Renaissance Flashcards
What time period is the word ‘renaissance’ used to describe
The time period from the 14th to the 16th centuries in Europe
When did the renaissance happen in Italy
During the late Middle Ages
What did the renaissance represent
a gradual shift of people’s thoughts and views of life from the Middle Ages
What are some of the factors that led to the renaissance in Italy
- Italy was strewn with remnants of the Roman Empire. It rediscovered writing, philosophy, art and architecture of the Greek and romans. They began to see the classical world as a golden age which held the answer to reinvigorating their society
- the fall of Constantinople in 145 at the hard of the Ottoman Turk, cause Greek scholars to flee to Italy and they encouraged interest in the classical civilisation
- the northern Italian cities benefited from trade with the east through voyages of Marco Polo and became wealthy
- the feudal system in Italy dissolves which led to the establishment of national states
- a power shift occurred from aristocracy to the rich financiers. In Florence the banking family of the Medici played an important role in patronising and stimulating the arts
What does renaissance mean
The Italian humanist called this new tree the rinascimento, meaning rebirth of the classical
During the idle ages, what had an all embracing influence on all aspects of European life and art
Christianity
What did people interests shift to during the renaissance
From spiritual to humane
What changed about how the human body was seen
Before it was seen as evil and seductive, but was now seen as beautiful and created according to god’s image.
What did people start believing about Christianity
That they could have personal relationships with god
What is humanism
It means the emphasis is on what it is to be a human being- an emphasis on spiritual and intellectual capabilities
What happened with the shift in philosophy
There was a renewed interest in the classical civilisations (Greek and roman)
What did humanism mean to people
It meant that they could improve themselves: physically, morally, spiritually and aesthetically.
What did humanists celebrate
The mid, beauty power and enormous potential of human beings
What did the resistance with its humanism effect
Literature, philosophy, politics, art, science, religion and other aspects of intellectual inquiry
What did curiosity lead to
Scientific research (Copernicus) and voyages and discoveries
What did the advent of moveable type printing in the 15th century mean
That ideas could be spread easily and an increasing number of book were written for the public.
