The term ‘renaissance’, derives from the French language which translates to ‘rebirth’ or ‘revival’. Many English-speakers know of this term from its French derivative. This period in history spanned from the beginning of the 15th century to the end of the 16th century. This was transitional phase from the medieval ages to a new modern era. In Europe, the renaissance was a time of social and cultural changes. Many of the current social, cultural, and political structures in the USA have ties to the influences of this time period. During the renaissance there were three basic forms of Government: princedoms, monarchies and oligarchies. Political institutions are organizations which create, enforce, and apply the laws; mediating conflict; creating policies for economic and social systems; and to provide a representation for the people. “The term political institutions may also refer to the recognized structure of rules and principles”…to how an organization operates (Boddy-Evans. 2014).
“The age of the Renaissance marked the transition from the civilization of the middle ages to the modern world” (Ferguson 1963). If this is the case, then therefore the Renaissance is the beginning of a new modern world with a new modernized government. The Italian city-states became transformed from communes to territorial states, each seeking to expand at the expense of the other.
Machiavelli, a courtier and politician from Florence wrote a book called, “The Prince”. He argued that the most
Nyctophobia; the fear of the dark. However, it’s not exactly the fear of darkness itself, but rather, what could be lurking within it. Now, the Dark Ages weren’t actually “dark”, but it was a time of rapid decline in Europe in which historians don’t have much information. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Europe was thrown into a never ending battle of hardships. From the Black Plague to the loss of beloved heroes and heroines, the country really was left in the dark, until a flicker of hope emerged offering a new beginning: the Renaissance. The Renaissance lasted from the 14th to the 17th century and was an era of “rebirth” in European history. During this period, culture throughout Europe underwent a dramatic reformation where classic
The Renaissance renewed interest in classical culture, which led to far reaching changes in art, learning, and views of the world. This era led to the rediscovery of the idea of Greek city-states, the direct democracy, arts, literature and philosophy. The idea of natural law and the ideal man were reinvented and Plato’s book The Republic developed this idea that reason was better than power, which is ironic when we look at the age of absolutism. Before the Age of Absolutism and after the Renaissance we had the Roman Empire, which was a republic and had separate branches of government with senate.
The renaissance is defined as the “rebirth” of civilization in Europe from the 14th to 17th centuries (General Characteristics of the Renaissance). A renewed interest of classical world spread from its beginning in Italy, north to Germany and
The Renaissance period is known for the revival of the classical art and intellect born in ancient Greece and Rome. The Renaissance is also a time that is marked by growth, exploration, and rebirth. The Italian Renaissance started in Florence and progressively made its way into Venice and then into the great city of Rome. During the Renaissance, Rome was home to some of the most renowned works of art and the finest architectural masterpieces in the world - too many that still holds true today. Along with the delicate architecture and grand artistry, Rome was also home to a mixture of people and cultures. It is in this cultural context and through the book A Street Life in Renaissance Rome: A Brief History with Documents, that understanding how men, woman, and specifically Jews and Christians lived in Rome becomes important to better understand this period of renewal.
Renaissance states had three basic forms of Government: princedoms, monarchies and oligarchies or the republics.
HOOK……... CHANGE UP-> The period of transition from Roman times to the Renaissance was known as the Medieval period or Middle Ages. Small, weak kingdoms--- with the exception of Charlemagne’s empire--- emerged, and life was organized around feudalism, the manorial system, and the Christian Church. Charlemagne was able spread Christianity to outer parts of his empire, but was unable to control all of his empire successfully without it falling apart. This is where the idea of feudalism was brought about.
Italy can be looked at as the home of the renaissance and consequently the immergence of great art. Artists such as Michelangelo, Botticelli, Da Vinci, and Raphael are some of the greats and are looked at for standards. But what about the artists whose lives are mysteries, and their works that were influenced by the greats? These artists hold just as much importance in the history of art as do the artist’s whose names can be recalled off the top of an average person’s head. During the sixteenth century things began to change in the art world, and that change was the Baroque. This new style of art brought a revolution to how subject matter was painted, it brought upon “… a radical reconsideration of art and its purposes…” (249) and how artists of all ranks could learn to paint the up and coming style of Baroque.
