The Italian Renaissance
The objectives for this powerpoint
are:
• Identify the change in human outlook that
occurred during the time of the Renaissance
• What were some of the civic monuments that
were built to show this change?
• Who created some of the masterpieces of the
Italian Renaissance—and what were the new
techniques that enhanced their art.
• You will be able to identify Dante, Petrarch and
Machiavelli’s ideas and importance in literature
and political thought.
The Renaissance
marked a new age
in thought and
feeling
The focus on
heaven and the
afterlife changed
to the here and
now.
Many civic (city) projects were built
•
•
•
•
•
•
Orphanages
Hospitals
Town halls
Schools
Squares
Bridges
Renaissance City States
• Florence Italy
Venice
Genoa
Different Governments
• Some were republics
• Others were Merchant Oligarchies
• Others were controlled by despots
(absolute power)
• Some were controlled by military
leaders (condottiere)
• The states were small—there was
constant friction among them.
Condottiere,
Renaissance WarLords.
The Medici were the most famous Merchant
family. Their home was Florence.
Are you a Renaissance Man?
• Are you excellent in
all things?
• Do you define the
age?
• Are you musical,
literary, a fine
swordsman
• Can you appreciate
the opposite sex?
Are you a Renaissance Woman?
• Are you
submissive to your
husband?
• Can you bear
many sons?
• Can you run the
domain while your
husband is away?
• Can you live past
40?
The Renaissance influence the arts
• Oil painting, canvas, perspective were all
new inventions
Perspective
Massacio’s Tribute Money
The High
Renaissance—
1450-1527
• Da Vinci,
Raphael,
Michelangelo
Popes were patrons of the High
Renaissance
• They used art and architecture to reestablish their power after the Great
Schism
The literary (writing) movement of
the Renaissance was called
Humanism.
More works were being written in
the Vernacular (language of the
people)
Scholars sought out the classical
texts long forgotten
• The area of law was the first
area
• Scholars examined old texts
for the knowledge they
contained
• This thirst for authentic
sources exploded in the
Renaissance
• Soon, the printing press
would bring this knowledge to
the rest of the Western World
Petrarch (1304-1374)had a wide
influence throughout the Renaissance
• He loved to write
letters,
• Poems,
• Revived interest in
classics
• Wrote sonnets about
love
Petrarch wrote sonnets to Laura
and Mrs. Olsen
Love poem to Mrs. Olsen
Mrs. Olsen your eyes are likes stars,
And though age decays you year by
year,
I will always love you,
Do not fear
Other writers include Boccaccio
• While the Black
Death
raged in the
countryside,
friends gathered to
hear stories.
Dante (1265-1321), considered a
Renaissance writer, lived just
prior to the Renaissance.
He wrote the “Divine
Comedy” in Italian—the
venacular, which means the
language of the people
The Divine
Comedy was
a trip through
Heaven, Hell,
and
purgatory—a
half way
house for
sinners
Dante was in love with Beatrice, though he
only spoke to her once, she remained a
powerful inspiration
Both Laura and Beatrice were
famous inspirations to these great
writers. They became immortal.
Machiavelli (1469-1527)
Some writers wrote about politics
Machiavelli was concerned that
Italy was not united. He wrote The
Prince as a guide for rulers.
We should now be familiar with his
beliefs
• The end justifies the means
• It is better to be feared than loved
• It is better to kill a person than take away
his property.
• Human nature can be predicted; most
humans are selfish
• Politics is not about morals or religion—it
is about keeping a realm strong and
peaceful.
Machiavelli admired the New
Monarchs in other countries
• He was depressed that Italy was disunited
and fighting.
• He looked with envy on those monarchs
who were busy united their realms,
including England’s Henry VII, France’s
Louis XI, and Ferdinand and Isabella.
• Italy would not unite until the 1860’s—
almost four hundred years after his birth in
1469.
The Italian Renaissance
ends.
Various groups invade
Rome and pillage and
sack the city in 1527.