Part IISeptember 17, 2009

The mid 1400’s saw both chaos, and the flowering of new thoughts and ideas.

Europe was dealing with 3 major crisis; Demographic

Black Death and Population Loss. Population is slowly recovering

Political New and more able monarchs were imposing

new political order

Religious issues are yet to be solved

1375-1527 Not just a single event, but a culmination

of 150 years of changing thought Renaissance = French for rebirth A time of transition from medieval to

modern times.

Humanism was a birth of more modern thought Un-Christian Stressed dignity of humankind, individualism,

secular values

Not a philosophy or value system It was an educational program built on

rhetoric and scholarship

Humanists advocated the studia humanitatis Liberal arts Grammar Rhetoric Poetry History Politics Moral philosophy

The first humanists were orators and poets

Their writings were inspired by newly discovered work of the ancients

Were not bound by tradition

When not teaching, often worked as speechwriters or diplomats

Some important names to remember (hint…you might want to put these one

one of your cards you bought for the class…..right Lara?)

Petrarch: Father of Humamism Dante: The Decameron, Dante’s Inferno Boccaccio

Educational Reforms Humanists were always on the outlook for new

sources of ancient information

Their goal was not only to have knowledge of good, but to inspire in others the desire to learn.

Humanists were especially drawn to the teaching of Plato, which had a good view of human nature.

Civic Humanism Humanists believed that education should

stress: Individual virtue Public service

Art Renaissance art was different from medieval

art

Medieval Art: Abstract and formulaic. Usually religious in nature

Renaissance Art: Embraced the natural world, stressed symmetry and order, used human emotion

Art Art was also helped by the discovery of new

techniques Shading (Chiaroscruo) New Oil Paints Linear perspective

These all allowed for a more 3 dimensional representation of life

Some famous renaissance artists:

Leonardo da Vinci (Mona Lisa) Raphael Michelangelo (Sistine Chapel)

Slavery Slavery flourished in Italy Was often looked at as a merciful act to

save the life of a prisoner Demand soared after the Black Death In many cases, slaves were accepted into

an household as family members, bore children to the master and were treated well.