The wealthy families of the government created an environment in the Renaissance that was centred around humanism, with art and culture celebrated and upholded
The Italian Renaissance was a time for great cultural change and achievements, which began in Italy approximately during the 13th century and lasted up until the 16th century. It marked the transition between the Dark Ages and Early Modern Europe. The European Renaissance originated in Central Italy, and centered in the city of Florence.i The distinctive characteristics of northern Italian states such as art, literature, philosophy, and culture produced an atmosphere of learning and artistic expression.
The Renaissance was a period of time in European history in which many countries experienced a great rebirth due to individual thinking. People were no longer subject to accepting artistic and political traditions, classical texts and/or scientific theories without question. Peaking in the 1500s, there was an apparent reformation in many different areas culturally, politically and socially, but especially in people’s perceptions of themselves. These new ideas about government, science, and the arts paved the way for the modern world.
The Renaissance was a rebirth of the ideas of ancient Greece and Rome that began in the City States of Italy during the 14th century. The cultural resurgence began a new style of living in Europe after the horrors of the black death, and is seen as the beginning of the culture of the modern world. As Wassace K. Ferguson put in his book The Renaissance, the Italian artists grew tired of the darkness of Medieval Times and began to turn to the brighter times found in the classical ages (Doc 7). The Renaissance served as the evolutionary bridge between the Middle Ages and the 17th century through art, education, and religion by bringing a rebirth of the ancient Greek and Roman classics that would later define the world’s culture, while continuing the underlying beliefs of Medieval Times.
The Italian renaissance was a period of creative explosion. The term renaissance symbolizes rebirth, which is exactly what occurred in Italy during this time. An entire culture was remade through art. There was a resounding interest in the classics created by ancient artists. The humanist movement encouraged the study of humanity’s history in order to create a deeper understanding of how to move forward as a society. There was a seemingly unquenchable thirst for knowledge and creation. Many new art forms developed in this period, including opera. The Florentine Camerata, a group of scholars, created early forms of opera. Claudio Monteverdi, a renaissance composer, developed opera into the art form that is still performed today. The work of the Florentine Camerata and Claudio Monteverdi worked in harmony to create and develop this new form of music. Monteverdi’s educational background, his rebellious drive to create, his serendipitous career, and his unequaled talent allowed him to develop opera into an art form that no other composer of the time could have produced.
The Renaissance began in Florence, Italy around the 1500’s to about the 1700’s. Florence, Italy was the mecca of this rebirth because at the time Florence was extremely wealthy and the people of the city had political freedom and those new ideals of the Renaissance were not being condemned in Florence as they were other cities. This was a time where the arts and the logic of one’s own mind was valued rather than criticized, the antiquated medieval ideals no longer matched the needs of those who were living during the early Renaissance. Eventually, a term for this way of thinking arose and was called Humanism, and what humanism is, is an ideology where humans can lead themselves to create a prosperous life and instead of leaning on supernatural forces for answers. Humanists believe that humans have enough logic to create conclusions themselves. This brand-new way of thinking caused a lot of controversy because it did question God’s ability and the church’s power, but the ideas behind it are still heavily used today, even in the 21st century. Humanism in the early Renaissance is important because it called for thinking with reason, it allowed an appreciation for human body and mind, inspired authors and caused a shift in power.
The Renaissance, a revival of antiquity starting in Italy around the middle of the 14th century, had broad implications for the way western society would operate thereafter. It would no longer focus on the church and its dictates, although they would still play a part. It would no longer have its government seated in Rome, with small pawns of the church controlling the land, although the church would still have a hand in government. It would no longer shun the vast stores of knowledge created in the past and ignored for a thousand years, although opponents would remain. The ideas of humanism, individualism, and secularism would come to play a role in society as they had in the past. Niccolo Machiavelli lived in a time when the
The Renaissance was a time of “rebirth” and a transition from the medieval time to the Early Modern World. It emphasized human beings, their achievements, interests, and capabilities. This time period was a “gateway” to the modern world and was essential for the improvement of human life. At the time there were two main Renaissances, the Northern, and the Italian.