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Questions and Answers
What was a key factor in the emergence of a secular or worldly viewpoint during the Italian Renaissance?
What was a key factor in the emergence of a secular or worldly viewpoint during the Italian Renaissance?
What is the Renaissance best described as?
What is the Renaissance best described as?
Which city-state is NOT mentioned as playing a crucial role in Italian politics during the Renaissance?
Which city-state is NOT mentioned as playing a crucial role in Italian politics during the Renaissance?
How did the Italian Renaissance affect the average person?
How did the Italian Renaissance affect the average person?
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What is a key characteristic of the Italian Renaissance?
What is a key characteristic of the Italian Renaissance?
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What factor contributed to the flourishing of city-states during the Italian Renaissance?
What factor contributed to the flourishing of city-states during the Italian Renaissance?
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What was a consequence of the lack of a centralized monarchical state in Italy during the Middle Ages?
What was a consequence of the lack of a centralized monarchical state in Italy during the Middle Ages?
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How did Leonardo da Vinci embody the Renaissance ideal of a well-rounded individual?
How did Leonardo da Vinci embody the Renaissance ideal of a well-rounded individual?
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Which of the following were the main reasons for the prosperity of the Italian city-states?
Which of the following were the main reasons for the prosperity of the Italian city-states?
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What was the main source of revenue for the ruling families of Milan?
What was the main source of revenue for the ruling families of Milan?
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What made Venice an international power?
What made Venice an international power?
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Who controlled the government of Florence during its cultural peak?
Who controlled the government of Florence during its cultural peak?
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What caused the economic decline of Florence during the late 1400s?
What caused the economic decline of Florence during the late 1400s?
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What role did Girolamo Savonarola play in the political landscape of Florence?
What role did Girolamo Savonarola play in the political landscape of Florence?
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Why did the people of Florence eventually turn against Savonarola?
Why did the people of Florence eventually turn against Savonarola?
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Which power emerged as the dominant force in Italy following the Italian Wars?
Which power emerged as the dominant force in Italy following the Italian Wars?
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What was Machiavelli's central thesis in The Prince?
What was Machiavelli's central thesis in The Prince?
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According to Machiavelli, how should a prince approach political activity?
According to Machiavelli, how should a prince approach political activity?
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Which of these was NOT a key ideal for an aristocrat during the Renaissance?
Which of these was NOT a key ideal for an aristocrat during the Renaissance?
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What was the primary purpose of the standards set for a Renaissance aristocrat?
What was the primary purpose of the standards set for a Renaissance aristocrat?
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Which of the following best describes the Third Estate?
Which of the following best describes the Third Estate?
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Which social group in Renaissance towns was most likely to dominate society economically, socially, and politically?
Which social group in Renaissance towns was most likely to dominate society economically, socially, and politically?
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What made the Italian city-states so prosperous?
What made the Italian city-states so prosperous?
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What social and economic changes occurred during the Renaissance that affected the lives of peasants?
What social and economic changes occurred during the Renaissance that affected the lives of peasants?
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What was the dowry?
What was the dowry?
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What was the primary role of the mother in an Italian family?
What was the primary role of the mother in an Italian family?
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When did a child become an adult in Italy?
When did a child become an adult in Italy?
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What is humanism?
What is humanism?
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What did Petrarch do to earn the title 'Father of Italian Humanism'?
What did Petrarch do to earn the title 'Father of Italian Humanism'?
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How did Humanists in the early 1400s in Florence participate in civic life?
How did Humanists in the early 1400s in Florence participate in civic life?
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What is vernacular?
What is vernacular?
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Which of these is NOT a characteristic of Humanist schools?
Which of these is NOT a characteristic of Humanist schools?
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What was the aim of humanist education?
What was the aim of humanist education?
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What were the two main goals of Renaissance artists?
What were the two main goals of Renaissance artists?
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What is a fresco?
What is a fresco?
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What were the two major developments in painting techniques Florentine painters focused on?
What were the two major developments in painting techniques Florentine painters focused on?
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Who developed the technique of perspective in Renaissance art?
Who developed the technique of perspective in Renaissance art?
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What was the chief goal of the Italian painters during the Renaissance?
What was the chief goal of the Italian painters during the Renaissance?
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What was the primary argument that Christine de Pizan made in her writings?
What was the primary argument that Christine de Pizan made in her writings?
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Which of these artists focused on capturing human anatomy and movement in their work?
Which of these artists focused on capturing human anatomy and movement in their work?
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What is the main difference between the education of boys and girls during the Renaissance?
What is the main difference between the education of boys and girls during the Renaissance?
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What role did the language of Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales play in the development of modern English?
What role did the language of Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales play in the development of modern English?
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What was the main influence on the style of architecture during the Renaissance?
What was the main influence on the style of architecture during the Renaissance?
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What new technique did Leonardo da Vinci introduce to painting?
What new technique did Leonardo da Vinci introduce to painting?
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What was Raphael's contribution to the art of the High Renaissance?
What was Raphael's contribution to the art of the High Renaissance?
