The Renaissance BeginsDaily EQ: Why did the

Renaissance begin in Italy?

What is the Renaissance?

• Rebirth of art and learning• Looking to classics for inspiration and

understanding: Greece and Rome

Why?• People have lived through

chaotic/depressing Middle Ages• Ready for a change• The Silk Road

– Marco Polo (maybe) traveled and brought back items and stories of Asia that made people curious

Fall of Constantinople• 1453 – the city of Constantinople is

taken over by the Ottomans• Ends the Byzantine Empire

(Roman)

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Return of the Classics• Migration of scholars, poets, artists,

scientists, etc… from Constantinople to Italy and France–Bring Greek and Roman ideas,

writings, and artifacts with them

Growth of Trade• Ottoman Empire links Europe with

Asia/ME• Trade will also go through Italy because

of its location (peninsula)

Ideas• Ideas and cultures spread because

of trade–Classics – Roman/Greek, ME

Italy’s trade carried the Renaissance ideas to the rest of

Europe

Wealthy Merchant Class

• Wealthy families emerge in city-states of Italy because of trade.

• Very powerful; controlled politics/govt

Patrons• Many of these people became

patrons and used their money to support artists, sculptors, poets etc…

Peace • There was a period of peace in Italy.

–People could focus on trade and the arts

Bubonic Plague• Didn’t hit Italy as hard as rest of Europe• Allowed many peasants to move away

from farm life• Lead to increase in wages and standard

of living – rise of a new Middle Class

Home to Classics

• Italy is the home of the Roman Empire • Leftover artifacts from Rome to study