Chapter 2

How Did the Ideas of the Italian Renaissance Spread Throughout

Europe?
 How Did the Renaissance Ideas
begin to Spread?
⚫ Renaissance ideas eventually spread west and north to
all areas of Western Europe
⚫ Scholars and artist travelled to the Italian city-states
for knowledge and brought it to their homelands
⚫ Ideas changed and adapted to fit each society
⚫ P.49
⚫ Canada’s Renaissance type ideas
 Where and How did the Renaissance Spread?
Why Were Ideas So Slow to Spread?
⚫ Effects of the Renaissance across Western Europe
came later but were just as significant
⚫ Feudalism
⚫ Harder to break in lands beyond Italy
⚫ Owners of fiefdoms (feudal land) were strongly opposed
to the Renaissance
⚫ War
⚫ Many Northern European states at war which prevented the
spread of new ideas (Germany, Netherlands, England)
⚫Religion
⚫ The Catholic Church had a stronger hold and kept the status
quo (the present way of doing things)
What Allowed Renaissance Ideas to
Spread More Quickly?
⚫ When the Hundred Years War ended, travel became
safer
⚫ Urbanization
⚫ France and Germany waged war on the Italian city-states
⚫ Exposed European monarchs and nobility to Renaissance
Ideas
⚫ Ideas were borrowed from Italy
⚫ Italians were hired
⚫ Peace = increase in trade
 What Allowed Renaissance Ideas to
Spread More Quickly?

⚫ Increase in trade = increase in business and banking

⚫ Wealth used to support artists
humanism
⚫ Growth of
⚫ A system of thought that centers on
humans and their values; potential,
and worth; concerned with the welfare
of humans
⚫ Popcorn reading: pg. 55 of text!
 The most influential invention of all time.
The Printing Press
Invented by Johann Gutenberg in the
mid-1400’S
First European book printed was the
Gutenberg bible
- Faster than copying a book by hand
-More books = more readers and writers

-By 1500, more than 200 printing presses

-Church opposed printing of bibles for the
common people = afraid they would no longer
be needed
 How Did Humanism Affect the
Renaissance Worldview?
⚫ Classical writings suggested that life on Earth has
value
⚫ Before most people focused on the afterlife
⚫ These writings lead people to believe that humans
potential to do great things, no matter who they were
⚫ Even though they believed in faith and the afterlife,
humanists thought life on Earth should be rich and
full.
 How Did Scholars and Philosophers
Spread the Ideas of Humanism?
⚫ Scholars travelled from one university to another to
study and teach new ideas
⚫ Humanism supported civic duty and the value of
learning
⚫ Humanism in Europe as opposed to Italy was more
focused on religious issues and learning Christian
texts to become better citizens and Christians
 Scholars
⚫ Francanesco Petrarch (1304-2374)
⚫ Discovered and translated ancient classical Greek and
Roman texts as well as promoting
their study
⚫ Believed that truly educated people
read books, travelled and surrounded
themselves with art
⚫ Believed in God and the value of
life on Earth
 Scholars
⚫ Erasmus (1466-1536)
⚫ Believed people should be taught to
argue and apply their knowledge
⚫ Said bible should be translated for
all to read
⚫ Believed the role of the Church was
to teach and support the faith
 Scholars
⚫ Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592)
⚫ Created the essay writing form
⚫ Believed in tolerance and common
sense
⚫ Believed that friendship, love, and
courage should form the basis of
human actions
 How Did Artists Help Spread the
Ideas of the Renaissance?
⚫ Art began to reflect the new thinking of humanism
⚫ Began portraying the world as it really looked
⚫ After the 15th century, art focused less on religious
themes
⚫ Recording the likeness of people became important
⚫ Artist travelled more and developed better techniques
⚫ Became respected and got paid
⚫ Became important contributors to society
 Artists
⚫ Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564)
⚫ Painter, poet, architect, sculptor
⚫ Painted the Sistine Chapel
⚫ Created realistic representations
 Artists
⚫ Leonardo da Vinci (1452 - 1519)
⚫ May be the best-known painter and figure of the
Renaissance, genius, inventor
⚫ Mona Lisa considered the most famous painting
⚫ Introduced the sfumato technique (blurring of lines)
 Artists
⚫ Donatello (1386-1466)
⚫ Developed a technique for casting bronze statues

- Donatello’s David
(created about 1440)
 How Did Ideas Spread Among
Scientists and Mathematicians?
⚫ Movement of science slow during the Middle Ages
⚫ Religion
⚫ Europe still very superstitious
⚫ All money went to arts
⚫ Universities paid little attention to science
⚫ Renaissance = scientists looking at the world using
reasoning and observation
⚫ Accumulation of knowledge during the Renaissance lead to
the age of scientific discovery
 Scientists and Mathematicians
⚫ Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543)
⚫ Mathematician and astronomer
⚫ Came up with the theory that the Earth revolved around
the sun rather than everything revolving around the
earth
⚫ Proved that the Earth rotated on its axis once a day
⚫ Believed to be a heretic (having an opinion against the
beliefs of a religion)
 Scientists and Mathematicians
⚫ Leonardo da Vinci
⚫ Dissected cadavers to makes drawings on anatomy
⚫ Made plans for parachutes, tanks and submarines
⚫ François Viète (1540-1603)
⚫ Wrote books on trigonometry and geometry
⚫ Provided solution to doubling a cube and trisecting an angle
 Inventions
⚫ During the Renaissance, the mechanical clock was
invented
⚫ Before the early 1500’s time was measured by
⚫ Sundials
⚫ Hourglasses
⚫ Time could now be accurately measured
 How Did Writers Influence the
Renaissance Worldview?

