Chapter 4.

1 The Renaissance
• The Renaissance - a transitional period in Europe,
bridging the gap between the Middle Ages and the
modern world.
• It was characterized by a revival of literacy and
education. Renaissance means “rebirth.”
•
•
• The Renaissance was notable for its interest in the
classical world of Greece and Rome. These civilizations
served as models for Italian Renaissance writers.
Causes of the Renaissance
• The fall of Constantinople in 1453 contributed to
the revival of learning in Europe.
• Knowledge about science, medicine, and many
other fields improved at an ever-increasing pace.
• The growth of trade and the rise of towns led to
the expansion of a professional, or middle, class.
• Many students could now afford private teachers.
Causes of the Renaissance
• The goal of a Renaissance education was to
make the student a well-rounded person.
• Paintings, sculptures, and architecture of the
period reflected this new spirit.
Worldview of Renaissance Humanists
• During the Middle Ages, people had focused
on the spiritual side of life.
• Scholars of the Renaissance began to view
things differently. They showed a renewed
interest in the practical details of the world
around them.
Worldview of Renaissance Humanists
• The philosophy that embodied the ideals of
the Renaissance is known as humanism or
Renaissance humanism.
• They taught subjects that became known as
the humanities such as literature, philosophy,
art, history, grammar, and speech.
Spread of Renaissance Ideas
• Italy
•
• Petrarch became known as the Father of
Humanism.
• Castiglione wrote a famous book on etiquette
(behavior that is considered acceptable within a society.)
• Castiglione’s book, The Courier, described
proper conduct for the Renaissance man.
Spread of Renaissance Ideas
• Italy
• Machiavelli observed political events in
Europe; wrote a book called The Prince.
• Machiavelli taught that those who lived by
biblical and classical virtues might not
always be able to gain or keep power.
Spread of Renaissance Ideas
• Northern Europe
• Writers of northern Europe tended to
emphasize religious issues.
• This trend led to a philosophy known as
Christian humanism. A philosophy that
wanted to return Christianity to the simple
values of its early days.
Spread of Renaissance Ideas
• Northern Europe
• Erasmus was one of the most highly
regarded and influential of the Christian
humanists.
• He believed that people must have access
to the Scriptures if they were going to live
their lives according to its teaching.
Erasmus
a Dutch Renaissance linguist and
scholar who published a Greek New
Testament and advocated church
reform
Spread of Renaissance Ideas
• Northern Europe
• Erasmus was the first to publish a Greek
New Testament.
• He also published a new version of the Latin
Bible.
Spread of Renaissance Ideas
• Northern Europe
• Sir Thomas More was a close friend of
Erasmus.
• His work Utopia presented a view of an
ideal country that would operate according
to reason rather than self-centered
motivations like greed.
Sir Thomas More
an official under Henry VIII who
wrote Utopia and advocated
church reform
Life in Florence
• Power
• Rulers abused their
power for personal
gain.
• They covered up
their own
corruption.
• Justice
• Only workers
belonging to the
guild could
participate in
government.
guild
people of the same occupation who
work together to set up rules for their
occupation and to protect themselves
from competition
Life in Florence
• Religion
• Renaissance
humanism tended
to emphasize
humans rather
than God.
• Instead of setting a
righteous example,
many Renaissance
clergy lived in
great wealth and
immorality.
Life in Florence
• Citizenship
• Only citizens had a
say in the
government.
• Citizenship was not
available to most
residents.
• Environment
• The Arno River
provided an
abundant water
supply to Florence.
Cultural and Technological Achievements
• Books
• During the Middle Ages, European writers
had begun to write in the language of the
people.
• Works captured a larger audience.
• People had more time to read and discuss
new ideas.
Cultural and Technological Achievements
• Books
• (1) The production of paper and
• (2) The invention of the printing press
aided the ability to publish books.
Johannes Gutenberg
• Gutenberg made a name for himself through
his work on the moveable-type printing
press.
• The printing press made books more
affordable.
Cultural and Technological Achievements
• Art
• Renaissance artists learned about anatomy.
• The Renaissance artist also added
dimension to figures by shading.
• The ability to give depth to paintings was
the result of a new study of perspective.
anatomy
the science of muscle and bone
connections, studied by Renaissance
painters to make portraits and
paintings more realistic
shading
a technique used by Renaissance
artists to give dimension to their
paintings
perspective
the technique Renaissance artists
used to give depth to paintings by
adjusting the size of objects in
relation to the observer’s viewpoint
Cultural and Technological Achievements
• Art
• Leonardo da Vinci painted The Last Supper
and the Mona Lisa.
• Michelangelo is best known for his painting
on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in
Rome.
Cultural and Technological Achievements
• Sculpture
• Much medieval sculpture was relief
sculpture.
• One of the greatest examples of
Renaissance relief sculpture is the doors
sculpted by Lorenzo Ghiberti for the
baptistery of Florence.
Cultural and Technological Achievements
• Architecture
• Architects returned to rounded arches,
columns, and domes.
• The Cathedral of Florence is a stunning
example of Renaissance architecture.
Cultural and Technological Achievements
• The Renaissance Man
• The ideal Renaissance man was one with a
variety of accomplishments.
• Leonardo da Vinci was an excellent example
of such a person.