HISTORY

LESSON 10.2 | RENAISSANCE

RENAISSANCE IN ITALY

The Renaissance in Italy emerged in the 14th century. The term Renaissance was derived
from the French word renaistre, and the Latin word renasci, which means "rebirth." During
this period, interest in the classical Greek and Roman art and culture was reborn in Europe.

Factors in the Rise of the Italian Renaissance

Renaissance first appeared in Italy, particularly Florence, Venice, and _ Wan. This is because
Italy possessed characteristics that contributed to the development of art. It had
prosperous cities, influential traders, and Greek and Roman heritage.

PROSPEROUS CITIES - Due to booming trade after the crusades (discussed in Module 9),
city-states in Italy prospered. Unlike the modest and God-centered life of the Middle Ages,
the Italians had a prosperous life. The commercial centers were not only suitable for trade
but for the advancement as well.

THE INFLUENTIAL TRADERS - The wealthy traders of the city-states got the chance to focus
their attention on other interests, like the arts. They either supported or became patrons of
the arts. Through this, they were able to display their influence.The prosperity of the
city-states in Italy was a factor in the emergence of Renaissance here.

STUDY AID

The word bourgeoisie is derived from the term burg, which means a "town
surrounded by high walls."

They also had a great influence in politics. Unlike the nobles though, their influence was not
passed on or inherited from ancestors. Rather, it was self-earned. With this, they proved
the ability of a person to progress-an important mentality that shaped the Renaissance.

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Medici Family - was the most affluent and most powerful family in Florence. Although they
did not hold any position in the government, their wealth made them influential.

Cosimo de' Medici and his grandson, Lorenzo de' Medici - were the most famous among
the clan. They were just two of those traders who promoted art during the Renaissance.

GREEK AND ROMAN HERITAGE - The remnants of the Greek and Roman empires in Italy
benefited the Italians as these served as their sources of inspiration. Added to these were
the Latin scripts brought by Byzantine monks from Constantinople.

HUMANISM

The Renaissance contrasted with medieval culture and arts. As the Italians looked back at
the classical Greek and Roman culture, they put emphasis on humanity.

Humanism - a philosophy that focuses on individuals and their values, skills, interests,
dignity, and ability to progress.

The humanists believed that although religious teachings are important, humans could
enjoy abundance and luxury. They believed that it was not against God's will to enjoy and
live in comfort. With this humanist view, a new perspective on life was formed and
prevailed in Italian society. City-states in Italy turned from religious to secular.

In this period, scholars also shifted their focus to classical learning-philosophy, history, and
literature– known as humanities.

HUMANIST LITERATURE

Literature thrived during the Renaissance. European writers writing about everyday life and
human emotions drew inspiration from the humanist ideals.

Famous Humanists in the Field of Literature

Francesco Petrarch - Known as the "Father of Renaissance.” Excellent writer, both in Italian
and Latin. He created 366 sonnets of his love for Laura, who had died in the Black Death.

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Giovanni Boccaccio - Wrote Decameron, a collection of stories on seven women and three
men who left Florence in 1348 because of the plague. The book expresses the ability of
people to solve problems and rise from tragedy.

Niccolo Machiavelli - A Florentine diplomat, he Is known as the "Father of Modem Political

Theory." His best- known work is The Prince, one of the most influential books in Europe.
In this book, he stated that by nature, humans are greedy, always changing minds, and
untrustworthy. He also proposed the use of force as part of deception to maintain one's
power and strengthen the state.

Baldassare Castiglione - An Italian diplomat and courtier. He is the author of The Courtier,
which describes the attributes a courtier must have, such as excellent skills in sports and
deep knowledge on humanities.

Geoffrey Chaucer - Considered as the greatest English poet before Shakespeare. His most
outstanding work is The Canterbury Tales, in which he depicted various kinds of people in
his period.

Thomas More - An English statesman who authored Utopia, in which he described a model
and desired society. In such a society, everyone is equal and enjoys a bountiful life.

William Shakespeare - An English poet and dramatist, considered as the greatest dramatist
of all time and the most excellent writer in English. Among his works are the comedies The
Merchant of Venice and A Midsummer Night's Dream; the tragedies Antony and
Cleopatra, Romeo and Juliet, and Macbeth.

