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Italy: Birthplace
of the Renaissance
MAIN IDEA WHY IT MATTERS NOW TERMS & NAMES

REVOLUTION The Italian Renaissance art and literature • Renaissance • patron

Renaissance was a rebirth of still influence modern thought • humanism • perspective
learning that produced many and modern art. • secular • vernacular
great works of art and literature.

SETTING THE STAGE During the late Middle Ages, Europe suffered from
both war and plague. Those who survived wanted to celebrate life and the human
spirit. They began to question institutions of the Middle Ages, which had been
unable to prevent war or to relieve suffering brought by the plague. Some people
questioned the Church, which taught Christians to endure suffering while they
awaited their rewards in heaven. In northern Italy, writers and artists began to
express this new spirit and to experiment with different styles. These men and
women would greatly change how Europeans saw themselves and their world.

Italy’s Advantages TAKING NOTES

Outlining Use an outline
This movement that started in Italy caused an explosion of creativity in art, to organize main ideas
writing, and thought that lasted approximately from 1300 to 1600. Historians call and details.
this period the Renaissance (REHN•ih•SAHNS). The term means rebirth, and in
this context, it refers to a revival of art and learning. The educated men and women Italian Renaissance
of Italy hoped to bring back to life the culture of classical Greece and Rome. Yet I. Italy’
y s advantages
in striving to revive the past, the people of the Renaissance created something new. A.
The contributions made during this period led to innovative styles of art and B.
literature. They also led to new values, such as the importance of the individual. II. Classical and
worldly values
The Renaissance eventually spread from northern Italy to the rest of Europe.
Italy had three advantages that made it the birthplace of the Renaissance: thriving
cities, a wealthy merchant class, and the classical heritage of Greece and Rome.
City-States Overseas trade, spurred by the Crusades, had led to the growth of
large city-states in northern Italy. The region also had many sizable towns. Thus,
northern Italy was urban while the rest of Europe was still mostly rural. Since
cities are often places where people exchange ideas, they were an ideal breeding
ground for an intellectual revolution.
In the 1300s, the bubonic plague struck these cities hard, killing up to 60
percent of the population. This brought economic changes. Because there were
fewer laborers, survivors could demand higher wages. With few opportunities to
expand business, merchants began to pursue other interests, such as art.
Merchants and the Medici A wealthy merchant class developed in each Italian
city-state. Because city-states like Milan and Florence were relatively small, a
high percentage of citizens could be intensely involved in political life.
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Merchants dominated politics. Unlike nobles, merchants

did not inherit social rank. To succeed in business, they used
their wits. As a result, many successful merchants believed
they deserved power and wealth because of their individual
merit. This belief in individual achievement became impor-
tant during the Renaissance.
Since the late 1200s, the city-state of Florence had a
republican form of government. But during the Renaissance,
Florence came under the rule of one powerful banking fam-
ily, the Medici (MEHD•ih•chee). The Medici family bank
had branch offices throughout Italy and in the major cities of
Europe. Cosimo de Medici was the wealthiest European of
Medici Family
his time. In 1434, he won control of Florence’s government.
A rival family grew so jealous of the
He did not seek political office for himself, but influenced
Medici that they plotted to kill
Lorenzo (above) and his brother members of the ruling council by giving them loans. For 30
Giuliano. As the Medici attended years, he was dictator of Florence.
Mass, assassins murdered Giuliano at Cosimo de Medici died in 1464, but his family continued
the altar. Drawing his sword, Lorenzo to control Florence. His grandson, Lorenzo de Medici, came
escaped to a small room and held off to power in 1469. Known as Lorenzo the Magnificent, he
his attackers until help arrived. Later,
ruled as a dictator yet kept up the appearance of having an
he had the killers brutally, publicly
executed. elected government.
More positively, Lorenzo was a Looking to Greece and Rome Renaissance scholars looked
generous patron of the arts who down on the art and literature of the Middle Ages. Instead,
collected many rare manuscripts.
they wanted to return to the learning of the Greeks and
Eventually the Medici family made
their library available to the public. Romans. They achieved this in several ways. First, the artists
and scholars of Italy drew inspiration from the ruins of Rome
that surrounded them. Second, Western scholars studied Analyzing Causes
What three
ancient Latin manuscripts that had been preserved in monasteries. Third, Christian advantages fostered
scholars in Constantinople fled to Rome with Greek manuscripts when the Turks the Renaissance
conquered Constantinople in 1453. in Italy?

