The Renaissance, Reformation, and Exploration Flashcards
What are reasons for the beginning of the Renaissance?
The Renaissance is also known as the “Age of Recover” after the Black Death and hundred years war
Started in Florence
People interested in the past
Reviving Europe
The last 1,000 years had been a time of darkness that lacked classical culture
Define Renaissance or Renascimento (in Italian)
Rebirth
Renascimento of what?
Europe
the people wanted to make Europe great again like it was during the Roman Empire
The last 1,000 years had been a time of darkness that lacked classical culture
What is patronage?
sponsorship by a patron
The Medici Family
What was the role of classical writings in the beginning of the Renaissance
Scholars were excited by the return of the classical works. The people who had fled to Turkey in the 1300’s took many classical books with them and they were brought back to Europe during the Renaissance. Scholars rediscovered the glories of Greece and Rome, and they longed for a renewal of classical culture.
The “Silk Road” and trade with Asia
When the Roman Empire and Han Dynasty fell the Silk Road was no longer safe to travel on. Then in the 1200’s the Mongols took over China making the roads safer for travel. Marco Polo was a man from Venice among these travelers. He traveled to China and found paper being used for money and coal for fuel. Marco Polo wrote down his discoveries and many European’s curiosity grew about Asia. They desired Asian goods and trade between Asia and Europe grew. Italian merchants organized much of this trade.
Who was the Medici Family and what was their role in the Renaissance?
When Cosimo de Medici and his friends search Europe for classical manuscripts the Renaissance begins.
The Medici’s were a powerful banking family in the 1400’s
They supported great art and Humanism
Fascinated with Greek and Roman culture
Created a tax for city improvements- sewers, paved streets, etc.
The Medici family helps launch Italy into the Renaissance
They provided funding for artists, sculptors, and architects
Where is the city of Florence and what was its role in the Renaissance?
The major birthplace of the Renaissance in Italy to the North of Rome. Where the Medici’s lived
Who was Michelangelo and what were some of his works?
Considered to be one of the greatest artists of all time.
Worked for Medici family
Statues: David and La Pieta
Paintings: Roof of the Sistine Chapel and The Creation of Adam
Who was Raphael and what were some of his works?
Master Painter and architect
Some say he is greatest painter of all time
Best known for his Madonnas and works for the pope and Vatican
Buried in the Pantheon
Simple and clear style
perspective and depth in painting
Famous Works: Wedding of the Virgin, School of Athens, Transfiguration (his last work), Pope Julius II, and Madonna in the meadow
Who was Botticelli and what were some of his works?
One of the greatest painters/pioneers of the Renaissance
Balance between religious and strictly mythological and humanistic paintings
One of the first painters to bring out emotion in his human subjects, and his use of flesh tones, giving a human and alive feel
The Birth of Venus was the first time a painting portrayed a non biblical character in the nude in over 1,000 years
Influenced Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, and many others
Famous Works: Birth of Venus, Primavera, and Calumy of Apelles
Art of Middle ages vs. Art in Renaissance
Medieval -stiff figures -important figures are larger -fully clothed and draped -lacking in emotion -backgrounds lack detail, often plain gold -religiously themed or war oriented often Renaissance -linear perspective -realism -expression -figures in the nude -humanism -free standing figures (focus on the individual) -softening of edges -topics outside of Christianity -use of bright colors
Linear perspective
technique (not well developed) known to Greeks and Romans, but lost in Middle Ages
Fillipo Brunelleschi mastered this concept and presented his findings across Florence
His findings were an incredibly influential turning point in art history
Brunelleschi gave the technique a much more scientific and calculated approach
Who was Fillipo Brunelleschi and what were his most famous works?
He was an architect, artist, and engineer.
His greatest works were the Duomo in Florence and the rediscovery and development of Linear Perspective
Studied intensely in Rome to analyze the secrets of Rome and Greece or classical architecture
What is the significance of the Duomo in Florence?
Originally started in 1300’s
Architects were too ambitious with their goals
Remained incomplete for over 100 years
Would become the largest dome ever built during its time
Brunelleschi was commissioned to complete the dome- he had a vision for how to finish it, and he eventually reached his goal
Without the use of concrete or internal support, he managed to complete the dome
Who was Leonardo Da Vinci? What were some activities he devoted most of his time to and what are some of his famous works?
Illegitimate son of common worker
very little formal education
Moved to Florence as young boy became apprenticed
Primary love in natural and physical sciences, mathematics, mechanics, and engineering
A lot of his works remain unfinished
Famous works: Mona Lisa, Adoration of the Magi, Last Supper, Last Supper, his notebooks, and he developed the Sfumato technique
The Sfumato technique gives a smoky/haziness/and softness to a painting
What is a Renaissance Man
A person with many talents or areas of knowledge who seems to be good at anything that they try
Who was Petrarch?
He was a Renaissance scholar who warned against ignoring history
He was considered to be the first Renaissance Man
First to call the Middle Ages “Dark”
He was a writer, a poet, and traveler, often explored just for the sake of it
searched for ancient texts
He wrote one of the firs “biographies” of all time private literature was almost unheard of during the middle Ages
Who was Cosimo de Medici
The greatest of the Florence bankers
The richest family in the city in the 1400’s
Their fortune gave them political power also
By 1434 Cosimo ruled Florence
he wanted Florence to be the most beautiful city in the world
He hired artists, architects, and sculptors
He valued education
built libraries
What is Humanism?
A revived interest on individual ability
Who was Niccolo Machiavelli?
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Who was Thomas More?
Wanted to become a priest/thinker, but father wanted him to be a lawyer
while in school he continued to study bible, church fathers, and classics
greatly appreciated the Franciscan order of the monks
believed the church and state should be completely separate and matters of state should be handled through the use of reason
his work “Utopia” describing the “perfect” society would be an inspiration for communist ideas
he became a leading member of the parliament
after England split from the catholic church he refused to accept Henry III as head of the church
he was imprisoned and put on trial
in 1535 he was beheaded
he was a controversial character because he died for his religious beliefs but didn’t see the church as having a role in state affairs
he stood up for his beliefs against what he saw as church corruption
Who was Niccolo Machiavelli?
1469-1527
Florence Italy
Renaissance philosopher and statesman
His work, The Prince, brought him the reputation as an atheist and cynical man
Worked for the Medici family
Has a dream of Italy once again becoming a unified sate like the days of Rome
Not interested in ethics/morality in leadership, but simply what gets the job done
Does the “end” justify the “means”?
What is The Prince
A book written by Niccolo Machiavelli of political advice that enabled princes to rule effectively
a prince must not “be good”
the need for certain actions, must overrule what may be seen as immoral
A ruler must use force and fear if they are to be effective in certain times
Machiavelli is known as the founder of Modernity