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What idea did Albrecht Durer introduce to the practice of Renaissance art?
What idea did Albrecht Durer introduce to the practice of Renaissance art?
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Which of these is NOT a characteristic of the Northern Renaissance?
Which of these is NOT a characteristic of the Northern Renaissance?
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Which artist was known for using a variety of colors and elongated features to express religious zeal in his paintings?
Which artist was known for using a variety of colors and elongated features to express religious zeal in his paintings?
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Which of these artists was NOT a major figure during the High Renaissance?
Which of these artists was NOT a major figure during the High Renaissance?
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Flashcards
Renaissance
Renaissance
A period of rebirth in art and culture from 1350 to 1550 in Italy.
Urban Society
Urban Society
A society largely composed of cities and city-states that became centers of life.
Secular Viewpoint
Secular Viewpoint
A worldly perspective that emerged, emphasizing material enjoyment.
Human Individuality
Human Individuality
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Universal Person
Universal Person
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Wealthy Upper Classes
Wealthy Upper Classes
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City-States
City-States
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Cultural Achievements
Cultural Achievements
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Two Major Developments in Florentine Painting
Two Major Developments in Florentine Painting
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Chief Goal of Italian Painters
Chief Goal of Italian Painters
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Influence on Sculpture and Architecture
Influence on Sculpture and Architecture
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Leonardo da Vinci's Technique
Leonardo da Vinci's Technique
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Raphael's Contribution
Raphael's Contribution
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Michelangelo's Ideal Type
Michelangelo's Ideal Type
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Medium Used by Northern Artists
Medium Used by Northern Artists
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Artistic Center in Northern Region
Artistic Center in Northern Region
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Jan van Eyck's Innovation
Jan van Eyck's Innovation
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Durer's Idea in Painting
Durer's Idea in Painting
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Family security
Family security
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Marriage contracts
Marriage contracts
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Father's authority
Father's authority
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Becoming an adult
Becoming an adult
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Humanism
Humanism
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Petrarch
Petrarch
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Vernacular
Vernacular
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Chaucer's achievement
Chaucer's achievement
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Christine de Pizan
Christine de Pizan
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Liberal studies
Liberal studies
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Aim of humanist education
Aim of humanist education
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Renaissance art goals
Renaissance art goals
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Fresco technique
Fresco technique
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Masaccio
Masaccio
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Women's education aim
Women's education aim
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Italian City-States
Italian City-States
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Milan
Milan
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Sforza
Sforza
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Venice
Venice
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Doge
Doge
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Florence
Florence
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Medici Family
Medici Family
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Girolamo Savonarola
Girolamo Savonarola
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Italian Wars
Italian Wars
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Niccolo Machiavelli
Niccolo Machiavelli
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Renaissance Society
Renaissance Society
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Nobility
Nobility
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Third Estate
Third Estate
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Townspeople
Townspeople
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Peasants
Peasants
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Study Notes
Rebirth and the Renaissance
- The Renaissance, meaning rebirth, was a period in European history, starting in Italy, characterized by a perceived rebirth of ancient Greek and Roman culture.
- The Italians believed they were witnessing a rebirth of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds, marking a new age.
Characteristics of the Italian Renaissance
- Urban Society: Italian city-states became centers of political, economic, and social life.
- Secular Viewpoint: Increased wealth led to an appreciation of worldly possessions and a secular outlook.
- Recovery from Disasters: The period followed a period of plague, instability, and declining church power. A revival of interest in classical culture was part of the recovery.
- New View of Human Beings: Emphasis on individual ability, creating a social ideal of a well-rounded person capable in various fields (e.g., Leonardo da Vinci).
- Impact on Upper Classes: The wealthy were most directly affected by new ideas and activities.
- Impact on Ordinary People: The achievements of the Renaissance, though visible, had an indirect impact on the everyday people, as art was used to decorate public spaces and wealthy homes.
The Italian City-States
- Independent City-States: Italy failed to develop a centralized monarchy, leading to independent city-states in northern and central Italy.
- Prosperous Trade: These city-states thrived due to flourishing trade routes connecting east (Byzantine and Islamic civilizations) with silks, sugar, and spices, and also the west (England and Netherlands) .
- Trade Networks Extended throughout the Mediterranean and to the Atlantic coast.
Milan
- Strategic Location: Situated on key trade routes connecting coastal cities to Alpine passes.
- Wealthy City-State: One of the wealthiest Italian city-states.
- Visconti and Sforza Rule: Ruled by the Visconti family until 1447, then conquered by Francesco Sforza, a mercenary leader.
- Centralized State: Both families worked to create a strong centralized state.
- Tax System: Established an efficient tax system, generating revenue.
Venice
- Trading City: A major trading hub attracting merchants from around the world.
- Republic: A republic with an elected leader called a Doge.
- Merchant-Aristocrats: Unofficially, a small group of merchant-aristocrats managed the government.
- International Power: Venice's vast trade empire made it an international power.
Florence
- Control by the Medici: Cosimo de' Medici took control of Florence in 1434, and the Medici controlled the government from behind the scenes. Lorenzo de' Medici also held significant influence.
