The
Renaissance
European State-Building
2nd half of 15th century
= began to recover
from the plague and
rebuild its population
State-building
occurred as Europe
rebuilt politically
Fragmented system
of many separate,
independent, and
highly competitive
states
Examples: Spain,
Portugal, France,
England, etc.
European State-Building
All of these states began to:
Tax their citizens more efficiently
Create more effective administrative
structures
Raise standing armies
State-building driven by:
The needs of war warfare very frequent in
such a fragmented and competitive political
environment
The Hundred Year’s War
(1337-1453)
Between England and France
Fought over rival claims to territories in France
Result = French victory
Joan of Arc
Born a peasant girl;
became a French
female knight
Led the French army
to several important
victories in the
Hundred Years’ War
Claimed divine
guidance
Captured by the
English and burned at
the stake at 19 years
old
The Renaissance (1300s-
1600s)
Cultural awakening in
Western Europe
Began in Italy
Means “rebirth” in
French
Transition from the
Dark Ages/Medieval
Times to modern
times
Embraced ancient
Roman and ancient
Greek traditions
So Why Italy?
Italy had avoided large
economic crisis in
Europe during Middle
Ages
Italian cities = centers
of Mediterranean trade
Italians = attached to
classical Roman
traditions
Italian towns = close
contact with Byzantine
and Muslim Empires
which preserved Greek
traditions
Major Themes of the
Renaissance
Importance of classical
learning
Emphasis on the
individual
Adventurous spirit and
willingness to
experiment
Focus on realism in art
and literature
Questioning of
traditional religious
ideas
Humanism
Renewed interests in the classics of
Greece & Rome
Humanism = intellectual movement that
focused on secular (worldly,
nonreligious) themes rather than
religious ideas that had dominated
medieval thought
Believed in individualism = emphasis on
the dignity & worth of the individual
person
Believed that people should try to
improve themselves
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Education and Literature
Opened schools that taught the
humanities
Greek, Latin, history, philosophy,
etc.
New types of literature
Written in the vernacular =
everyday language
Sonnets = short poems of 14
lines
Petrarch = wrote sonnets
about love & nature
Education and Literature
New types of literature
Autobiographies
The Prince = book written
by Niccolo Machiavelli
Discussed politics
Said rulers should use
force & deceit to
maintain power --> Do
what you gotta do
Italian City States -
Florence
Controlled by the Medici
family
Rulers encouraged
humanism
Birthplace of the Italian
Renaissance
Medici wealth was used to
support artists,
philosophers, writers
City was wealthy due to
wool production and
banking
Italian City States - Rome
Renaissance popes had
the ancient city rebuilt
Home of the Roman
Catholic Church
Large churches,
magnificent paintings,
and sculptures
Most notable effort =
rebuilding of St. Peter’s
Basilica = largest
Christian church in the
world (this would
eventually cause the
Reformation)
Italian City States -
Venice
Prospered as a trade
city
Wealthiest city-
state of the
Renaissance
Trade link between
Asia & western
Europe
Known for its artistic
achievements
Italian City States - Milan
Milan dominated the
inland trade routes
Gateway from Italy to
northern Europe
Renaissance Art
Subjects were lifelike
Used perspective in
paintings
Studied human anatomy
Great artists were revered &
had a prominent place in
society
Art featured both classical
mythology as well as
religious themes
Architecture
Returned to the
classical style
Domes, columns
Greatest architect =
Brunelleschi
Renaissance Art
Sculpture
Nude figures in bronze &
marble
Resembled ancient Greek
& Roman statues
Donatello, Michelangelo,
Ghiberti = came from
Florence
Famous statue by
Michelangelo = Statue of
David
Painting
Realistic style
Giotto = painted famous
frescoes = murals/paintings
on walls
Leonardo da Vinci =
painted the Mona Lisa & the
Last Supper
Michelangelo = painted the
ceiling of the Sistine Chapel
Leonardo Da Vinci
1452-1519
Thought of himself as an
artist
Botany, anatomy, optics,
music, architecture,
engineering
Made sketches of flying
machines and undersea boats
centuries before actually built
Painted the Mona Lisa and
The Last Supper
Michelangelo Buonarroti
1475-1564
Sculptor, engineer,
painter, architect, and
poet
Work reflects life-long
spiritual and artistic
struggles
David and the Pieta
Sistine Chapel in Rome
Dome of St. Peter’s
Cathedral in Rome
Raphael Sanzio
1483-1520
Artistic talent and
“sweet and gracious
nature”
Blended Christian and
classical styles
Tender portrayals of
the Madonna (mother
of Jesus)
The School of Athens
The Northern
Renaissance
Centered in the Low
Countries – Belgium and
the Netherlands
Art styles were determined
partially by climate – few
frescos, more stained glass,
wooden carvings, canvas oil
paintings
Jan van Eyck – Flemish
painter famous for using oil
paints
Albrecht Durer – German
wood carver
The Printing Press
Johannes Gutenberg
was first European to
develop movable type
– lead to the mass
production of books.
Writings from Miguel
de Cervantes, William
Shakespeare, and
many Protestant
reformers spread
across Europe as a
result
