The Renaissance 1350 - 1600

1
The Renaissance1350 - 1600

• Major Theme After the Later Middle Ages, Europe
  experienced a rebirth of commerce, interest in
  classical cultures, and confidence in human
  potential.

2
The Renaissance

• Marked the beginning of modern European History
• Time Line
• 1. Began in Italy, early 1300s
• 2. Spread to Northern Europe, c. 1450
• 3. Lasted in England from 16th-17th centuries

3
The Renaissance

• Characteristics
• 1. Distinctly different from Middle Ages (19th
  c. Swiss historian Jacob Burckhardt)
• 2. Benefits applied almost exclusively to upper
  class little impact on peasants and working
  class

4
Italian City-States

• Five major players
• Florence
• Milan
• Rome
• Venice
• Naples

5
Rise of the City-States

• Northern Italian city-states led the way Genoa,
  Venice, Milan
• Oligarchies and signori in control by 1300 in
  most of Italy
• Trade and banking
• Urbanization of Italy
• Politics of the City-States
• Competition, not unity
• Balance of power
• Disunity led to disaster
• Diplomatic legacy of the city-states
• Condottieri mercenary generals with private
  armies hired by city-states

6
Republic of Florence

• Center of the Renaissance in 14th-15th
• Dominated by Medici family

Cosimo de Medici (1389-1464) ruler of Florence
Lorenzo de Medici (1449-1492) The
Magnificent, patron of arts
7
Duchy of Milan

• Ruled by Sforza family after 1450
• Main adversary of Venice and Florence

Ludovico Sforza (il Moro) (1452-1508) most
famous ruler, patron of da Vinci
8
Rome, the Papal States

• Popes served as religious and political leaders
• Controlled much of central Italy
• Powerful Italian families competed for the Papal
  office

Alexander VI (1492-1503) Borgia family,
corrupt controversial
Julius II (1503-1513) the Warrior Pope,
great patron of the arts
9
Republic of Venice

• Longest-lasting of the city-states until early
  1800s
• International trading power with strong navy

10
Kingdom of Naples

• Only city-state with King
• Controlled by French 1266-1435
• Ruled by
• Spanish
• after 1435
• Second-
• largest city
• in Europe
• in 1500s

11
Decline of the City-States

• 1494 French invasions began support Milan vs.
  Florence and Naples
• 1494-1559 Hapsburg-Valois Wars for control of
  Italy
• Italy now center of power struggle between
  Spain the Holy Roman Empire (Hapsburgs) and
  France (Valois)

12
Decline of the City-States

• 1494 Medicis ousted in Florence
• 1494-1498 Girolamo Savonarola Catholic priest
  ruled Florence as
• a theocracy
• 1497 Bonfire of the Vanities
• Savonarola excommunicated and burned at stake,
  Medicis eventually returned to power

13
End of the Italian Renaissance

• 1527 Sack of Rome by soldiers of Charles V of
  HRE
• Pope Clement VII imprisoned by Charles V
• Destruction of Rome signaled end of Italian
  Renaissance