The Renaissance, 1300-1600

Essential Question 2:What were the defining characteristics of the Renaissance?

Defining Characteristics

1. HumanismFocus on human/social matters (love, anger, joy, govt. etc.)Emphasizes human potentialFocused on values/culture/knowledge of Greeks/Romans

Defining Characteristics

2. SecularismBelief that comfort, pleasure, knowledge of worldly subjects I

is not sinfulEmphasized life in the “here and now,” deemphasized importance of afterlife and the spiritual subjects

Defining Characteristics3. Importance of Artwork

Art seen as way of expressing humanist topics/themes

a. Greek/Roman subjects (Mythology)b. Individual portraitsc. Subjects of the physical worldNew techniques developeda. Perspectiveb. More humanist subjects/stylesc. use of oilsArchitecturea. Copies building design of Greeks/Romans (geometric shapes, simplicity, balance, columns, domes)

Defining Characteristics

4. New Types of LiteratureFocused on human concerns, values, problems, self-expressionWrote in the vernacular (local language)Francesco Petrarch= poet/writer; sonnets to Laura (love, human interest); “Father of Renaissance”Niccolo’ Machiavelli= The Prince (1513)a. Sees human behavior “as it really is”b. Advises rulers how to control their peoplec. Advocates being wise, stern, deceptive, “whatever it takes” in order to achieve the desired result “The ends justifies the means”

Defining Characteristics5. The “Renaissance Man”• A Renaissance man is one who has a

wide variety of knowledge and skill in a wide variety of subjects

• Best Example: Leonardo da VinciPainter, sculptor, inventor, musician,

philosopher, scientist, writer• Baldassare Castiglione’s The Courtier

• Be able to speak/read Latin and Greek• Knowledge of history, poetry, science

Characteristics of the Renaissance

Humanism – man is a wonderful creature whose potential is limitlessSecularism - importance of worldly knowledge and experiencesArt - artwork emphasized human themes, realistic look, classical mythsLiterature – writers concerned with human concerns: love, anger, friendship; wrote in vernacularThe “Renaissance Man”- knows/ does lots of things well