The Renaissance: A Rebirth of Greece and RomeWorld History-Schoellhorn

Waking Up from the Dark Ages

• At the end of the Middle Ages, the church began to lose power.– Couldn’t stop the plague– Became power hungry and corrupt– Uneducated people bought their way into the church.– Couldn’t regain the Holy Land

• People began to “wake up” from the dark and see the light.– Realized the church couldn’t give them all the answers.– Realized people like Muslims were doing well studying

Greek and Roman advances.– Began searching for new knowledge, breaking away from

the church.

There’s No Place Like Rome

• People in Europe realized that before the dark ages, the Greeks and Romans had been pretty smart.– Began studying ancient

Greek and Roman ideas to find new answers the church couldn’t provide.

– Developed new ideas that were Secular: not based on religion.

Renaissance: The Rebirth

• Renaissance means “rebirth” or “reawakening” in French– Began around 1400 AD, 1000

years after Rome fell!.– During this time period,

people were “waking up” from the dark ages

– Roman and Greek ideas were “reborn” and “reused” across Europe.

For Example: Hello Humanism!• The Ancient Greeks

believed in Humanism• Humanism: The belief that

humans and their lives are more important or equal to religious/supernatural things. – Basically, humans were as

awesome, if not more awesome than the gods and should be studied, celebrated.

What do Humanists believe?• God/gods made humans• God/gods gave humans talents• God/gods gave humans an earth.• Therefore…..

– Humans are awesome, not evil (like the church said)

– Humans should use/show off those talents.– Humans should learn about their earth.

• Anatomy• Biology • Science

A picture is worth a thousand words

• One of the best ways to see the Greek belief in humanism is by looking at their art. – You can actually see the

Renaissance happening!

• For example, what does this sculpture say about the people who created it?– How do they view

themselves?

Let’s Recap of the Classics…..

• Classical: Art, architecture or ideas from or inspired by Ancient Greece and Rome.– Believed humans were awesome.– Explored man’s abilities– Man was made by the gods….gods

were awesome…so man was awesome! Show that body off!

– During the Renaissance, humanism led to a “rebirth” of the classical style and the philosophy of humanism

The Body Beautiful

• During the Renaissance, humans (especially artists) adopted the ideas of humanism.– Began viewing humans as

beautiful, not ugly or sinful like the church said they were.

– During the middle ages, the church required all people to be covered up in art.

• During the Renaissance, nudity was accepted to show off the body.

Wait…Why do the Classics include Greece AND Rome?• Roman artists,

sculptors and architects copied Greeks as the standard of excellence.

• Roman art looks more real, to celebrate personality of a person.

The Awesomeness of Classical Art• Classical Greek/Roman

artists show the belief of humanism.– Made sculptures/art look

as real as possible, almost impossibly real.

– Showed talent and skill– Nudity was fine, showing

off the body– Gods were okay to show in

art, made to look like man

The Church Changes the Middle Ages• Constantine legalized Christianity in 313 AD.• When Rome fell, Christianity remained

the most powerful thing in Europe, even controlling the art.

• Christians did not want to look like polytheistic Romans. – No more statues– No more realism– No more humanism– NO more gods/goddesses– Absolutely NO nudity

The Rules of Religion• During the M.A., focus of art was on

Christianity, Bible stories, and churches. – Used mainly to tell a story or teach a

lesson, NOT show talent.

• Art didn’t completely die during the Middle Ages, but humanism did.

• Showing off your talent was a sin, vanity. – Only create art to tell a story or message,

not to show off.

• Art was used as control to scare ignorant people.

What Happened?!

Before Rome fell…

After Rome fell, during the Middle Ages

Ancient Rome…..

Middle ages

Charlemagne is the Exception

• Charlemagne wanted to “recreate” Rome.

• Used Roman and Greek styles in art and architecture….until his empire fell.

• The Middle Ages ALMOST ended early under Charlemagne

Secular Studies

• Humanists of the Renaissance began studying/painting things that weren’t religions.

• Secular: Non-Religious.– Some even included

Greek and Roman gods/goddesses in their work.

– Celebrate THIS life, not worry about the afterlife.

It First Came to Florence

• Florence, Italy: The Birthplace of the Renaissance. – Really close to Rome, the inspiration for

the Renaissance.– Italy never really used Feudalism, actually

had money to spend on art/artists.– Not really supervised by the church,

allowed freedom of new ideas.

• The Commercial revolution made middle class people wealthy with money to spend on nice stuff…..like art.

Meet the Medici

• Medici’s were a banking in Florence family, loaned money to other city states.

• When someone wanted to attack the Medici, they called in that city-state’s loans. So…no one ever attacked them.

• Medici used their wealth as Patrons to local artists like Michelangelo. They sponsored the Renaissance.

Why Was it Easy for the Italians?

• The Renaissance began in Italy because….

• 1. No Feudalism, lots of money• 2. Most people already spoke

Latin/Greek, could read classical texts without translation.

• 3. Surrounded by Classical art/architecture, easy to copy and change.

The Medici chapel designed by Michelangelo

• How can you see humanism and classical influence here?

The Return of the Amazing Architecture!• Even Greek and

Roman architecture was reborn during the Renaissance.

• What do you see in this building that shows classical Greek/Roman influence?

How does this….

Compare to this?

Humanism Everywhere!

• Artists weren’t the only ones using humanism as their inspiration.

• Writers, scientists and even rulers began using humanism to figure out how to be the best humans possible.

Writing in the Renaissance• Literature in the Middle

Ages became focused on humans and individuals.

• Niccolo Machiavelli – Writer from Florence– Friend of the Medici family– wrote “The Prince”

examining how a king should rule as a human being.

• Is it better for a ruler to be loved or feared by his people?

A Whole New World

• During the Renaissance, Europe woke up from the Dark Ages by returning to the classical styles and ideas of Greece and Rome.

• We can see this the most in the art, architecture and literature (culture) of the Renaissance.