Classical and Worldly Values

As scholars studied these manuscripts, they became more influenced by classical
ideas. These ideas helped them to develop a new outlook on life and art.
Classics Lead to Humanism The study of classical texts led to humanism, an
intellectual movement that focused on human potential and achievements. Instead Vocabulary
of trying to make classical texts agree with Christian teaching as medieval schol- The words
ars had, humanists studied them to understand ancient Greek values. Humanists humanist and
influenced artists and architects to carry on classical traditions. Also, humanists humanities come
from the Latin word
popularized the study of subjects common to classical education, such as history,
humanitas, which
literature, and philosophy. These subjects are called the humanities. refers to the
Worldly Pleasures In the Middle Ages, some people had demonstrated their piety literary culture that
by wearing rough clothing and eating plain foods. However, humanists suggested every educated
person should
that a person might enjoy life without offending God. In Renaissance Italy, the possess.
wealthy enjoyed material luxuries, good music, and fine foods.
Most people remained devout Catholics. However, the basic spirit of
Renaissance society was secular—worldly rather than spiritual and concerned
with the here and now. Even church leaders became more worldly. Some lived in
beautiful mansions, threw lavish banquets, and wore expensive clothes.
Patrons of the Arts Church leaders during the Renaissance beautified Rome and
other cities by spending huge amounts of money for art. They became patrons of the
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arts by financially supporting artists. Renaissance merchants and wealthy families

also were patrons of the arts. By having their portraits painted or by donating art to
the city to place in public squares, the wealthy demonstrated their own importance.
The Renaissance Man Renaissance writers introduced the idea that all educated
people were expected to create art. In fact, the ideal individual strove to master
almost every area of study. A man who excelled in many fields was praised as a
“universal man.” Later ages called such people “Renaissance men.”
Baldassare Castiglione (KAHS•teel•YOH•nay) wrote a book called The Courtier
(1528) that taught how to become such a person. A young man should be charm-
ing, witty, and well educated in the classics. He should dance, sing, play music, and
write poetry. In addition, he should be a skilled rider, wrestler, and swordsman.
The Renaissance Woman According to The Courtier, upper-class women also
should know the classics and be charming. Yet they were not expected to seek
fame. They were expected to inspire art but rarely to create it. Upper-class
Renaissance women were better educated than medieval women. However, most
Renaissance women had little influence in politics.
Comparing A few women, such as Isabella d’Este, did exercise power. Born into the ruling
How were family of the city-state of Ferrara, she married the ruler of another city-state,
expectations for
Renaissance men
Mantua. She brought many Renaissance artists to her court and built a famous art
and Renaissance collection. She was also skilled in politics. When her husband was taken captive in
women similar? war, she defended Mantua and won his release.

The Renaissance Man The Renaissance Woman

In The Courtier, Baldassare Castiglione described the type Although Renaissance women were not expected to create
of accomplished person who later came to be called the art, wealthy women often were patrons of artists, as this
Renaissance man. letter by Isabella d’Este demonstrates.

PRIMARY SOURCE PRIMARY SOURCE

Let the man we are seeking be very bold, stern, To Master Leonardo da Vinci, the painter:
and always among the first, where the Hearing that you are settled at Florence, we
enemy are to be seen; and in every other have begun to hope that our cherished
place, gentle, modest, reserved, above all desire to obtain a work by your hand might
things avoiding ostentation [showiness] be at length realized. When you were in
and that impudent [bold] self-praise by this city and drew our portrait in carbon,
which men ever excite hatred and disgust you promised us that you would some day
in all who hear them. . . . paint it in colors. But because this would
I would have him more than passably be almost impossible, since you are unable
accomplished in letters, at least in those to come here, we beg you to keep your
studies that are called the humanities, and promise by converting our portrait into another
conversant not only with the Latin language but figure, which would be still more acceptable to us;
with Greek, for the sake of the many different things that that is to say, a youthful Christ of about twelve years . . .
have been admirably written therein. Let him be well executed with all that sweetness and charm of
versed in the poets, and not less in the orators and atmosphere which is the peculiar excellence of your art.
historians, and also proficient in writing verse and prose. Mantua, May 14, 1504
BALDASSARE CASTIGLIONE, The Courtier ISABELLA D’ESTE, Letters

