Kenneth Li

9-22-07
Euro Hist.
Period 6th
Ch. 16 pg. 433-441

V. The Renaissance in Italy (1375-1527)

A. Introduction
1) People began to look into more realistic ideas.
2) “Full whole nature of men.”
3) Scholars thought Burckhardt’s description too modern, also revived ancient
classics.
4) Renaissance is real transition to modern ages.
5) Sack of Rome from imperial soldiers.
B. The Italian City-State: Social Conflict and Despotism
1) Italy had cultural advantage over Europe.
2) Italian city became city-states by 13th-14th century.
3) Italy able to split into states.
4) 5 of them, Milan, Florence, Venice, Papal States, and Naples.
5) Competition for political power was so intense, most cities had evolved into
despotisms.
6) 4 major groups in Florence.
7) Old rich, or grandi, with nobles and merchants.
8) New rich, or popolo grasso, “fat people.” Had capitalists and bankers.
9) Middle-burgher ranks of guild masters, shopkeepers, and professionals.
10) Popolo minuto, the “little people,” made of the lower class.
11) 30,000 people listed as paupers, which made the poor revolt in 1378.
12) Known as Compi Revolt, made a 4 year reign of Florentine lower classes.
13) True stability didn’t return until 1434 of Cosimo de’ Medici.
14) Other states hired strongmen, or podesta, to maintain law.
15) Political turbulence and warfare gave birth to diplomacy.
C. Humanism
1) Humanism as unchristian philosophy that stressed dignity of humankind.
2) Others say humanists were true champions of Catholic Christianity.
3) Still others say it’s a scholarship made to promote sense of responsibility.
4) Was study of Greek and Latin classics, and of Church Fathers.
5) Bruni first gave name as humanitas, or humanists.
6) First humanists were orators and poets.
7) Humanists didn’t just want to summarize, but wanted to draw conclusions.
D. Petrarch, Dante, and Boccaccio
1) Francesco Petrarch was father of humanism.
2) Critical studies, elitism, and hate for useless learning were shared by
humanists later.
3) He was far more secular than Dante Alighieri.
4) Had books that formed cornerstones of Italian literature.
5) Giovanni Boccaccio also studied humanism.
 D. Educational Reforms and Goals
1) A piece of work made by Vergerio inspired far-reaching reforms.
2) Guarino da Verona streamlined and systematized study of classic languages.
3) Educated women also had a place at Renaissance.
4) One of them, Pisan, was an astrologer and physician.
5) Made a book about women that did great things.
E. The Florentine “Academy” and Revival of Platonism
1) Revival of works of Plato had many combined factors to bring it out.
2) In 1439, east and west churches were able to join b/c of Council of Ferrara-
Florence.
3) Many were interested in mainly Plato’s philosophy.
4) They went into meetings that made the group name “Florentine Academy.”
F. Critical Work of the Humanists: Lorenzo Valla
1) Valla made works that defended human free will.
2) Also exposed that Donation of Constantine was a forgery.
3) More devastating than he thought, b/c he used vulgar terms to speak.
4) These discoveries didn’t make him less loyal to the church.
G. Renaissance Art
1) Churches lost power b/c interest of laity were less subordinated than clergy.
2) Also encouraged creation of national bureaucracies by laity.
3) Another encouragement; accelerating growth of lay education.
4) Especially prominent in painting and sculpture of High Renaissance.
5) Compared to Gothic art, Renaissance art was more vibrant and alive.
H. Leonardo da Vinci
1) He was a military engineer and dissected corpses to learn about anatomy.
2) Can convey inner moods through complex facial features.
I. Raphael
1) Famous for tender madonnas.
2) Art historians praise his fresco The School of Athens.
J. Michelangelo
1) Made 18 ft. David sculpture, perfect depiction of Renaissance art.
2) New experimental style of mannerism.
3) A reaction to the simplicity of the High Renaissance.
K. Slavery in the Renaissance
1) Mediterranean slave market existed since 12th century.
2) After Black Death, demand for slaves soared.
3) Now slaves worked almost everywhere.
4) Tartars and African slaves were treated the worst.
5) Back in Rome and Greece, slaves were treated as members of the family,