AP%20World%20History:%20The%20Italian%20Renaissance

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AP World History The Italian Renaissance

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I What was the Renaissance?

• The renaissance was the rebirth of Western
  Europe. At the end of the Middle Ages, Europeans
  looked to the classical civilizations of Greece
  and Rome for inspiration in art, literature,
  science, and philosophy.

I need to wake up!
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II Why was a Renaissance necessary?

• In the classical civilizations of Greece and
  Rome, learning was a virtue. Both Greece and Rome
  achieved a Golden Age in the arts, science, and
  philosophy. After the Western Roman Empire fell
  in 476 CE, Western Europe entered the Middle
  Ages. Feudalism replaced a strong, centralized
  government. Manorialism replaced a strong
  economy. Trade was limited. Most people were
  illiterate. Life largely centered on the Church.
  Hygiene and medical knowledge was poor, leading
  to short and difficult lives. A Renaissance was
  absolutely necessary!

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III How did the Renaissance begin?

• The renaissance began in the Italian city-state
  of Florence.
• 1. Ancient Roman ruins were a constant reminder
  of Romes former Golden Age.
• 2. Florence and Venice had never stopped
  trading with the Byzantine Empire or Muslim
  Arabs during the Middle Ages. This was due to
  their location near the Mediterranean Sea.
• 3. The Medici family were wealthy Florentine
  bankers. They used their wealth to finance
  beautiful sculptures, paintings, and buildings.
• - funded Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci
• - developed and funded institutions for
• scientific study

Maria de Medici
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How did the Renaissance begin? Continued

• B) A growing middle class had time for the
  pursuit of education, the arts science
• C) Gutenberg invented the printing press in 1445.
  This allowed for the faster spread of ideas.

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IV Humanism

• Humanism was a philosophy that grew out of the
  Renaissance. Humanists believed that humans are
  rational and moral beings.
• B) Humanists studied classical texts (ancient
  Greek and Roman)
• C) Humanists believed in the importance of a
  well-rounded education, including the arts,
  science, history, and philosophy.

How was this different from the beliefs of the
Church in the Middle Ages?
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Francesco Petrarch Father of Humanism
(1304-1374)

• His passion to write his thoughts to paper was
  only overcome by the need to sleep or eat. So
  great was his desire to write his thoughts and
  feelings and so difficult was it to find anyone
  in Europe to match his desire he found himself
  writing to Cicero, one of the only people he
  believed really shared his passion. (Cicero was a
  Roman Poet/Politician that died over 1200 years
  before Petrarch was born). His writings would go
  on to influence countless others Shakespeare
  would study his works and copy his sonnets... So
  great were his writings that royalty treated him,
  the son of exiled nobles, like a king and in a
  letter to a friend he even goes as far as to say
  that he has caused his own plague to spread over
  Europe, one which has caused people to take up
  pen and paper and write and read.
  www.petrarch.com
• Love is the crowning grace of humanity, the
  holiest right of the soul, the golden link which
  binds us to duty and truth, the redeeming
  principle that chiefly reconciles the heart to
  life, and is prophetic of eternal good.

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V Renaissance Art vs. Medieval Art
Medieval Art Renaissance Art
Religious in theme Some Renaissance art was religious in theme, but often would be painted in a classical style (similar to ancient Greek or Roman art).
Flat (2-D), abstract. Used perspective (an art technique that creates the illusion of 3-D, by making distant objects appear smaller)
People were fully clothed. Lack of detail. Realistic, detailed. Nudes and portraits of individuals became common.
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VI Italian Renaissance Art

• Leonardo de Vinci (1452 1519)
• 1. Painter, sculptor, engineer, and inventor.
• 2. Secretly dissected corpses to learn about
  human anatomy.

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Mona Lisa, 15th Century Some art historians
believe that it was the portrait of Francesco del
Giacondos wife, a Florentine nobleman.
Do you see perspective in this painting?
Geometric shapes? Is it detailed? Realistic? Does
it deserve to be so famous?
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Mona Lisa Geometry
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Leonardo da Vinci Continued
The Last Supper, 1498
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The Last Supper Geometry
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Last Supper Perspective
vertical
horizontal
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Leonardo da Vinci Continued
A page from da Vincis notebook. This is an
example of the humanist desire to unlock the
secrets of nature.
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Leonardo da Vinci Continued
Pages from his notebook
O investigator, do not flatter yourself that you
know the things nature performs for herself, but
rejoice in knowing that purpose of those things
designed by your own mind. Leonardo da Vinci
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Leonardo da Vinci Continued Vetruvian Man, 1492
Vetruvian Man shows us how Leonardo understood
the proportions of the human body. Each
separate part was a simple fraction of the whole.
For example, the head measured from the forehead
to the chin was exactly one tenth of the total
height, and the outstretched arms were always as
wide as the body was tall. bbc.com
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Italian Renaissance Art Continued
Donatello 1386 - 1466

• David by Donatello was the first free form
  sculpture since Ancient Rome!

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Italian Renaissance Art Continued
Michelangelo 1475 - 1564

• Michelangelo was a painter, sculptor, and
  engineer.

Self Portrait
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Michelangelo Continued
The Pieta, 1499
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Michelangelo Continued
David, 1504
Michelangelos David was displayed in the largest
piazza in Florence. It took the voice away from
statues both ancient and modern Vassari,
Michelangelos biographer
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Michelangelo Continued
David, 1504
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Michelangelo ContinuedSistine Chapel, Vatican
1508 - 1512
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Sistine
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Michelangelo ContinuedSistine Chapel Details
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Michelangelo ContinuedSistine Chapel Details
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Italian Renaissance Art Continued D) Raphael
(1483 1520)
Self Portrait, 1506
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Raphael (1483 1520) Continued
The School of Athens (1510 1511)
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Raphael Continued
The School of Athens Details
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Raphael Continued
The School of Athens Details
Plato and Aristotle were 2 of the most
influential classical philosophers in history.
Plato is pointing to the heavens, which
symbolizes his belief that reality lies beyond
the physical world. Aristotles hand is towards
the earth, as he disagreed with Plato (his
teacher).
Who do you agree with more Plato or
Socrates? Why do you think that they were the
focal point of this painting?
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VII Italian Renaissance Architecture

• Filippo Brunelleschi 1377 1436

Brunelleschi engineered the largest masonry dome
in the world for the Cathedral of Florence.
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Italian Renaissance Architecture Continued
B) Ghiberti Gates of Paradise, Baptistry Door
Florence 1425 - 1452
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C) St. Peters Basilica, Romedesigned by
Michelangelo, dome completed 1590
Italian Renaissance Architecture Continued
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St. Peters Basilica, Interior Dome
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St. Peters Basilica Interior
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VIII Italian Renaissance Literature

• Machiavelli was a Florentine diplomat and
  humanist (1469 1527). He wrote The Prince, a
  guide on how to rule. He raised ethical questions
  about government and its use of power.

Before all else, be armed. It is better to be
feared than loved, if you cannot be both. A
return to first principles in a republic is
sometimes caused by the simple virtues of one
man. His good example has such an influence that
the good men strive to imitate him, and the
wicked are ashamed to lead a life so contrary to
his example. - Machiavelli
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Focus Questions

1. Why was a Renaissance necessary in Western
   Europe?
2. Why/how did the Renaissance start in Italy?
3. What was Humanism? How did it relate to the
   Renaissance? Are there any remnants of humanism
   in our culture today?
4. How did Italian Renaissance art compare to
   medieval art?
5. Why do you think your textbooks spends very
   little space on the Italian Renaissance? Do you
   agree or disagree?
6. Do we need a Renaissance today?