2. Why Italy?
• Proximity to Byzantines and
Mediterranean
• Roman Ruins
• Alps isolation
• Italian city states remained the
economic center
• Affluence
3. Humanism
• Shift in thinking from religious to
secular
• Renewal of classical thinking
• Emphasis on the individual
• Renewed emphasis on education
4. Humanist Literature
• Focus on personal feelings
–Petrarch, Boccaccio (Decameron)
• Ambition and Success
–Castiglione, Machiavelli (The Prince)
5. Italian Gov’t
• Wealthy families ruled city states
• Wars were costly-practiced diplomacy
• No central gov’t
6. Florence
• Center for the Renaissance
• Medici Family
• Supported the arts
• Savonarola preached anti-
Humanism
8. Rome
• Pope and cardinals used wealth to
rebuild and beautify Rome
• Put political goals ahead of religious
ones
9. Renaissance Arts
• Humanist ideas influenced artists to
make art more individualistic
• Biblical and Classical themes mixed
• Wealthy of Italy became great patrons
of the arts
• New techniques and approaches