[Chapter 15 - 1] The Italian Renaissance

The Crusades spurred a revival of trade in Western Europe. Towns and cities began to grow again.

Nations formed strong governments and began to challenge church laws that limited trade and industry.

Objectives:

In this section you will find out how the Renaissance began and what characterized the thought of this era.

• You will learn how Renaissance writers brought classical teachings and Christian doctrine together.

• You will also discover how Renaissance art differed from art of the Middle Ages.

Raphael - Disputation of the Holy Sacrament

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Focus Questions

1. What were the main features of Renaissance humanist thought?

2. In what way does Machiavelli’s work differ from that of other humanists?

3. How did Renaissance and medieval art differ from each other?

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Vocabulary 15 - 1

Renaissance: Movement and period following the Middle Ages that centered on revival of interest in the classical learning of Greece and Rome; means “rebirth”

Humanists: People who specialized in study of the humanities, which include grammar, history, poetry, and rhetoric

Francesco Petrarch: Early humanist scholar and teacher who wrote some of the world’s greatest love poems

Niccolò Machiavelli: Florentine diplomat and historian who wrote The Prince, which described how rulers could gain power and achieve political success

Perspective: Art technique that involves making distant objects smaller than those in the foreground to create the illusion of depth on a flat canvas

Leonardo da Vinci: Great Renaissance architect, engineer, painter, sculptor, and scientist who painted the Mona Lisa

Michelangelo: Master Renaissance artist who painted frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome

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Section 1 Summary

Following the Middle Ages, an important movement changed Europe’s view of the world. The Renaissance, meaning “rebirth,” was a movement in the 1300s centered on the revival of interest in the classical learning of Greece and Rome. The Renaissance was also the era when that movement flourished, a time of great advances in art and science. It falls under the category of "Golden Ages."

The Renaissance began in Italy, where ruins of the Roman Empire still reflected its glory. The Crusades and trade brought Italy into contact with the Byzantines, who had preserved Greek and Roman learning. Italians also learned of Arab and African achievements in science and mathematics

Wealthy Italian banking and trading families such as the Medici (MED·ee·chee) became great patrons (supporters/financiers of the arts). The Medici family controlled Florence for many years. Isabella d’Este, for example, was a powerful, well-educated woman who supported scholars and writers. Architects, sculptors, and painters designed and decorated her palace.

Italian scholars called humanists studied the humanities, which include grammar, history, poetry, and rhetoric. Renaissance humanists displayed a critical approach to learning, seeking to verify knowledge through investigation. A classical education was important to understand how things worked. They believed that people should lead meaningful lives. They believed in the importance of individual achievement in this life, not just the afterlife. Many Renaissance people displayed talents in multiple areas, such as poetry and science.

Francesco Petrarch was an early humanist scholar and teacher who wrote some of the world’s greatest love poems. Because ancient Greek and Roman writers emphasized virtue, Petrarch believed study of the classics was essential in education. Petrarch thought it important to lead a full and active life on earth, but he worried that his desire for fame might hurt his chances for salvation.

Niccolò Machiavelli (mahk·yah·vel·lee), a Florentine diplomat and historian, wrote a famous essay called The Prince. It described how rulers could gain power and achieve political success. He explains that "the ends justifies the means." In other words, if your goal is to stay in power, you do whatever it takes. Today, ruthless behavior to gain power is called “Machiavellian.” Machiavelli looked to the ancient Romans as models, but his lack of concern for morality is not typical of other humanists.

http://www.nlnrac.org/critics/machiavelli/primary-source-documents/the-prince

Renaissance artists produced great masterpieces. Renaissance art was more realistic than medieval paintings, which used formal figures to depict religious themes. Italian Renaissance artists also portrayed background scenes from their countryside instead of imagined scenes of the Holy Land. Renaissance painters used perspective to create the illusion of depth on a flat canvas. This art technique makes distant objects smaller than those in the foreground.

Painters made outstanding contributions to art during the High Renaissance in the late 1400s and early 1500s. Leonardo da Vinci was a great architect, engineer, painter, sculptor, and scientist. His most famous painting is the Mona Lisa. Another Renaissance master, Michelangelo, painted frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome. His human sculptures are also highly admired. Another painter, Raphael (RAF·ee·el) painted frescoes in the Vatican, the pope’s residence in Rome.

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Focus Questions

1. What were the main features of Renaissance humanist thought?

• One of the main features of Renaissance humanist thought was a critical approach to learning, seeking to verify knowledge through investigation. Humanists also believed in the importance of a classical education to understand how things worth. Finally, humanists believed in the importance of individual achievement in this life.

2. In what way does Machiavelli’s work differ from that of other humanists?

• Machiavelli’s work differs from that of other humanists in its lack of concern for morality.

3. How did Renaissance and medieval art differ from each other?

• Renaissance art was more realistic than medieval art, which used formal figures to depict religious themes. Italian Renaissance artists also portrayed background scenes from their countryside instead of imagined scenes of the Holy Land.

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Practice Regents Questions

15 One reason the Renaissance began in Italy was that Italian city-states (15-Ag'11)

(1) defeated the Spanish Armada

(2) were unified as a nation under the Pope

(3) were unaffected by the Commercial Revolution

(4) dominated key Mediterranean trade routes

16 In The Prince, Machiavelli advises rulers to (16-Ag'11)

(1) seek the approval of the people

(2) establish and maintain power

(3) promote openness in government

(4) learn and follow the commandments of the church

12 What was one ideal of Renaissance humanism? (12-June, 2011)

(1) training as a knight and practicing chivalry

(2) obeying divine right monarchs and the church

(3) living apart from the world and taking monastic vows

(4) investigating areas of interest and fulfilling one’s potential

Link to what it could look like