Locus of the Renaissance

Medieval TradeMedieval TradeMedieval TradeMedieval Trade

Medieval GuildsMedieval Guilds

The Plague Changes Society• What significant ways did the Plague

reorder society?

(Hint: Think about the film!!!!)

Medieval City-States Emerge

Late Medieval City-States

5 Themes of the Renaissance

Characterized by self-conscious awareness that Italians were living in a new era

Artists of the Renaissance had contempt for medieval predecessors

5 Key themes : Individualism Rationalism Secularism Virtù Humanism

Italian Renaissance

1.Individualism

2. Rationalism

3. Secularism

Pico della Mirandola 1463-1494

Our destiny is not determined by anything outside of us.God has bestowed upon us a unique distinction:

the liberty to determine the form and value our lives shall acquire….man is the master of his own destiny!

4.Virtú

5.Humanism

Francesco Petrarch 1304-1374

Father ofHumanism

Living, I despise what melancholy fatehas brought us wretches in these evil years.

Long before my birth time smiled and may again,for once there was, and yet will be, more joyful days.

But in this middle age time’s dregssweep around us, and we beneath a heavy

load of vice. Genius, virtue, glory nowhave gone, leaving chance and sloth to rule.

Shameful vision this! We must awake or die!

Sonnet to Laura

If this should be love, O God, what shakes me?If Love it is, what strange, what rich delight!If Love be kind, why has itfangs to bite?If cruel, why so sweet the barb that rakes me?

Baldassare Castiglione

The Book ofthe Courtier

…I am of the opinion that the true profession of the

Courtier ought to be that ofarms; which I would havehim follow above all elseand be known among

others as bold and strongand loyal to

whomsoever he serves...

Niccollo Machiavelli1469-1527

…some virtues willlead to a prince’sdestruction and some vices will allow himto survive..

The Prince c.1515