DOCUMENT-BASED QUESTIONS
1. Drawing Conclusions Do the qualities called for in the ideal Renaissance man and
woman seem to emphasize the individual or the group?
2. Making Inferences Isabella d’Este’s portrait was painted by Titian, and Castiglione’s by
Raphael, two famous painters. What does this tell you about the subjects’ social status?

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The Renaissance Revolutionizes Art

Supported by patrons like Isabella d’Este, dozens of artists worked in northern
Italy. As the Renaissance advanced, artistic styles changed. Medieval artists had
used religious subjects to convey a spiritual ideal. Renaissance artists often por-
trayed religious subjects, but they used a realistic style copied from classical mod-
els. Greek and Roman subjects also became popular. Renaissance painters used the
technique of perspective, which shows three dimensions on a flat surface.
Realistic Painting and Sculpture Following the new emphasis on individuals,
painters began to paint prominent citizens. These realistic portraits revealed what
was distinctive about each person. In addition, artists such as the sculptor, poet,
architect, and painter Michelangelo (MY•kuhl•AN•juh•LOH) Buonarroti used a Synthesizing
realistic style when depicting the human body. What major
Donatello (DAHN•uh•TEHL•oh) also made sculpture more realistic by carving change did a belief
in individual merit
natural postures and expressions that reveal personality. He revived a classical
bring about in art?
form in his statue of David, a boy who, according to the Bible, became a great king.
Donatello’s statue was created in the late 1460s. It was the first European sculpture
of a large, free-standing nude since ancient times. For sculptors of the period,
including Michelangelo, David (page 44) was a favorite subject.

Perspective
Perspective creates the appearance of three
dimensions. Classical artists had used perspective,
but medieval artists abandoned the technique. In
the 1400s, Italian artists rediscovered it.
Perspective is based on an optical illusion. As
parallel lines stretch away from a viewer, they seem
to draw together, until they meet at a spot on
the horizon called the vanishing point. The use of
perspective was a feature of most Western painting
for the next 450 years.

Vanishing Point

Horizon

Marriage of the Virgin (1504), Raphael

SKILLBUILDER: Interpreting Visual Sources
Contrasting What is the major difference between the
figures in the background of the painting and the figures
in the foreground? What is the effect of this difference?

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Leonardo, Renaissance Man Leonardo da Vinci

(LAY•uh•NAHR•doh duh•VIHN•chee) was a painter,
sculptor, inventor, and scientist. A true “Renaissance
man,” he was interested in how things worked. He Leonardo da Vinci
studied how a muscle moves and how veins are 1452–1519
arranged in a leaf. He filled his notebooks with Leonardo da Vinci’s
notebooks—and life—are
observations and sketches. Then he incorporated his
mysterious. Some 3,500
findings in his art. pages closely covered with
Among his many masterpieces, Leonardo painted writings and drawings
one of the best-known portraits in the world, the survive. His writing is clear
Mona Lisa (page 44). The woman in the portrait and easy to read, but only if
you look at it in a mirror. No
seems so real that many writers have tried to explain
one knows why he wrote
the thoughts behind her smile. Leonardo also pro- backwards.
duced a famous religious painting, The Last Supper. Leonardo planned scholarly works and great
It shows the personalities of Jesus’ disciples through feats of engineering that were never completed.
facial expressions. Only 17 of his paintings survive. And yet
the work that Leonardo did produce is so
Raphael Advances Realism Raphael (RAHF•ee•uhl)
amazing that it confirms his genius.
Sanzio was younger than Michelangelo and
Leonardo. He learned from studying their works. Michelangelo Buonarroti
One of Raphael’s favorite subjects was the Madonna 1475–1564
and child. Raphael often portrayed their expressions Like Leonardo, Michelangelo
as gentle and calm. He was famous for his use of was a Renaissance man.
perspective. He excelled as a painter,
In his greatest achievement, Raphael filled the sculptor, architect, and poet.
Michelangelo is most
walls of Pope Julius II’s library with paintings. One
famous for the way he
of these, School of Athens (page 45), conveys the portrayed the human body
classical influence on the Renaissance. Raphael in painting and sculpture.
painted famous Renaissance figures, such as Influenced by classical art,
Michelangelo, Leonardo, and himself, as classical he created figures that are
forceful and show heroic grandeur.
philosophers and their students.
Among his achievements are the dome of St.
Anguissola and Gentileschi Renaissance society Peter’s, the paintings on the ceiling of the Sistine
generally restricted women’s roles. However, a few Chapel, and the statue of David.
Italian women became notable painters. Sofonisba
Anguissola (ahng•GWEES•soh•lah) was the first
woman artist to gain an international reputation. INTERNET ACTIVITY Plan a Web site on
She is known for her portraits of her sisters and of Renaissance leaders that showcases these two
artists. Go to classzone.com for your research.
prominent people such as King Philip II of Spain.
Artemisia Gentileschi (JAYN•tee•LEHS•kee) was
another accomplished artist. She trained with her painter father and helped with his
work. In her own paintings, Gentileschi painted pictures of strong, heroic women.

