Chapter 13 The Renaissance and Reformation

Section 1: The Renaissance In Italy

Section 1 Objectives

• Students will: 1. Describe characteristics of the Renaissance and understand why it began in Italy.

2. Identify Renaissance artist and explain how new ideas affected the arts of the period.

3. Understand how writers of the time addressed Renaissance themes.

The Renaissance

• Renaissance= A new age meaning “re-birth” – It marked a great change in culture, politics, society, and economics. • Renaissance in Italy – Began in 1300’s – Reached its peak around 1500.

– Renaissance explored the human experience, unlike focusing on religion like in the Middle Ages

The Renaissance

• Italy Cont.

– There was a new emphasis on individual achievement.

– Humanism was at the heart of the Renaissance.

• Was an Intellectual movement.

• Renaissance humanist studied the classical culture of Greece and Rome to try to cmprehend their own times.

The Renaissance

• Italy Cont.

– Humanism Cont.

• They emphasized the humanities: subjects such as rhetoric, poetry, and History.

– Poet Francesco Petarch was an early Renaissance humanist • Gathered a library of Greek and Roman Manuscripts.

• Western Europeans now had works of Cicero, Homer, and Virgil.

The Renaissance

• Italy Birthplace of the Renaissance – Had been the center of the Roman Empire and remains of ancient culture were all around.

– Was also the seat of the Roman Catholic Church. (an important patron of the arts).

– Its location encouraged trade with markets on the Mediterranean, in Africa, and Europe.

The Renaissance

• Italy Birthplace of the Renaissance – Trade provided the wealth that fueled the Renaissance.

– Italy’s powerful merchant families, such as the Medici family of Florence, lent political and economic leadership and supported the arts.

–

The Renaissance

• Reflecting Humanism – Renaissance painters returned to the realism of classical times by developing improved ways to represent humans and landscapes.

– Discovered perspective-allowed artistis to create realistic art.

• Paint scenes that appeared 3-dimensional.

– The greatest of the Renaissance artist were Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael.

The Renaissance

• Writers – Some Italian writers wrote guidebooks.

• Help ambitious people who wanted to rise in the Renaissance world.

• Most widely read was

The Book of the Courtier

by Baldassare Castiglione.

– Nicollo Machiavelli wrote a guide for rulers, titled

The Prince

• How to gain and maintain Power

Section 1 Questions

1. What was significant about the discovery of perspective?

2. Identify three of the main characteristics of the Renaissance.

3. How did the focus of study change between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance?

4. Identify two reasons why the Renaissance began in Italy.

Chapter 13 The Renaissance and Reformation

Section 2: The Renaissance In The North

Section 2 Objectives

• Students will: 1. Explain how the printing revolution shaped European society.

2. Describe the themes that Northern European Artists humanist, and writers explored.

The Renaissance In The North

• Northern Europe – By the 1400’s economic growth reached levels to develop its own Renaissance.

• Printing Press – Helped spread Renaissance ideas.

– Johann Gutenberg • Printed the first complete edition of the Bible in 1455.

– Printing Press caused a printing revolution.

The Renaissance In The North

• Printing Press Cont.

– Before books were made by hand, were rare, and expensive.

– Printed books were cheaper and easier to produce. – Now more books were available so more people learned to read.

– It exposed Europe to new ideas and places.

The Renaissance In The North

• Beginning of the Northern Renaissance – Began in the cities of Flanders.

• A thriving center of trade.

– Flemish Painters • Pursued realism in their art • One of the Most important was Jan van Eyck. – Portrayed townspeople and religious scenes in rich detail.

• Pieter Bruegel used vibrant color to portray lively scenes of peasant life

The Renaissance In The North

• Beginning of the Northern Renaissance – Flemish Painters Cont.

• Peter Paul Rubens blended the tradition of Flemish realism with themes from mythology, the Bible, and History.

• German painter Albercht Durer traveled to Italy to study the techniques of the Italian masters.

– Became a pioneer in spreading Renaissance ideas to Northern Europe.

– Applied the painting techniques he learned in Italy to engraving.

– Many of paintings / engravings theme religious upheaval.

The Renaissance In The North

• Northern European Humanists – Humanists and writers also helped spread Renaissance ideas.

– Desiderius Erasmus • Dutch priest and humanists • Called for a translation of the Bible into the venacular.

– Sir Thomas More • Called for social reform in the form of a utopian, in which people live together in peace and harmony.

The Renaissance In The North

• Renaissance Literature – William Shakespeare • Most famous poet and playwright • His 37 plays are still preformed around the world.

• His genius was in expressing universal themes, such as the complexity of the individual, in everyday, realistic settings.

• Used language that people understood and enjoyed.

• Also enriched the English language with 1,700 new words

Section 2 Questions

1. Where did the Northern Renaissance begin?

2. What changes did the invention of the printing press bring about?

3. What theme did Durer explore in many of his paintings and engravings?