Unit xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Renaissance Italy The Renaissance is a French word meaning ‘rebirth’. It describes a period of great cultural activity in Europe’s history, between about 1400 and 1600. The Renaissance period saw a rebirth of learning, art, music and science. There was also a great renewal of interest in the culture of classical Greece and Rome. The Renaissance began in Italy but by the sixteenth century its beliefs and practices were spreading to Northern Europe and England. chapter Source 1 An illustration of the city of Venice in 1338 18 8A 8B DRAFT8C 8D Why did the Renaissance How was society organised What were some significant How did the Italian Renaissance develop? during the Renaissance in Italy? achievements and key individuals influence the rest of Europe? 1 It has been suggested that one reason for the 1 During the Renaissance, many Italian people lived 1 Over the course of the sixteenth century, many of development of the Italian Renaissance was the in cities and towns. Suggest three ways in which of the Renaissance period in Italy? the ideas of the Renaissance spread from Italy into increase in trade with Asia and the Middle East. the lives of city and town dwellers might have 1 The Renaissance was a period of great progress in other parts of Europe. Why do you think that this How do you think trade with other countries would been different from the lives of peasants in the art and science. Some of these new developments movement occurred? have played a role in the Renaissance? countryside. were influenced by ancient Greece and Rome. Do you believe that all artistic, cultural and scientific advances 2 The Renaissance in Northern Europe and England was different in some ways from the Italian 456 oxford big ideas humanities 8 victorian curriculum are influenced by earlier periods or individuals, or can chapter 18 renaissance italy 457 some advances begin from scratch? Discuss your ideas Renaissance. Suggest a possible reason for these with a classmate. differences. 8A Why did the Renaissance develop? 8.1 Renaissance Italy: a timeline DRAFTCheck your learning 8.1 Remember and understand Evaluate and create 1 Who commissioned Michelangelo to paint the 4 Copernicus’ theory that the Sun rather than the Earth Sistine Chapel? was the centre of the universe caused him to be 2 Write a short paragraph about the Medici. criticised and ridiculed. Why do you think this was? Apply and analyse 3 Look at the painting of the Mona Lisa. What do you think the painting shows about her nature and Source 1 A timeline of key events during the Renaissance personality? Refer to features of the painting. 458 oxford big ideas humanities 8 victorian curriculum chapter 18 renaissance italy 459 8A Why did the Renaissance develop? The printing press The fall of Constantinople 8.2 Why did the Renaissance In the Middle Ages, monks were among the few people who In 1453, the city of Constantinople in could read and write. Monasteries housed rare manuscripts that Turkey was invaded by the Ottoman develop? monks had copied by hand. Most of the manuscripts – written Empire. Greek scholars who had kept in Latin – were religious. Learning was mostly controlled by the classical learning alive during the Church. Middle Ages fl ed to Italy, taking with This changed in 1450 when a German goldsmith, Johannes them documents and manuscripts from The Renaissance was a complex to the East were opened up, better and stronger ships were built Gutenberg, invented a printing press. Now, new and classical ancient Greece and Rome. These scholars movement that began in the late Middle and skills in navigation were improved. texts could be mass produced. The invention of printing was contributed to the revival of interest in Ages. Known as a time of great change These infl uences led to a great increase in trade. It was not probably the most important factor contributing to the spread classical learning that infl uenced much of and progress, it is, however, impossible only new products that were brought back to Europe but also of Renaissance culture and ideas across Europe. Printed books the culture of the Renaissance. to pinpoint an exact starting date. The new ideas. Trading centres in Italy fl ourished and a merchant encouraged people to learn to read and gain more knowledge. All of these infl uences led to the Renaissance did not develop from a single class grew, making their money from transporting and selling development of the vibrant and creative cause. A range of infl uences came together goods. More people began to move into towns, where they could period known as the Renaissance. As to bring about this period of change and share skills and ideas. These changes paved the way for other the movement spread, the ideas and creativity. social and cultural changes as the Renaissance unfolded. inventions inspired more and more expression and development. The revival of trade and The Black Death the growth of towns In 1347, a plague known as the Black Death reached Europe, killing up to one third of the population. The disease was spread During the Middle Ages people in Europe Check your learning 8.2 by fl eas carried by black rats and it was probably brought from did not know much about the world the east on trading ships. The Black Death had a devastating Remember and understand around them. However, the Crusades effect on the population in rural areas, leading to a decline in (fought between Christians and Muslims 1 1 What is the meaning of the word food supplies. Many of those who survived the plague moved over the Holy Land) in the twelfth Renaissance? to the developing towns. The death and suffering experienced and thirteenth centuries introduced 2 What role did the fall of Constantinople during the Black Death also led some people to question the Europeans to Asian and Middle Eastern play in the revival of classical learning? teachings of the Roman Church . This contributed to the more products including spices, silks, perfumes 3 How did the Black Death come to secula r approach to life that developed during the Renaissance. and pottery. Improved land and sea routes Source 2 The Black Death was a plague that swept through Europe. Europe and how was it spread? Symptoms included headaches, fever, weakness, pain and swellings, or boils, in the groin and around the armpits that would spread and become black or Apply and analyse Source 1 The Piccolomini library at the Cathedral of Siena purple spots over the body. 4 Why is it diffi cult to identify a starting date for the Renaissance? 5 Explain why the invention of the printing press was so important? Evaluate and create 6 Examine all of the infl uences on DRAFT the emergence of the Renaissance covered in this unit. List them in order of importance and write a short paragraph justifying your choice of the most important infl uence. 7 Look at the illuminated manuscript (Source 3) and examine other illuminated manuscripts on the internet. Create an illuminated version of your fi rst initial. Source 3 A medieval manuscript that was produced for the Court of Burgundy in the early fi fteenth century. 460 oxford big ideas humanities 8 victorian curriculum chapter 18 renaissance italy 461 8A Why did the Renaissance develop? 8A rich task Source 1 Skilldrill There are also various opinions on how Origins of the radically different the Renaissance was Creating a concept map Apply the skill from the period before it. Some would 1 Copy the concept map that has been started for you Graphic organisers are very useful tools for historians Renaissance argue that changes were more gradual and in Source 4. Complete it in your notebook, or on a because they can help to compare a range of sources relied on medieval traditions as well as computer or tablet using a mind-mapping or drawing and identify connections between events. One of the There are many theories about the reasons the rediscovered ancient texts of classical program. simplest and most effective ways to explore connections Greece and Rome … Renaissance people As you create your map: why the Renaissance developed. Historians believed themselves to be very different between events and the consequences of them is to • think of all the logical consequences of each idea also have conflicting views about when the from medieval people. create a concept map. Concept maps are very simple to create but will help you to organise your thoughts and • draw arrows to a new concept bubble, and put Renaissance began and its impact on the Hollingworth J et al, 2001, Longman Outcomes, more easily identify the causes and effects of different words on the arrow that make a sentence (e.g. The modern world. History Two, Pearson Education, South beginning of the Renaissance – caused by – the Melbourne, p 58 events. To create a concept map, follow these steps: Step 1 Identify the topic or event that you are interested in Black Death – led to – death and suffering) Source 3 exploring. • draw arrows between concepts on different parts of the map if you see a link There remains debate about what exactly Step 2 In the centre of a large sheet of paper, write down • use colours to categorise your concept bubbles constituted the Renaissance. Essentially, the topic and draw a circle around it. into groups it was a cultural and intellectual Step 3 Brainstorm the main ideas that relate to the topic • create a key to explain what the colours mean. movement ... of the late fourteenth to and put them around the central idea.