Renaissance Overview

Renaissance Politics

• Characterized by:
  • Rise of city-states (e.g., Florence, Venice, Milan) and monarchies (e.g., France, England)
  • Growth of nationalism and secularism
  • Development of modern diplomacy and statecraft
• Key figures:
  • Niccolò Machiavelli (author of "The Prince")
  • Lorenzo de' Medici (ruler of Florence)
  • Ferdinand II of Aragon (unified Spain)

Renaissance Humanism

• Focus on:
  • Revival of classical Greek and Roman culture
  • Emphasis on individualism, reason, and human potential
  • Promotion of education, literature, and the arts
• Key figures:
  • Petrarch (considered the "father of humanism")
  • Boccaccio (writer and humanist)
  • Pico della Mirandola (philosopher and humanist)

Renaissance Art

• Characteristics:
  • Realism, naturalism, and humanism
  • Use of perspective, anatomy, and classical motifs
  • Development of techniques like sfumato and chiaroscuro
• Key artists:
  • Leonardo da Vinci (polymath and master of various art forms)
  • Michelangelo (sculptor, painter, and architect)
  • Raphael (painter and architect)

Italian Renaissance

• Timeline:
  • 14th-17th centuries
  • Peak in the 15th and 16th centuries
• Key cities:
  • Florence (cradle of the Renaissance)
  • Rome (center of papal power and art)
  • Venice (trading hub and cultural center)
• Notable events:
  • Medici family's rise to power in Florence
  • Construction of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome

Renaissance Literature

• Characteristics:
  • Revival of classical forms and themes
  • Emergence of new genres (e.g., sonnet, novel)
  • Focus on humanism, individualism, and emotion
• Key authors:
  • Dante Alighieri (author of "The Divine Comedy")
  • Giovanni Boccaccio (author of "The Decameron")
  • William Shakespeare (playwright and poet)