- Economic Decline: During the late 1400s, Florence faced economic downturn, especially in the cloth industry due to competition.
- Savonarola's Challenges: A Dominican preacher, Girolamo Savonarola, condemned the Medici family's excesses and challenged their rule, leading to a period under Savonarola’s followers.
- Savonarola's Fall: Savonarola's attacks on the church and perceived restrictions of freedoms led to his condemnation and execution in 1498, and the Medici returned to power.
Italian Wars
- European Competition: The Italian city-states became targets for powerful European monarchs.
- Invasions: France invaded northern Italy, and the Italians enlisted Spain to counter the French.
- Italian Battleground: The Spanish and French fought over Italy for 30 years.
- Sack of Rome (1527): Spanish troops sacked Rome, turning the tide of the war towards Spain.
Niccolò Machiavelli
- Rejection of Medieval Ethics: Opposed the medieval view of a prince's ethical responsibilities, based on Christian principles.
- Emphasis on Power: Focused on how to gain and maintain political power, centered on understanding human nature, which he saw as essentially self-centered.
- The Prince: His work, The Prince, emphasized the necessity to leave morality out of political actions.
Renaissance Society
- Three Estates: Society continued the Medieval structure of three estates (social classes) with adaptations.
- Nobility (Aristocracy): Composed of 2-3% of the population, holding positions of political power and advising the ruler; expected to display certain ideals.
- Third Estate (Peasants & Townspeople): Comprised most of the population (85-90%).
- Serfdom: Rural communities, serfdom declined.
- Land Renters/Free: Most peasants by 1500 had become legally free land renters.
- Townspeople: Included three ranks:
- Patricians: Wealthy merchants, bankers etc.
- Burghers: Shopkeepers, artisans, etc.
- Workers: Low wages or unemployed; a significant portion (30-40%) of urban populations.
- Family Security: Family marriage arrangements often emphasized security and business/family ties.
- Dowry: Marriage contracts were heavily influenced by dowries.
- Patriarchal Family Structure: The father managed finances and controlled children's lives. Women had limited influence.
- Adulthood: Children didn't become adults at a specific age; a father formally freed his children.
Intellectual and Artistic Renaissance
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Secularism and Individualism: Characterized by a concern in what was worldly rather than spiritual, and emphasized unique individual capabilities.
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Humanism: Focused on studying ancient Greek and Roman literature and other subjects (grammar, rhetoric, etc), which were later called humanities.
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Petrarch: Father of Italian Humanism; rediscovering ancient manuscripts and using classical Latin.
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Civic Life: Humanist activity extended beyond academic pursuits and involved serving in Italian city-states.
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Vernacular Literature:
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Vernacular: Common language of a region.
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Dante and Chaucer: Authors like Dante (The Divine Comedy) and Chaucer (The Canterbury Tales) popularized vernacular literature.
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Modern English: Chaucer’s works are ancestors of modern English.
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Christine de Pizan: Advocated women's education, challenging classical views on women.
Education in the Renaissance
- Humanist Education: Emphasized liberal studies (arts) as practical preparations for life.
- Practical Skills: Included rhetoric, history, moral philosophy; emphasis on physical education.
- Women's education: Limited; focused on religious, moral instruction, and domestic skills.
The Artistic Renaissance in Italy
- Two Artistic Goals: Imitate nature, and develop a new worldview focusing on human beings.
- Techniques in Painting:
- Fresco: Painting on fresh plaster.
- Perspective: Technique to create illusion of three dimensions.
- Early Renaissance Masterpieces: Masaccio's frescos.
- Florentine Developments: Focus on technical aspects of painting, including use of perspective, light, and movement. Emphasis on human anatomy.
Sculpture and Architecture
- Classical Influences: Sculptors and architects revisited classical Greek and Roman styles.
High Renaissance
- Artistic Giants: Influenced by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, and Michelangelo.
- Leonardo da Vinci: Introduced realistic painting and studied human anatomy to create idealized forms, showcasing perfection.
- Raphael: Known for Madonnas and frescoes in the Vatican Palace; emphasized balance, harmony, order.
- Michelangelo: Developed an ideal human form, highlighting divine beauty.
Northern Artistic Renaissance
- Adaptation of Ideas: Northern artists adapted Italian techniques to their own styles, and environment.
- Northern Mediums: Book illustrations and wooden panels for alters, adapted from a smaller scale than the Italians painting/fresco on walls.
- Flemish Center: Flanders was a key artistic center.
- Jan van Eyck: Oil paints, detailed naturalism.
- Albrecht Dürer: Learned Italian perspective; ideal beauty through examination of the human form.
- El Greco: Inspired by Michelangelo; incorporated elongated figures and vibrant colors to showcase Spanish religious beliefs.
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Description
Explore the key features of the Italian Renaissance, a transformative period marked by the revival of ancient Greek and Roman cultures. Understand how urbanization, a secular viewpoint, and individual ability shaped this era, as well as its impact on society following a time of turmoil and disaster.