Chapter 12.1: The Renaissance

Global Studies I

Key Terms



urban society

a society in which many of the people live in cities  

secular

worldly, not religious

mercenary

a hired soldier 

dowry

in Renaissance Italy, a sum of money given by a wife’s family to her husband upon marriage

What does the word

renaissance

mean?

 rebirth

Copy this bubble map below into your notes:

rebirth of interest in ancient culture secular viewpoint Characteristics of the Italian Renaissance urban society emphasis on individual achievements recovery from 14th century problems

How did the Visconti and Sforza rulers become powerful in Milan?

 Both Visconti and Sforza rulers built a strong centralized state and a tax system that gave their governments a huge income.

The Italian States

1498 accused of heresy & sentenced to death Dominican preacher Girolamo Savonarola “Bonfire of the Vanities” forced the Medici out and took control of Florence Had regulations against gambling, swearing, music, painting & books

The Italian States

What events started & ended the Italian Wars?

French king Charles VIII led an army into Italy in 1494 & occupied the kingdom of Naples.

Northern Italian states received help from the Spanish.

The wars ended in 1527, when troops belonging to the Spanish king Charles I sacked Rome.

Machiavelli and the New Statecraft

 What was Machiavelli’s view of human nature?

 believed that human beings were basically self centered  Why was The Prince an important work on political power?

 Machiavelli was the first to abandon morality as the basis for the analysis of political activity.

Renaissance Society



The Nobility

 Baldassare Castiglione,

The Book of the Courtier

 a noble was born, not made  expected to have character, grace, and talent  had to perform military and physical exercises to prepare for war  Expected to have a classical education and pursue the arts  Follow a standard of conduct

Renaissance Society



Peasants and Townspeople

 peasants made up 85 – 90% of the population in most of Europe; the rest were townspeople

Renaissance Society

Patricians Burghers Workers Unemployed

Renaissance Society

age 

Middle Ages

class

Nobility Peasants Townspeople Renaissance

Primarily concerned with military skill Part of manorial system Classical education, arts, warriors, standards of conduct More peasants were legally free Merchants and artisans Patricians, shopkeepers, artisans, guild masters, workers