The European Renaissance
“Living, I despise what melancholy fate
has brought us wretches in these evil years.
Long before my birth time smiled and may again,
for once there was, and yet will be, more joyful days.
But in this middle age time's dregs sweep 'round us, and we bend
beneath a heavy load of vice.
Genius, virtue, glory now have gone, leaving chance and sloth to rule.
Shameful vision this! We must awake or die. “
--- Petrarch
(1304-1374)
The European Renaissance
"Renaissance," French for
"rebirth," describes the
intellectual, artistic, and
economic changes that
occurred in Europe from the
14th-15th century.
Where did the Renaissance
begin?
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The European Renaissance
began in northern Italy, and
was based in three
independent cities;
Florence, Venice, and
Milan.
The Renaissance ideas
would eventually spread
into northern Europe as
Spain and France fought
with each other in Italian
lands.
So what caused the
Renaissance?
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Recovery from the Black
Death led to new commercial
ventures & economic
opportunity
Contact with Muslims in Spain
& the Middle East led to
revival of classical texts
Increased wealth led to
patronage of the arts and
learning
Causes of the Renaissance
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The Crusades created
renewed interest in
classical cultures as
scholars uncovered
Roman and Greek
writings, which revived
learning.
Strategically located in
the Mediterranean Sea
and characterized by
commercially strong citystates Italian trade
flourished.
Causes of the Renaissance
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Nobles and prominent families
such as the Medicis grew
wealthy from the trade and
used this wealth to patron the
arts.
By the end of the 15th century
Renaissance ideas had spread
from Italy to Northern Europe.
Trade supported a growing
population, which led to an
increased demand for goods,
which promoted more trade
and then more wealth.
Effects of the Renaissance
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New intellectual ideas
emerged that viewed man as a
rational being.
Writings and artwork focused
more on worldly matters.
Ideal of a “Renaissance Man”one who had many areas of
talent was promoted.
Humanism-celebration of the
individual in the here and now
rather than the afterlife
became important.
HUMANISM
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Humanism was the intellectual movement based on the
study of classical Greek and Roman art and literature.
Resulted in a new spirit of inquiry
Promoted the spirit of individualism & secularism
the “Father of Humanism”
collected Latin manuscripts and taught
that scholars should analyze the world
around them and not rely solely on faith.
Petrarch,
Effects of the Renaissance
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Classical history of the Greeks
and Romans was recovered
and studied along with a
reexamination of Roman
architecture and engineering.
(Classicism)
Unprecedented achievements
in art, literature, and music
Europeans begin to examine
long held beliefs in many areas
including science, religion,
politics, art, education, and
contact with non-Europeans
Explain
What was the political, intellectual, artistic,
economic, and religious impact of the
Renaissance?
Impact of the Renaissance
Political
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Italian city-states grew wealth
as did prominent families,
merchants and nobles.
Machiavelli writes about
political philosophy in The
Prince and argues that the
ends justify the means.
Feudalism has declined,
increasingly powerful kings
consolidate power and wealth
Intellectual
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Ideal of a “Renaissance Man”-one who had many areas
of talent was promoted.
Humanism-celebration of the individual in the here and
now rather than the afterlife became important.
Classicism- recovered and studied Greek and Roman
writings
Efforts to introduce reason into theological debates
results in the introduction of scholasticism in universities
Use of Latin in writing of scholars, lawyers and
theologians, yet use of vernacular in literary works
Artistic & Economic
 Artistic
 Unprecedented
achievements in art,
architecture, literature, and music
 Economic
 Growth of a middle class of professionals
and merchants
 Expansion of guilds as economic activists
and organizers.
Religious
 Creation
of the Christian Humanist
movement-argued for religious reform of
the church.
 Growing movement of individual piety
brought about by individual study of the
works of Christianity.
 Growing secularism reflected in a
concentration on living in the here and
now as opposed to sole obsession about
salvation as in the Middle Ages.