⚫ Writers began to compose their works in their own

languages
⚫ Vocabularies, spellings, grammar became more
standardized
⚫ This increased a common sense of identity among their
speakers, readers and writers.
 Writers
⚫ Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-1400)
⚫ Canterbury Tales (explained social and political
circumstances of the time)
⚫ Sir Thomas Moore (1478-1535)
⚫ Wrote Utopia (describes a world that has no problems)
⚫ Executed for his refusal to denounce the catholic church
⚫ François Rabelais (1494-1553)
⚫ Wrote Pantagruel, a series of books which made fun of
aspects of society that he felt needed to be changed
⚫ Great example of humanism – questioning all aspects of
society
 Writers

⚫ Pléiade (mid-1500’s)
⚫ Began writing in French rather than
Latin
⚫ William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
⚫ Poet, playwright
⚫ His works studied worldwide for their
inventive use of language and their
insights into human nature
⚫ P.75 #1, 3 read section on Leonardo da Vinci
 How Did the Ideas of the Renaissance
Change Social and Economic Systems?
⚫ Urbanization and the fall of the feudal system created
a new middle class
⚫ As a result, more people had to learn to read, write and
do arithmetic
⚫ Quality of Life improved
⚫ The sense of safety, comfort, security, health and
happiness that a person has
⚫ Urbanization lead to the growth of a capitalist society
⚫ An economic system that depends on private investment and
making profit
 How Did the Ideas of the Renaissance
Change Social and Economic Systems?

⚫ Trade was previously for the acquiring of basic

necessities and done by bartering, but increased trade
goods led to increased use of money
⚫ People became wealthier and money could therefore
be used for pleasurable things such as art, music etc.
⚫ Society started becoming more secular and people
began to focus more on this life on earth
⚫ Having to do with physical things; the opposite of
spiritual
 The Renaissance Family

⚫ Was an extended family with father, mother, children,

grandparents all living in one household.
⚫ Father ruled the household, made all important
decisions
⚫ Mothers maintained the household
⚫ Good relations very important
⚫ Children viewed as mini-adults
⚫ Married young, worked young
 Women in the Renaissance

⚫ Although humanist believed all

should be educated, it was
mostly reserved for elite men.
⚫ Women had very little
independence
⚫ A few women were writers and
artists but they were considered
exceptional
 Education
⚫ Before the Renaissance, education was generally provided
by the Roman Catholic Church
⚫ Focused on grammar, rhetoric (art of persuasive thinking) and logic
(science of reasoning and proving arguments)
⚫ The Renaissance brought education based on the value of
human life and students were taught to be good citizens
⚫ Began asking questions and seeking answers rather than
accepting what they were told by authorities.
Religion: The Protestant Reformation
⚫ Write this done! Highlight it
⚫ What was it??? A movement to reform the practices
of the Roman |Catholic church= Protestant
Churches
1) The bible was translated into new languages (everyone
could now read and understand it)
2) There was open sharing and debate amongst members
of society
3) There was a new humanist perspective

⚫ All of these things made the Protestant Reformation

possible!
Question:
⚫ Lianardo is a successful merchant in the city-state of
Florence who has become very wealthy. He enjoys
gathering with the other men from his community and
discussing classical writing, art and philosophy. As a
humanist, Lianardo believes he has a responsibility to
use his knowledge and wealth to improve his
community.

Step One: After reading this paragraph what have

we learned? Make a list of facts that we can pull out
of this paragraph.
⚫ Lianardo is a successful merchant in the city-state of
Florence who has become very wealthy. He enjoys
gathering with the other men from his community and
discussing classical writing, art and philosophy. As a
humanist, Lianardo believes he has a responsibility to use
his knowledge and wealth to improve his community.
⚫ Step Two: Read the question (MORE THAN ONCE)

⚫ Which project is Lianardo LEAST likely to support?

a) Building a public library
b) Construction of a private school for only wealthy
kids.
c) Funding a sculpture to make a park more beautiful
d) Donating to a stained glass window at the church.
Step Three: Cross out any NO’s!
 Review
⚫ Conclusion p.86
⚫ P.87 #5, 6, 7
⚫ These are the following terms and concepts you should know
from the first two chapters… HINT HINT!!!!!
- What is Worldview? - How the Renaissance spread
- Value - Why was it slow to spread
-Belief -Status quo
-Elements affected by Worldview -Humanism
-Factors affecting Worldview -Printing press
-The Silk Road -Scholars
-The Middle Ages -Scientists/mathematicians
-How the Renaissance began -Writers
(crusades, 100 years war, magna -Quality of life
carta etc) -Capitalist society
-Feudal system -Secular
-City-state/ urbanization -Family and women
-Trade -education
-Florence/Genoa/Venice