Unit 2: Renaissance Background Why Italy?

Geography made it a gateway between east and west Survived economic crisis of late Middle Ages Pope and HRE chose to weaken one another rather than check the power of the city-states Guelphs pro papacy Ghibellines pro emperor th During 13 century trade-rich cities had expanded to bexome powerful city-states Duchy of Milan Republics of Florence and Venice Papal states Kingdom of Naples Small sity-states were freer to experiment than the centralized governments of N Eu Italy was the center of ancient Roman history Econ recovery throughout Eu provided markets for Italian goods Hanseatic League N Eu New industries Society made of 3 estates st nd 1 estate: upper clergy (mostly 2 sons w/ wealth) nd 2 estate: nobility 2-3% of society Dominated as they had in Mid Ages The Courtier Third estate Peasants made up 85-90% Serfdom declining b/c Plague Inhabitants of the cities Patricians wealth came from commerce Petty burghers shopkeepers, artisans Propertyless urban poor Slaves Humanism Several views Birth of modernity th Jakob Burkhardt wrote in 19 century Renaissance = drastic jump in time Stressed dignity of humankind Championed individualism and secular values Revival of ancient learning Old books New secular spirit Dignity of Man Mirandola Civic humanism Designed to promote a sense of civic responsibility and political liberty Humanist leadership of public and civic life (more secular) The Courtier by Castiglione Medieval scholars focused on a life of contemplation Humanists focused on ideas necessary for an actual life

Liberal arts education Concentrated on rhetoric, grammar, history, poetry, politics, philosophy Scholarship for its own sake (knowledge-seekers) Preparation for a life of virtuous action Christian (Northern) Humanism Predominantly N Renaissance Applied the critical methods developed in Italy to study of the Bible Desiderius Erasmus Netherlands Most influential of the Christian humanists In Colloquies and Praise of Folly (1509) satirized corruptions of his contemporaries, especially clergy Thomas More wrote Utopia (1516) which attacked corruption of power, wealth, and social status Cautioned that other forms of humanism can degenerate into excessive individualism because they operate without God Humanist philosophy New attitude towards man and his world Dignity of man An attempt to discover humankinds own earthly fulfillment Human beings are good and perfectible Concerned with mans problems/possibilities on earth Man can do all things if he will Alberti Renaissance Man one who had man abilities and did his best to make use of all of them Effects Humanists gradually replace clergy as leaders in education Revived study of classical Greece and Rome Began to challenge long-standing ideas about the past Famous humanists Petrarch (1304-1374) Called the Father of Humanism Wrote in both Italian and Latin Rejected medieval philosophy Revived study of classical Greece and Rome Admired Plato Saw no conflict between ancient truths and Gods truth (Christian humanism) Known for sonnets to Laura (365 of them) Lorenzo Valla (1407-1457) Wrote On Pleasure, later renamed On True and False Good In conflict with Christian ideal of asceticism denied value of pleasure Argued that it is not the puritanical Christian who truly loves God, but the striving seeker of deeper meaning that deserves salvation Favored self-examination to the confessional Father of historical criticism Donation of Constantine

Helped with secularization of history and development of an idea of periodization of history Baldossare Castiglione (1478-1529) Wrote The Courtier Focused on the perfect courtier Records 4 conversations of 4 consevutive nights by a group of learned gentlemen Subject included: o Birth and education o Social experience and behavior o Perfection of the noblewomen o Nature of love and its power to ennoble Pico del la Mirandola (1463-1494) Believed the diverse tenets of all philosophes were true and could be united into one truth All were part of Gods revelation to humanity Hermeticism 2 types of writing o Those that stressed the occult o Those that focused on theological/philosophical beliefs Pantheism God as a whole in all things Humans were created divine and had freely chosen to enter the material world Could recover divinity and in doing so reacquired an intimate knowledge of nature become sages/magicians Wrote Oration on the Dignity of Man\ Renaissance Art (movie) Revolutionary techniques Vanishing points Atmospheric perspective sfumato Anamorphic illusion Light and shadow chiaroscuro Linear perspective Diplomacy Use of ambassadors Concept of balance of power emerged Inability to form a common alliance against foreign enemies The European State Definition of nation state: Area of the earths surface with human-created boundaries under a single voernment, the population of which considers itself to be related in some way, shape, or form Steps needed to be taken to create the nation-state Medieval Europe- kings stood at head of society but with limited power Both nobles and the Church collected their own taxes, fielded their own armies, had their own courts Monarch had to Expand royal domain Set up system of royal courts

Organize govnt burearcracy Develop a system of taxes Build a standing army Strengthen ties with middle class by securing peace and encouraging trade

France Charles VII (1422-1461) Established royal army Received the right to levy the taille annual direct tax on land or property In essence, Estates General gave up the power of the purse Pragmatic Sanction reduced power of papcy in France Louise XI (1461 1483) The Spider Expanded the taille Created base of later development of strong monarchy Charles the Bold-Duke of Burgundy Sought to create independent state between France and HRE Killed in battle, Louis annexed all his land England War of Roses Henry VII Est. a strong monarchy Ended private wars of nobility Instituted Court of Star Chamber Secret royal court used torture for their own means Used diplomacy to avoid expensive foreign wars Gained income from crown lands, judicial fees, fines, etc. Thus didnt have to call Parliament for $$ Spain Unification of Castile and Aragon 1469 Dynastic union, NOT political union Est. of natl royal army Concordats kept Ferd/Isa loyal to Catholic Church Religious uniformity The Inquisition Conquest of Granada Expulsion of the Jews Holy Roman Empire No strong monarch Habsburg Dynasty Maximilian I (1493-1519) Dynastic marriages Eastern Europe struggle for strong monarchy Poland kings unable to establish strong royal authority Hungary King Malthus