Renaissance

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Renaissance
Renaissance
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European Renaissance and beginnings of
exploration
European Renaissance and beginnings of
exploration
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This period of plague and warfare in late 14th
and 15th century - also witnessed beginnings of
the Renaissance -
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Renaissance -- a term used for intellectual and
artistic change in Europe from late 14th to 16th
centuries (not so much period as program
Barbara Rosenwein )
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What does "Renaissance" mean Rebirth

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classical learning specifically classical texts
(like Virgil, Cicero) became required reading for
anyone who considered themselves literate.
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extended to mean rebirth of civilization in
general promoted of mimicry of classical art,
sculpture, architecture
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Downgraded past 1000 years as Middle Ages
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Strong element of secularism in the Renaissance
moving away from seeing religion as the central
focus of life and the universe towards seeing man
as the center.
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POLITICAL CONTEXT OF RENAISSANCE BEGAN IN ITALY

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Why Italy?
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France and England were focused on their Hundred
Years War.
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The bubonic plague - the Black Death had been
striking repeatedly, depopulating Europe by at
least a third, raising wages, and ruining the
fortunes of the aristocracy
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Byzantine Empire falling apart because of the
Ottomans (and Byzantine Greek intellectuals are
fleeing to Europe)
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• And Italy?
• What was government of Italy like?
• organized into numerous city-states. 

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The most prominent city-states included Florence,
Venice, Milan, and Rome
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Florence was a republic where democratic ideals
were admired during the Renaissance
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Government actions in Florence and other
city-states were strongly influenced by powerful,
wealthy families
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The city-states were very competitive and wars
among them were common.
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Riches acquired through trade and successful
conquests were used to employ artists, musicians,
and scholars as well as to build elaborate
palaces, churches, and public buildings.
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Leaders of the prominent ruling families were
often important leaders in the Catholic Church,
which was actively involved in running the
business of public life.
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There were more than 20 city-states in Italy,
each carrying out the functions of governing and
even issuing its own currency.   Was an enormous
task converting currency from one city state to
another for international trade Bankers such as
the Medici family of Florence accumulated great
fortunes by making these exchanges, and charging
fees for their services.
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Cosimo de Medici, one of the leaders who helped
Florence become a dynamic Renaissance center of
trade and culture, is said to have earned 4
million through his international banking role, a
huge sum of money for that era
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