Christine de Pizan - A famous French poetess who wrote poems about courtly love. She
also wrote a biography of King Charles V of France. She was also known for The Book of
the City of Ladies, in which she rejected the idea that women do not have the capacity to
learn and could not make their own stand.

Desiderius Erasmus - A Dutch scholar and priest who encouraged the study of the Bible. He
denounced the ignorance and superstitions of the Catholic Church. In his most popular
work, In Praise the Folly, he used satire to criticize the corruption and vanities of die

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priests. The book was one of those that helped launch the Reformation (to be discussed in
Module 12) against the Church.

RENAISSANCE ART AND ARCHITECTURE

Humanist ideas modified art and architecture in the Renaissance. Religious themes were
still frequent in Renaissance art, but these were represented more realistically compared to
during the medieval period. Furthermore, Renaissance art usually featured human
semblance.

Another important feature of Renaissance art is the influence of classical Greek and Roman
art. In the field of architecture, the style of the ancient Greeks and Romans were brought
back to life.

Europeans greatly admired the Renaissance artists. They were considered geniuses. Later,
these artists were referred to as Renaissance Men.

Well-known Humanists in the Field of Art and Architecture

Filippo Brunelleschi - The Italian architect who designed the dome of the cathedral of Sta.
Maria del Flore in Florence

Michelangelo Buonarroti - The greatest artist of his time. He sculpted the famous David and
La Pieta. He also painted Biblical scenes in the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel as
commissioned by Pope Julius II.

Donatello - A popular sculptor in Florence who used bronze and marble. Created a statue
of David in 1430.

Leonardo da Vinci - One of the greatest artists during the Renaissance. He was also a
scientist, architect, engineer, inventor, writer, and philosopher. His best-known work is the
Mona Lisa. He also painted the Last Supper.

Raphael - The Italian painter and architect who created Madonna and School of Athens.

SPREAD OF THE RENAISSANCE

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In the latter part of 1400, the Renaissance spread northward, particularly to England,
France, Germany, and Flanders due to following factors:

● The works of the Italian artists captured the interests of the scholars and students
who visited Italy;
● Along with the Italian products, traders brought Renaissance influence to their
countries;
● Traders invested their money to support the artists; and
● The nobles supported the artists by inviting them to perform in their royal courts.

The Renaissance had distinct characteristics in northern Europe due to the blending of
Renaissance ideas and their own culture. Unlike in Italy, the Renaissance in northern
Europe gave importance to religion. Among the known painters in northern Europe were
Jan van Eyck, Albrecht Durer, and Pieter Bruegel the Elder.

Well-known Renaissance Painters in Northern Europe

Jan van Eyck - Considered as the greatest Flemish painter during the Renaissance. One of
the first painters in northern Europe who used oil paint Oil paint gave more color choices
and made the creation of more detailed paintings possible. Two of his masterpieces are
Giovanni Arnolfini and His Bride or the Arnolfini Marriage. He also painted Portrait of a
Man, assumed to be a self-portrait.

Albrecht Durer - Known as the greatest German Renaissance artist. Italian influence was
evident in his works. His Apocalypse series, which was his interpretation of the Book of
Revelations of the Bible, is greatly admired. On the left is his self-portrait

Pieter Bruegel the Elder - A Flemish painter from Belgium who painted The Peasant
Wedding, Landscape with the Fall of Icarus, and The Hunters in the Snow. His usual
themes were scenes in the lives of farmers like working, harvesting, marriage, and feasts.
The Painter and the Buyer is believed to be a self-portrait of Bruegel the Elder.

GUTENBERG’S PRINTING PRESS

Renaissance ideas quickly spread in the whole of Europe with the invention of the printing
press by Johannes Gutenberg.

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Gutenberg - was a German metal worker who improved the method of printing in Europe
from woodblock printing, which reached the continent through trade with the Chinese.

In 1455, the Gutenberg Bible, the first book printed using his invention, was released.

With the invention of the printing press, the rapid and large-scale production of books
became possible. Owing to a more comfortable life during the Renaissance, more people
could afford to buy books. Knowledge of the Latin language was not necessary as most
writers wrote in the vernacular. Even the Bible was printed in the vernacular, thus allowing
people to read and interpret it. Books on other topics such as travel and philosophy were
also produced. These resulted in an increase in the level of learning in Europe.

The advent of new ideas and styles in European art signaled the impending end of the
Renaissance.