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What WAS the Renaissance?

Unit #1 – Renaissance and Reformation Lesson #2 – Impact of the Middle Ages & of new Renaissance ideas. What WAS the Renaissance?. Started in 1400s Technically, it’s a “rebirth” of something Petrarch called the “middle ages”: DARK AGES

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What WAS the Renaissance?

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  1. Unit #1 – Renaissance and ReformationLesson #2 – Impact of the Middle Ages & of new Renaissance ideas

  2. What WAS the Renaissance? • Started in 1400s • Technically, it’s a “rebirth” of something • Petrarch called the “middle ages”: DARK AGES • He said the GREEKS (500 BC – 300 BC) and ROMANS (300 BC – AD 500) were more civilized • He said humans needed a “Renaissance” of their values to be truly human • Thus, the birth of Humanism Petrarch: the “father of Humanism”

  3. GREEKS • Gave us a good example of culture: • Theater • Democracy • Government “for the people”

  4. ROMANS • Exceptional builders, inventors, and civic involvement • Respected law and order, service to fellow man

  5. AFTER ROMANS… They fought They farmed They died They prayed

  6. Why did Petrarch call his era “dark”? Why did almost nobody notice his issue, or him during his time?

  7. Culture of the Middle Ages • 90% of people lived like animals • Life was short • Married young • Women had MANY pregnancies • “Little Ice Age” (1300-1450) • Rivers froze, crops never ripened • Torrential rains ruined crops • Poor harvest == mass starvation => poor birth rates • 1315-1322 – “the Great Famine” – peasants forced to sell land to rich nobles • Fiefs and Vassals • Middle Ages society based on system of loyalty sold for protection • Nobles walled in property (FIEFS) • Knights swore allegiance to higher nobles (VASSALAGE) • Created a hierarchy – king at pinnacle

  8. Homes in the Middle Ages Um… what is that… a barn?!

  9. Renaissance looked back for inspiration

  10. The Power of the Church • Formed in 4th century before fall of Rome • Combined Christian beliefs & Roman customs • HIGHLY symbolic and impressive image • Powerful influence on all lives: • Controlled calendar of holidays • Officiated most events • Crusades • Sale of INDULGENCES • WHY WILL ALL THAT POWER MATTER? • Power led to corruption • Abuses of power; living well & immoral • Simony (selling relics) 4m doc Go up to 2:30

  11. Early challenges to the Church • John Wycliffe (English)(~1375) • Issues: • Papal infallibility • Sale of Indulgences • Transubstantiation • Adding “truth” to scripture • Followers: • Lollards • Encouraged clerical poverty • Was discredited after a peasants revolt • Luther would remember this • Jan Huss (Czech)(~1405) • Continued Wycliffe’s work in HRE Hussites • Excommunicated 1410 • Outlawed 1414 • Executed 1415

  12. Black Death • Cause: 1347 – ship from Asia – crew mostly dead • Disease spread across continent FAST • Within 100 years, 40% of population was dead • No known cause • No known cure • No known defense • Church was expected to find answers – had none 4m doc Bring out your dead Results: • HOW WILL THIS EFFECT THE POWER OF THE CHURCH? • Church prestige damaged • Villages abandoned • Value of peasants grew

  13. Renaissance Italy

  14. Communes and Republics City-states became “Communes” (sworn associations led by merchant guilds) WHO IS IN CHARGE IN A COMMUNE? • Challenged by Popolo (commoners) • HOW COULD THE RABBLE EFFECTIVELY CHALLENGE MECHANT GUILD LEADERSHIP? • could be violent (if taxed too much or disenfranchised too much) • WHAT WOULD THE MERCHANT GUILD LEADERSHIP NEED TO CONTROL THE POPOLO? • Would lead to a need for Machiavellianism • WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT IS?

  15. Communes and Republics • Usually, republics were outwitted by a single clever one man (Signori), or Oligarchies • Some became to powerful the took over government and formed elected bodies – above the “elite” • Signori lived like kings – developed beautiful Courts • WHY WOULD THEY FEEL A NEED TO HAVE FANCY OSTENTACIOUSNESS SURROUND THEM? • A show of power – palaces and elaborate ceremony • Would look for ways to display power and wealth and culture • WHAT WILL THIS LEAD TO?

  16. City States and Balance of Power • The “big five” • Milan –Sforza (Signori) • Florence –Medici (banking) Family • Papal States • Naples • Venice – huge trade empire • Big ones controlled smaller ones • Balance of Power – worked until the Italian Wars of 1494-1559 • PEACE OF LODI (1454) Milan, Naples and Florence

  17. Trade and Prosperity • Each city-state was like its own country • Venice and Genoa – rich from sea trade • Developed trade monopolies • Florence – location is everything! • FLORENTINE • BANKING (crossroads) • Led to wealth for more individuals (ex: Medici)

  18. Shattering of Lodi Italian independence would come to an end • Sforza family of Milan wanted to diminish the financial (and military) power of Venice • Invited Charles VIII of France to Invade and beat on Venice (never intended for them to stay!) • Invasion: 1494 (25,000 man army) • French army plundered most of Italy… unopposed • Venice formed LEAGUE OF VENICE (1494) Venice, Milan (ha!!), Spain and HRE Later included Papal States and Florence • United, they cut off Charles and pushed him out of Italy • Problem: this became all about Spain vs. France

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