzantine Empire was
severely weakening
Italian city-states became very rich supplying and transporting goods (Milan,
Venice, and Florence)
Increased wealth and new opportunities for material achievement in growing
urban societies
Scholars uncovered lost and forgotten Greek and Roman written works
Located on former ruins
Would encourage competition amongst growing European powers
HUMANISM
• Focus on human endeavor—non-religious thinking and action
• Previously life was useless and goal was heaven—suck it up now
for heaven awaits
• Shift in thinking from afterlife to here and now
• Focus on individuals meant less focus on institutions such as the
Church
• Historical texts were revisited with focus on personal
accomplishments and personal happiness—Greek and Roman
literature has tons of examples
• “Renaissance Man” emerged—Leonardo da Vinci—artist (painter &
sculptor), scientist, musician, architect, engineer, inventor,
mathematician
• Writings and art began to reflect humanism
• Power of church declined during the Renaissance
Characteristics of Renaissance Art
• Themes became more secular rather than
religious
• Subjects were popes, monarchs,
merchants, Greek and Roman deities,
contemporary events
• Human figures were more realistic due to
increased study of human anatomy
• Used perspective—three dimensional
• Began using oil paints
Rebirth in Arts
• Wealthy families in city-states patronized the
arts—Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs?
• Human figure is realistic—3 dimensional, use of
shadows to illuminate
• Linear perspective—focal point
• Embraced by Roman Church
– Art adorned palaces and cathedrals
– Huge domes
• Spread northward
• Greater variety of colors—due to trade and
exposure
Renaissance Writing
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Johannes Gutenberg’s Printing Press with moveable type—made printing books
much easier
Prior to printing press and Renaissance was little need for books—no one to read
them
Previously invented by Song Dynasty in China who gained knowledge from Korea—
was Gutenberg aware?
Ease of printing made it cheaper and able to be mass produced in other languages
other than Latin
The Bible was the first book mass produced by the printing press and was spread in
other languages other than Latin for the first time
Middle class becoming more educated, demanding more books, increased demand
for paper from Arabs and Chinese
Helped spread Protestant Reformation views
Other books printed were mainly for entertainment purposes focusing on daily lives of
people (the Vernacular)
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The Prince by Machiavelli—self-interest more important than morals (how to keep political
power)
Utopia by Sir Thomas Moore—ideal society
Works of Shakespeare focused on humanism—human faults, strengths, tragedy, comedy,
and classical world—Julius Caesar, etc.