The ReniassanceThe Reniassance

What was the Renaissance?What was the Renaissance?

• A “rebirth” and rediscovery of classical Greek & Roman thinking.

• A transition from medieval times to the Early Modern times.

• Began in the 1300’s and reached its peak in the 1500’s.

• A “rebirth” and rediscovery of classical Greek & Roman thinking.

• A transition from medieval times to the Early Modern times.

• Began in the 1300’s and reached its peak in the 1500’s.

What was the Renaissance?What was the Renaissance?

• New Worldviews– Focus on Humanism

• Worldly subjects rather than religious issues

– Emphasized the Humanities• Art, science, history, writing

• New Worldviews– Focus on Humanism

• Worldly subjects rather than religious issues

– Emphasized the Humanities• Art, science, history, writing

What was the Renaissance?What was the Renaissance?

• A new spirit of curiosity & adventure– Trade assumed a greater role than before– Navigators sailed across oceans– Scientists viewed the universe in new

ways– Writers & artists used new techniques

• A new spirit of curiosity & adventure– Trade assumed a greater role than before– Navigators sailed across oceans– Scientists viewed the universe in new

ways– Writers & artists used new techniques

Italy: Cradle of RenaissanceItaly: Cradle of Renaissance

• Italy’s central location in Mediterranean encouraged trade

• Banking, manufacturing & merchant network provided wealth.

• Trade routes carried new ideas from Asia & China

• Italy’s central location in Mediterranean encouraged trade

• Banking, manufacturing & merchant network provided wealth.

• Trade routes carried new ideas from Asia & China

City-States had wealthy families who supported the arts.Known as “Patrons.”

FlorenceFlorence

• Medici family in Florence were among the richest bankers & merchants.

• Lorenzo d’Medici invited poets, philosophers, and artists to the city.

• Medici family in Florence were among the richest bankers & merchants.

• Lorenzo d’Medici invited poets, philosophers, and artists to the city.

HumanismHumanism

• Human advancement, creativity and education were emphasized.

• Artists continued to portray religious themes, but did so against classic Greek and Roman backgrounds.

• Human advancement, creativity and education were emphasized.

• Artists continued to portray religious themes, but did so against classic Greek and Roman backgrounds.

Humanism in Art StylesHumanism in Art Styles

• Realism – Perspective

• Realism – Perspective

One new technique was perspective, credited to Filippo Brunelleschi.

Distant objects appeared smaller.

Perspective allowed more realistic art.

Humanism in Art StylesHumanism in Art Styles

• Realism– Perspective– Shading and shadows gave 3-D look– Donatello created a life-size soldier on

horseback

• Realism– Perspective– Shading and shadows gave 3-D look– Donatello created a life-size soldier on

horseback

Multi-talented ArtistsMulti-talented Artists

• Leonardo da Vinci was an artist and inventor. He studied botany, optics, anatomy, architecture, and engineering.

• Michelangelo Buonarroti was a sculptor, engineer, painter, architect, and poet.

• Leonardo da Vinci was an artist and inventor. He studied botany, optics, anatomy, architecture, and engineering.

• Michelangelo Buonarroti was a sculptor, engineer, painter, architect, and poet.

Humanistic WritersHumanistic Writers

• Baldassare Castiglione’s Book of the Courtier described the manners and behavior of the ideal aristocratic man and woman.

• Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Prince was a guide for rulers to gain and maintain power.

• Baldassare Castiglione’s Book of the Courtier described the manners and behavior of the ideal aristocratic man and woman.

• Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Prince was a guide for rulers to gain and maintain power.