The Italian Renaissance

The Italian Renaissance was one of the most colorful, vital, and exciting times in history. Renaissance eventually comes from the French word "Renaistre," meaning "to be born again." The Renaissance was a revival or a rebirth of cultural awareness and learning among art, law, language, literature, philosophy, science, and mathematics. This period took place between the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries. The Renaissance in Italy flourished in the 15th century and spread throughout most of Europe in the 16th century.

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.

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.

Boundless World History. "Italy during the Renaissance". Lumen. Boundless World History. 27 May 2018. (-- removed HTML --)

This had been happening since the Crusades, which is why Italy held much more wealth during this time than other parts of Europe. Italy also had a relationship with the Ottoman Empire, as they were trading partners. The ottoman empire significantly influenced the Italian Renaissance. This empire encompassed parts Africa, Asia, and Europe. Ottomans were an economic powerhouse. They were experiencing an Islamic Golden Age which meant they were on a serious pursuit of knowledge. They developed and researched subjects such as Mathematics, Science, and Astronomy. So as Italians reestablished trade they were exposed to the new ideas of the Middle East. This acted as a natural Segway to the Italian Renaissance. Feudalism never flourished in Italy. Italy was more urban whereas the rest of Europe was still rural. Money was made through trade and commerce instead of farming. Cities were the place where people exchanged ideas and the site of an intellectual revolution. This is where people would interact with one another and admire art and architecture.

What did art represent in the Italian Renaissance? Explain the significance of the art in the Renaissance - using examples.

The Italian Renaissance was an explosion of art, writing, and thought, that roughly lasted between 1300 to 1600. In this time each citizen, countrymen, or villager had and performed different jobs and careers. Humanism the study of Greek and Roman writings, art, and architecture, initially jump started the Renaissance, and the need for art. Artists now were inspired to use life like art and linear perspective, so art seemed and was more realistic. The start of the Italian Renaissance was the start of a new world and culture for Europe.

The Italian Renaissance, in contrast to the conservative attitude of the Middle Ages, introduced a society dominated by a secular, humanistic spirit. One of the most historically significant events of the Renaissance was the Reformation. Some people argue that the Reformation was a rejection the secular spirit of the Italian Renaissance. Others assert that the Reformation was an embracement of these secular ideas. However as with many questions, this issue cannot be given a definite answer. The events of sixteenth-century Europe shows that the Reformation rejected secular ideas in some ways and embraced them in others. Martin Luther defied the Catholic Church and formed his own ideas on salvation, embracing secularism. In England, Henry VIII would reject Catholic authority, thereby accepting the secular spirit. However, he also rejected secularism by continuing to uphold traditional Catholic theology. Edward VI and Mary I would both establish national religion, of which there was no questioning, and reject the secular spirit. Elizabeth I also established a national religion, but her more conservative religious policies reflected her embracement of secular ideas. On the other hand, John Calvin created a religious sect that was dedicated to ardent religious devotion and righteousness, thereby rejecting secularism. Thus, the Reformation both rejected and embraced the secular spirit of the Italian Renaissance.

The Political: There were several forms of government during the Italian Renaissance, so that means that political leaders and the government were always changing, there wasn't unity throughout Italy itself. The richer you were, the more political power you had in the government.

Through history, there have been many periods of immense changes being made. In the 15th and 16th century, Italy underwent a monumental change known as the Italian Renaissance. Italy was not a merged country, but rather in fact multiple independent city-states. Merchants needed to be the best in order to gain wealth, support, and allies so they were able to acquire more power. This form of power grew the Medici family into high respect and made Florence the epicenter of Italy and resulted in the city-state's flourishing. The Medici gained respect from its advancements in architecture and arts for example the Florentine Cathedral which was a disgrace because they weren’t able to make a dome shaped roof. Filippo Brunelleschi hired by the Medicis, was a huge help to the architecture and art advancements, and fixed this catastrophe. Finding the solution to the dome shaped roof brought

Like previously mentioned in the class, I have an intense interest for Italian art since I have been in contact with it since birth. Because of this I would like to explore the High Renaissance since I feel experienced and comfortable with this art period. The High Renaissance, or the Italian Renaissance, lasted from 1330 to 1550 with Florence, Italy being the birthplace of it all. In the following essay I would like to discuss Neo-Platonists, which was the dominant philosophy so-to-speak at the time. Secondly, I will talk about the Medici family and their influence during this period. Lastly, I will discuss various Renaissance men such as Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Raphael because they were the people who shaped and defined the period.

The Renaissance was considered one of the most creative and influential time periods in history, the genius of the Italian Renaissance and their prolific artwork still influence our daily lives in the areas of math, science, literature, history and music. Leonardo da Vinci,Michelangelo and Raphael are the three giants of the italian renaissance, they were inspired by mathematicians,philosophers and astronomers of the ancient Greek and Roman civilization, and changed the way that we view the world by restating and innovating old ideas and even creating new ones. The word . Renaissance means “rebirth” it was the activity, spirit,or time of the great revival of art, literature and learning in Europe. The Renaissance

literature includes such figures as the humanists Petrarch (best known for the sonnets of The

Renaissance began in Italy in the first place was mainly because of geography. The city-states of

Beginning in Italy, the Renaissance was a time in history that rediscovered the culture of very old Greece and Rome. It was also a time of recovery from the fourteenth century. In comparison with the Renaissance had a more and believing that people should be themselves without trying to be like others, but might best been seen as related to things slowly changing for the better over time in its city-based and commercial constant quality from the High Middle Ages. In the North Sea, the Hanseatic League competed with people who sell things from the Mediterranean, where the Venetians had a commercial empire. In Florence, the money made from the woolen industry were invested in banking. The rich and powerful group of people remained the ruling