Renaissance Writers Change Literature

Renaissance writers produced works that reflected their time, but they also used
techniques that writers rely on today. Some followed the example of the medieval
writer Dante. He wrote in the vernacular, his native language, instead of Latin.
Dante’s native language was Italian. In addition, Renaissance writers wrote either
for self-expression or to portray the individuality of their subjects. In these ways,
writers of the Renaissance began trends that modern writers still follow.
Petrarch and Boccaccio Francesco Petrarch (PEE•trahrk) was one of the earliest
and most influential humanists. Some have called him the father of Renaissance
humanism. He was also a great poet. Petrarch wrote both in Italian and in Latin. In
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Italian, he wrote sonnets—14-line poems. They were about a mysterious woman

named Laura, who was his ideal. (Little is known of Laura except that she died of
the plague in 1348.) In classical Latin, he wrote letters to many important friends.
The Italian writer Boccaccio (boh•KAH•chee•oh) is best known for the
Decameron, a series of realistic, sometimes off-color stories. The stories are sup-
posedly told by a group of worldly young people waiting in a rural villa to avoid
the plague sweeping through Florence:

PRIMARY SOURCE
In the year of Our Lord 1348 the deadly plague broke out in the great city of Florence,
most beautiful of Italian cities. Whether through the operation of the heavenly bodies or
because of our own iniquities [sins] which the just wrath of God sought to correct, the
plague had arisen in the East some years before, causing the death of countless human
beings. It spread without stop from one place to another, until, unfortunately, it swept
over the West. Neither knowledge nor human foresight availed against it, though the city
was cleansed of much filth by chosen officers in charge and sick persons were
forbidden to enter it, while advice was broadcast for the preservation of health.
GIOVANNI BOCCACCIO, Preface, Decameron

The Decameron presents both tragic and comic views of life. In its stories, the
author uses cutting humor to illustrate the human condition. Boccaccio presents his
characters in all their individuality and all their folly.
Machiavelli Advises Rulers The Prince (1513), by Niccolò Machiavelli (MAK•ee•
uh•VEHL•ee), also examines the imperfect conduct of human beings. It does so by
taking the form of a political guidebook. In The Prince, Machiavelli examines how
a ruler can gain power and keep it in spite of his enemies. In answering this ques-
tion, he began with the idea that most people are selfish, fickle, and corrupt.
To succeed in such a wicked world, Machiavelli said, a prince must be strong as a
lion and shrewd as a fox. He might have to trick his enemies and even his own people
for the good of the state. In The Prince, Machiavelli was not concerned with
what was morally right, but with what was politically effective.
He pointed out that most people think it is praiseworthy in a prince to
keep his word and live with integrity. Nevertheless, Machiavelli argued
that in the real world of power and politics a prince must sometimes mis-
lead the people and lie to his opponents. As a historian and political
thinker, Machiavelli suggested that in order for a prince to accomplish
great things, he must be crafty enough to not only overcome the
suspicions but also gain the trust of others:

