Kristina Kline

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The Spirit of the RenaissanceNiccolò Machiavelli

• Kristina Kline

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the significance of the renaissance

• The Renaissance was a significant time period of
  cultural rebirth across Europe during the 14th
  17th centuries. It is defined by a newly found
  enthusiasm for education, classical literature,
  and the arts.

During the Renaissance, relatively ordinary
Europeans became enlightened by classical
philosophy to think for themselves.
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The significance of the renaissance Social
effects

• The secularist movement that took place during
  the Renaissance can be highly attributed to the
  invention of the printing press
• Before the Renaissance, the clergy and few nobles
  held the sole privilege of higher education the
  Bible was written in languages unknown to the
  greater public, and so it was interpreted and
  preached strictly by the Church.
• The easy access for voluntary education brought
  about by the printing press, however, allowed the
  Europeans to interpret Christian teachings for
  themselves and, more importantly, question the
  Church.
• In addition, the invention of the printing press
  allowed great philosophical works of the time to
  be quickly dispersed among the common people and
  nobles alike.

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The significance of the renaissance cultural
effects

• In regard to the arts, Renaissance sculptors and
  painters were renowned for their revolutionary
  taste for intricate techniques and styles. Art
  was dominated by realism perspective, lights and
  shadows, and geometrical figures.
• This greatly contrasted the symbolic styles of
  medieval art which originated heavily from
  Christian values and were accentuated by shallow
  and uneven proportions.
• Literature was equally affected by the new
  philosophies of the Renaissance. Shakespeare
  dared to explore the intricate extents of the
  English language, while Niccolò Machiavelli and
  Giovanni Pico della Mirandola questioned popular
  sentiment in regards to government and human
  nature.
• This realistic perspective, in turn, greatly
  contrasted the religious and fantasy-dominated
  literary themes of the Middle Ages.

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The significance of the renaissance
The Feast in the House of Levi (1573) Paolo
Veronese
This Renaissance-era painting highlights the
themes of realism and natural proportion that
evolved from the Dark Ages and dominated
Renaissance art.
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Biography

• Niccolò Machiavelli was born in Florence, Italy
  on May 3, 1469. Intrigued by government and
  philosophy at a young age, Machiavelli dedicated
  fourteen years of his life as a diplomat to the
  Florentine Republic.
• When the Medici family regained authority of
  Florence, Machiavelli was dismissed of his
  position and thrown into jail. Here, Machiavelli
  found himself studying Roman literature and
  composing his own works regarding mans potential
  in monarchial governance.
• One of these works, The Prince (1532), takes a
  realistic approach on the capabilities of a
  powerful ruler. In this respect, The Prince
  defines the humanist values of the Renaissance.
• Today, Machiavellis poems, plays, and
  revolutionary works including The Prince earn him
  the legacy of the father of modern political
  theory.

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The Prince

• The Prince (1532) by Niccolò Machiavelli is
  perhaps one of the greatest literary works
  surviving the Renaissance era.
• Expressively dedicated to Lorenzo de Medici, The
  Prince serves as a guide for effective monarchial
  rule.
• In summary, The Prince accentuates cruel and
  deceitful tactics as the most efficient methods
  to hold and enact power in a monarchial state.

An early edition of The Prince (1550)
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The Princeand humanism

• The Renaissance value of humanism greatly
  influences The Prince because Machiavelli, a
  humanist himself, targets human nature in
  portraying the ideal monarchy. Humanists of the
  Renaissance were devout proponents of human
  potential throughout The Prince, Machiavelli
  articulately examines the dynamics of humanity.
  He understands that while a good ruler should
  possess some admirable qualities, it is
  impossible for any authentic being to be entirely
  good. Therefore, Machiavelli introduces the
  concept that characteristics like cruelty and
  dishonesty are necessary to effectively hold
  power over a state.
• Unlike other humanists of his time, Machiavelli
  was perhaps the first to creatively explore
  relatively unethical methods of rule while
  roaming within the intellectual bounds of
  humanism. This is why The Prince is considered to
  be such a great work from the Renaissance period
  Machiavelli attempts to summarize human nature
  from a disturbingly accurate and realistic
  standpoint.

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The Princeand individualism

• The Renaissance virtue of individualism is also
  represented in Machiavellis work, The Prince.
  Individualists of the Renaissance believed in a
  self-reliant and independent mind, one that
  worked towards the promotion of self-interest.
  Machiavelli highlights these virtues when he
  advises rulers on how to achieve absolute power.
  He even takes the time to point out specific
  characteristics that would contribute to the
  individualistic well-being of a prince courage,
  cruelty, craftiness, confidence, and
  intelligence.
• Machiavellis individualistic and perhaps
  psychological approach in identifying human
  characteristics helps contribute to The Princes
  overall fame and legacy. This is because he was
  among the first to tackle an in-depth analysis of
  the relationship between a person and his quest
  for personal glory.

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The Princeand scientific naturalism

• Scientific naturalism plays a significant role in
  the philosophy behind The Prince. This doctrine
  goes hand in hand with humanism as Machiavelli
  takes a realistic approach in summarizing the
  average qualities that compose human nature.
  Scientific naturalists of the Renaissance focused
  prominently on viewing the world from the most
  realistic perspective humanly possible. In this
  way, Machiavelli examines human traits with
  natural assumptions and tries to stray as far as
  possible from supernatural or religious
  affiliations.
• Part of The Princes literary significance can be
  attributed to its recurring themes of realism and
  naturalism. It is widely recognized for its
  brutal honesty for example, Machiavelli argues
  that a prince should force his people to depend
  on him, whether it entails supplying limited
  resources or freedoms. While they may be
  unethical, Machiavellis tactics are truly
  authentic.

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The Princeand secularism

• Secularism is the fourth and final Renaissance
  doctrine that heavily influences Machiavellis
  The Prince. Secularists of the Renaissance
  promoted full separation of Church and
  government. Similarly, Machiavelli never uses
  religious reasoning to back his claims in his
  book. While he mentions that common people have
  strong ties to religion, it is evident that he
  believes spiritual argument is futile. Instead of
  being bound by supernatural or religious forces
  imposed by the Church, Machiavelli argues that
  man himself holds the ability to control his own
  destiny, which is why scientific logic reigns
  superior in the assertions of The Prince.
• The Prince is considered a great work of its time
  because of its ability to move with the
  secularist movement of the Renaissance and break
  away from prevailing religious themes.
  Machiavelli even pushes readers to a further
  level of secularism, advising them to take his
  political strategies and challenge the Church as
  an institution of power.

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The spirit of the renaissance

• In summary, The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli
  serves as a precise representation of the Spirit
  of the Renaissance.
• Using the prevailing sentiments of his
  revolutionary time, Machiavelli builds off of the
  virtues of humanism, individualism, scientific
  naturalism, and secularism to create a how-to
  guide for successful monarchial rule. Every
  aspect of his work moves away from the medieval
  reliance of religion and uncertainty. Out of
  science and logic immersed obscure political
  strategies that were unknown to rulers of the
  medieval era. No longer were people merely
  defined by groups Machiavelli urged his readers
  to use their individual traits to their
  advantage. In essence, The Prince radiates the
  Spirit of the Renaissance the confidence and
  perseverance to own the present, to deviate the
  norm, and to become legendary and powerful.