The+Renaissance+&+Reformation

Chapter 14 Renaissance
>> What economic developments affected all social classes?
 * Economics and Technolgy
 * How did the scientific revolution promote exploration and trade?
 * Global Interaction and Trade
 * How id exploration and trade effect the political and economic balance?
 * How did this increased exchange of beliefs and goods effect other cultures?
 * Art and Literature
 * What changes in art, architecture and literature emerged during this period?
 * What was a major philosophical change that promoted this?
 * Religions and Value Systems
 * What significant changes occur as a result of the Reformation?
 * In what ways did the Catholic Church attempt reform?
 * Political and Social Systems
 * Explain the concept of Absolutism and how that effected the political environment?
 * What role did literature play in shaping political systems?

In the 1300s, a renewed interest in the works of Greece and Rome prompted people to shift their attention away from spiritual concerns and to focus on human concerns. The renewed view that humans are creative beings and capable of logical and rational thinking leads to a tremendous change in art, literature and learning.

One of the great writers of the time was Petrarch who wrote several pieces that are very interesting and have survived through history to provide us with a picture of life during the period. One of those documents is one entitled //For Posterity//. After you read this take a few minutes to compose your own letter to Posterity. What do you wish to have remembered? What is important to you, not just at this very moment but into the future?

Let us find out more on Francesco Petrarch, the love of his life, Laura, and what life experience significantly influenced his thinking and writing. This is an individual who lost many people, important people in his life, to the plague. He was living in a time when very few people could read or write and most found it to be a chore to be avoided. Petrarch loved it, and from that we have some tremendous works that influenced learning and education through today.

As with many artists of the period there were certain jealousies that were either real or perceived. Here is an answer to one critic who claimed Petrarch was jealous of Dante. Petrarch Disclaims all Envy. The critic, Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-1375) is also well know for writing //The Decameron// a series of novellas about the time. If you want to know more go to Decameron Web for additional detail about [|Boccaccio]and other related information.

Writing was not limited to a few. Remember that we are beginning to see education blossom during the later stages of the middle ages and into the period we call The Renaissance. In some cases __patrons__ wrote documents that have survived. (Patrons are individuals who provided financial, logistic and other support to various artists, writers and thinkers of the day.) One of those patrons was Lorenzo de Medici (1449-1492) who wrote advice to a Cardinal. This particular Cardinal, who was quite young, had a very special relationship with Lorenzo. Read the letter and uncover the reason for the close ties.

There is a history to the Medici family and their wealth and power. In this excerpt by Nicolo Machiavelli there is a little history of Lorenzo from the point of view of a contemporary. Not in the financial or power sense but rather in the same time frame. //History of Florence//

While Lorenzo de Medici and his family was amassing wealth and of course power there were others who looked at the political structure with a more pragmatic eye. One of those was Niccolo Machiavelli: The Prince [excerpts], 1513 who wrote //The Prince//. Here is a link to some excerpts of //The Prince// to give you some flavor for Machiavelli's view. The full text is also online and is available at this link: The Prince

One of the reasons that I stress the idea of looking at Machiavelli's work is today you will occasionally here someone refer to a politician, captain of industry or other public figure as being very Machiavellian. It is good to understand a little more about what Machiavelli was really talking about before you accept the judgement that someone is Machiavellian.

====In addition to the works of Machiavelli here is an essay by Thomas Babington Macaulay which calls into question some of the high points of Nicollo's writings and would in point of argument bring him before the bar. I n addition to Machiavelli there are some written works that are less pessimistic or "realistic" in the more fatalistic sense. For example here is an excerpt fromB Castiglione's book The Courtier which was written to promote the idea of the ideal member of the court. (royal court not legal court) ====

Another very important book that wished to present the ideal of humanistic thought on community was the book by Sir Thomas More, Utopia. This book presents the ideal community where all things are balanced and rulers are benevolent. This book was written by a close friend and confident of King Henry VIII of England. Because Sir Thomas More would not back the kings request for an annulment of his marriage to Catharine of Aragon and because he would not support the development of the Church of England More was eventually sent to the Tower of London and executed for his treason.

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The image to the left is that of Sir Thomas More painted by Hans Holbein in 1527. More was executed by Henry VIII on 6 July 1535 at the Tower of London. He was sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered, the normal punishment for treason. The king however commuted the sentence to death by decapitation. This saved More tremendous pain and embarrassment which normally accompanies drawing and quartering. ======

Here is a series of videos from the PBS special on The Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance
Here are some questions to assist you as you go through the videos as they are assigned. Check the calendar.

The Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance Part I
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 * As you watch, see how the Medici rose from poverty and insignificance.
 * Also notice this: Why were art and architecture so important to the rise of the Medici?
 * In what ways are accepted beliefs challenged?

The Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance Part II
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 * What happens when Mafia families have power disputes? Watch this film for events that sound like something out of The Godfather.
 * How were art and architecture connected to the rise of the Lorenzo?
 * In what ways are accepted beliefs challenged?

The Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance Part III
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 * In what ways did the Medici popes continue the family's talent for art patronage? What was different? What effect did art patronage have on the effectiveness of the papacy?
 * What mistakes did Popes Leo X and Clemens VII make? What effects did their mistakes have on Florence? The church? Europe?
 * How were political decisions made in Italy during the Renaissance? By whom?

The Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance Part IV
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 * In what ways is this 16th century Cosimo de Medici like the 15th century Cosimo de Medici who was Lorenzo's father?
 * What penalties does Cosimo pay for his power?
 * What is significant about Cosimo's choice of a wife?
 * How does Giorgio Vasari contribute to restoring Medici prestige and power?
 * In what ways is Galileo's fate a denial of everything that the Medici and the Renaissance have stood for?

=The Reformation=

The Renaissance and Reformation


 * 1) The Renaissance in Italy
 * 2) The Renaissance moves North
 * 3) The Protestant Reformation
 * 4) Reformation Ideas Spread