PRIMARY SOURCE
From this arises the question whether it is better to be loved Analyzing
more than feared, or feared more than loved. The reply is, Primary Sources
that one ought to be both feared and loved, but as it is Does
difficult for the two to go together, it is much safer to be Machiavelli think
feared than loved, if one of the two has to be wanting. that a prince should
For it may be said of men in general that they prefer to be loved
are ungrateful, voluble [changeable], dissemblers [liars], or feared? Why?
anxious to avoid danger, and covetous of gain; as long
as you benefit them, they are entirely yours; they offer
you their blood, their goods, their life, and their
children, as I have before said, when the necessity is
remote; but when it approaches, they revolt. And the
prince who has relied solely on their words, without
making preparations, is ruined.
NICCOLÒ MACHIAVELLI, The Prince
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Vittoria Colonna The women writers who gained fame

during the Renaissance usually wrote about personal sub-
jects, not politics. Yet, some of them had great influence.
Vittoria Colonna (1492–1547) was born of a noble family.
In 1509, she married the Marquis of Pescara. He spent most
of his life away from home on military campaigns.
Vittoria Colonna exchanged sonnets with Michelangelo
and helped Castiglione publish The Courtier. Her own
poems express personal emotions. When her husband was
away at the Battle of Ravenna in 1512, she wrote to him:
Other Renaissances
PRIMARY SOURCE In addition to the Italian Renaissance,
But now in this perilous assault, there have been rebirths and revivals
in this horrible, pitiless battle in other places around the world. For
that has so hardened my mind and heart, example, the Tang (618–907) and
your great valor has shown you an equal Song (960–1279) dynasties in China
to Hector and Achilles. But what good is saw periods of great artistic and
this to me, sorrowful, abandoned? . . . technological advances.
Your uncertain enterprises do not hurt you; Like the Italian Renaissance, the
but we who wait, mournfully grieving, achievements of the Tang and the
are wounded by doubt and fear. Song had roots in an earlier time, the
You men, driven by rage, considering nothing Han Dynasty (202 B.C. to A.D. 220).
but your honor, commonly go off, shouting, After the Han collapsed, China
with great fury, to confront danger. experienced turmoil.
We remain, with fear in our heart and When order was restored, Chinese
grief on our brow for you; sister longs for culture flourished. The Chinese
brother, wife for husband, mother for son. invented gunpowder and printing.
Chinese poets wrote literary
VITTORIA COLONNA, Poems
masterpieces. Breakthroughs were
made in architecture, painting, and
Toward the end of the 15th century, Renaissance ideas
pottery. The Song painting above,
began to spread north from Italy. As you will read in Section Waiting for Guests by Lamplight, was
2, northern artists and thinkers adapted Renaissance ideals done with ink and color on silk.
in their own ways.

SECTION 1 ASSESSMENT

TERMS & NAMES 1. For each term or name, write a sentence explaining its significance.
• Renaissance • humanism • secular • patron • perspective • vernacular

USING YOUR NOTES MAIN IDEAS CRITICAL THINKING & WRITING

2. Which of Italy’s advantages 3. What are some of the 6. DRAWING CONCLUSIONS How did study of the classics
was most important? Why? characteristics of the influence branches of learning such as history, literature,
“Renaissance man” and and philosophy?
“Renaissance woman”? 7. MAKING INFERENCES How is the humanism of the
Italian Renaissance
I. Italy’s advantages 4. How did Italy’s cities help to Renaissance reflected in its art? Explain with examples.
A.
make it the birthplace of the 8. COMPARING What were the differences between the
Renaissance? Middle Ages and the Renaissance in the attitude toward
B.
II. Classical and 5. What was the attitude of worldly pleasures?
worldly values Church leaders and the 9. WRITING ACTIVITY REVOLUTION How did the Renaissance
wealthy toward the arts? revolutionize European art and thought? Support your
Why? opinions in a three-paragraph essay.

CONNECT TO TODAY WRITING A DESCRIPTION

In a book on modern art, find an artist who worked in more than one medium, such as
painting and sculpture. Write a description of one of the artist’s works in each medium.

European Renaissance and Reformation 43