Lecture notes for Mr. English's World History class.

1. Renaissance in Italy
Birth place of change

2. Objectives
❖ Students will identify aspects of the Renaissance in Italy.
❖ Students will analyze the changes in European thought and
culture resulting from the Renaissance.

3. Vocabulary
❖ humanism - focus in intellectual thought that moved from
religious issues to worldly subjects.
❖ humanities - subjects of study that reflect teachings from
Greek and Roman schools.
❖ patron - a financial supporter of the arts.
❖ perspective - technique that allowed Renaissance artists to
create realistic art through three-dimensional appearance.

4. Medieval Times Change
❖ The Dark Ages, or Middle Ages - focus of life was through
religion
❖ Crusades, Black Plague, wars
❖ Bleak experiences turned most of society to the
Church
❖ Reflected in art of the time.

5. Medieval Art: Illumination
❖ Function of art in Late Middle Ages was to illustrate biblical
times and everyday life in flat display that focused on nature
❖ Focus on natural settings = “God’s splendor”
❖ Gothic style: Of or relating to an architectural style
prevalent in western Europe from the 12th through the
15th century and characterized by pointed arches, rib
vaulting, and a developing emphasis on verticality and
the impression of height.
(The Free Dictionary: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Gothic)

11. Italy: Cradle of Renaissance
❖ Transition from the Middle Ages to the early Modern
World.
❖ Began with intellectual movement that reflected desire of
artists, philosophers and teachers towards humanism
❖ Reflects traditional Greek and Roman schools of thought
❖ Move from strictly religious learning to humanities

12. Why Italy?
❖ Rome had been the center of the Roman empire
❖ Return to glory as the center of intellectual thought
❖ Many examples of ancient works from which to learn
❖ Statues, coins, buildings

13. Italian Influence
❖ Rome was the center of the Catholic world
❖ Many rich patrons could support this new direction in
art and thought
❖ Italian ports vital to trade in the region
❖ City-States compete for trade, but also bring Italian art
and thought around the world

15. Video (to 3:13) is found at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzVAPykS-4s